Restricting the fork travel on a 2008 R1 forks

[Mark Serj]

Gents,

I am fitting a pair of these to my XV750 Virago café racer project but need to restrict the fork travel. Has anyone done this please?

Regards

Mark
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Mark Serj

[Easy-X]

If we say c*** r**** three times do you think we can get Teflon Mike to appear?

These the factory forks or something new?
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Nobby the Bastard]

[stinkwheel]

What exactly do you want to do?

Reduce the overall length of the fork so the wheel is closer to the bottom yoke or keep the fork the same overall length but only allow it to move up and down by less distance?

The aren't overly endowed with fork travel at the best of times, gooogle says 120mm.

In either case, it would be tricky.

You could fit a cartridge with a shorter rod and shorter springs/spacers ( modified or off another bike) which would make the overall fork length shorter but retain the usual amount of travel. That'll work to a point providing the stanchion doesn't bottom out.

I can't think of a way to physically restrict the overall travel. Maybe fitting stiffer springs to reduce how much they compress under load, but that will cock up all the fork action.

The actual physical travel is determined by the travel of the piston in the cartridge. That would not be simple to alter.

Equally. Less than 120mm of fork travel? Rather you than me. An R1 seems a tad on the extreme minimum end in that respect anyway. I doubt you'll find a cartridge that has much less that would fit.

Shittier forks with a damper rod assembly would be easier to fuck-with.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Nobby the Bastard]

It does seem the height of perversity to introduce extreme race derived forks to a cruiser frame to make said cafe abortion.

I really can't see what eventual outcome you are aiming for, aside from the inevitable wrapping it round a lamppost as it tries to simultaneously over and under steer off the road.

Your best bet is to pray that the cruiser steering geometry is too slow to allow it to readily speed wobble.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[A100man]

Dear Mark

You might find more like minded souls here..

https://thebikeshed.cc
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[Mark Serj]

Thanks for replies guys.

I acquired the bike as a chopped about blacked out dog that will be all the better for the modifications I am planning, no matter how they turn out, and at least it will be back on the road.
A well respected US custom bike builder fitted R1 forks to a 750 Virago and apparently it handles very well. However I can see from the pics that the front wheel looks like it will touch the exhaust so I enquired about this and he replied saying the travel has to be restricted. I’m not too keen on that idea but while I am waiting for his reply as to how he has achieved this, I thought I would ask about in case there are others who have done this and just fact find / learn whats out there - all part of the whole forum ethos…..well, …….in most cases anyway. The other options I am considering are:
1. Machining up some new yokes with an increased stem to fork offset (say about 25mm) to aid the clearance issue
2. Making a new top yoke which is deeper to allow the forks to raise the ride height at the front by about an inch, again to aid the clearance issue.
3. Possible combo of the above
4. When I fabricate the exhaust I will make the initial bend as favourable as possible and potentially out to the side, or even slightly raised in its direction for same reason.

Easy-X, sorry not sure I understand your question
Stinkwheel – thanks for the comprehensive reply – I hope the above points give you a better understanding of my project.
Best Regards
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Mark Serj

[stinkwheel]

I would aim to maintain the same rake angle and wheelbase as originally fitted as far as possible to avoid handling issues. I'd imagine this would mean raking an R1 fork out considerably (I'm guessing they are considerably shorter than standard).

A virago is an odd choice for a café racer mind. They are dog slow.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Mark Serj]

I won’t be able to keep the same rake angle or wheelbase stinkwheel as the forks are a lot shorter. I wouldn’t want to do that anyway mate as that would maintain the Viragos steering characteristics which wouldn’t suit a café racer type bike very well.
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Mark Serj

[stinkwheel]

[Nobby the Bastard]

Make sure you get someone to film you when you come to a corner for the first time.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[ThatDippyTwat]

I'd rather have a black ratted, doggy looking bike that can actually, I dunno... take a fucking corner.

Go fuck up a 125 or something, and hack the subframe off that, stick a shitty, brown, uncomfortable seat on it and flog it to some Shoreditch wanker with a flannel shirt for £5K.

R1 forks on a fucking Virago... jesus wept.
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'98 VFR800 (touring) - '12 VFR800 Crosrunner (Commuting) - '01 KDX220 (Big Green Antisocial Machine)

[Mark Serj]

[Easy-X]

I'm not going to condone what you're trying to do but I'm watching these fellas fuck up a perfectly good BSA do a hardtail conversion. This episode they dick with the forks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHcf7JRGB3Q
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Royal Enfield Continental GT 535, Husqvarna Vitpilen 401, Yamaha XSR700, Honda Rebel, Yamaha DT175, Suzuki SV650 (loan) Fazer 600, Keeway Superlight 125, 50cc turd scooter

[Mark Serj]

[Ste]

[Mark Serj]

[Nobby the Bastard]

He probably tried to ride it and is still in a & e waiting for them to crowbar the seat out of his arse where he puckered up in fright.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050