Thundercat Post crash fix up questions/ fork straightenening

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

First question possibly of many is how do I find out if 2001 forks will fit my 1997 bike as with new forks and a foot peg my bike is at least rideable
Thanks
Rob
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Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
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weasley · World Chat Champion Joined: 16 Oct 2010 Karma :

They will fit. The Thundercat barely changed from 1996 to 2004, and the front end didn't change at all. The only changes I can think of are:

- revised rear shock (although totally interchangeable)
- updated wiring and fusebox around 1998 (to allow wiring in an alarm)
- a different exhaust silencer (from the (IMHO) nicer-looking bare metal one with an integral hanger to a black one with a strap)
- colours and decals.

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

cheers, seem to be having a problem getting them though, the ones I was after on egay have gone past £100 now Crying or Very sad

and others appear to have pitting or been straightened, I'm considering having them straightened by these guys https://www.motoliner.com/price.htm as I have seen lots of forums mention them and they can check my yokes at the same time, any thoughts on straightening forks? good or bad?
____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

dragstaar · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Aug 2010 Karma :

If your forks are rippled, the general consensus is that you can forget about it.

Forks are damn fucking expensive, so £100 for a set seems like an abolute bargain, especially if they are in good nick. You can also look at getting the stanchions only, if the bottom of your forks are okay. Most bending occurs on the stanchions as these are the part that fit into the yoke.

Pitted forks can be okay, the definite ones to avoid are ones with pitting in the clearance bit, where the stanchion moves in and out of the lower leg. These will do the fork seals in.

Keep looking, and ring some breakers. Call your local Yamaha dealer and ask which years the part numbers match for. They'll let you know. My bandit forks cost me £200 for a set. which was a bargain.

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

shite, I had a feel round the back of my forks and it doesn't feel good Crying or Very sad

there are only two sets of forks on egay and both are not ideal but I need my bike back, one set is pitted and one set has signs of straightening, I'm thinking so far the straightened ones at £85 may have to do until I find something better. Opinions please?
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Yamaha-YZF600R-THUNDERCAT-FRONT-FORKS-/220699130152?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item3362b17928#ht_968wt_905
https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-YZF-600-THUNDERCAT-FRONT-FORKS-/370451666855?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item5640a3d7a7#ht_746wt_905
____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

P. · Red Rocket Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Karma :

How they show they have been straightened is beyond me... you wouldnt know my GS ones were.

The first pitted options seem ok, id trust them more than the straightened ones, and a refurb isnt too much in the future Thumbs Up

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

Forks should be with me tomorrow, hope they are as the breaker described them, if all is good then you can look forward to a fork speedo drive replacement thread!
____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

Lynxx · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Karma :

just wanted to add that you can interchange forks from different bikes, but finding the bearings to fit your frame may be hard, or if they are the same size tube you can fit them into your yoke. i had a Kx125 1987 model with upside down forks and i later fitted them to a Rm125 1989 model with a set of spare bearings i had laying around. that is dirtbikes though, may be different with road bikes.

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

not really, most tubes that would fit without changing the yokes are not as good or shorter than the thundercat forks which would change the geometry and I don't want to find out the problems with that at speed! Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be any easy fork swaps for my bike. R6 R1 forks etc require fair bit of work to use and realistically I need my bike back on the road now!
____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

Lynxx · Scooby Slapper Joined: 19 Nov 2010 Karma :

yeah i did not relize a thundercat was a sports bike i thaught it was some kind of chinese rip off, but if its a fast bike i would stay to stock unless you are trying to race it. all my front ends would cope with jumps and going 100mph. never had any problems but then again with off-road tyres you wouldnt feel much vibration other then the tyres. But my freind who makes flat track bikes put a Suzuki Gxsr front end on his Yamaha Xs650 which would do over 100mph and he never reported any problems.

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

forks arrived today so starting a new thread in show and tell to document my roadside repair!

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=209608

any helpful knowledge about fork replacement and a quick opinion on some queries regarding my new forks much appreciated Thumbs Up

____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

slyrob · Traffic Copper Joined: 03 Jan 2010 Karma :

cock it

https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=209608
____________________
Pitslayer wrote "it could be Ndubz.....ruining this once great place with donkey gobbling loafer knobbing "music".
silky666 wrote "In my eyes, when you shake cocks with the devil, you may as well go for the full reach around"
Villers wrote "as reliable as a ginger stepchild on smack"