Stanchions. talk to me.

[drbaig]

Right. Pitted fork leg. Need to replace. Araldite bodge did work for 16 months but now it is leaking again and time to solve it properly.

After market replacement is something like 90 pounds.

Re-chrome, I have not checked the prices.

Second hand always come up pitted or bent. 90-120 pounds for a pair on ebay.

I have been reading up and there have been rumblings about how pattern stanchions are of lower quality and can start pitting as soon as a year later.

Same has been heard about the chroming, a few companies that do perform it. Some say they are good some have complaints. Plus I have to send it and then wait for it.

So what is the best option here. I am leaning towards just buying a stanchion from wemoto or ABE for the cat.
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yzf 600r

[mudcow007]

the company i work for has dealings with a chroming company called

Fox plating based in London, granted we haven't had stanchions done but all the stuff they have chromed for us is tip top an cheap -including a set of headers


Fox Plating
Worsley Bridge Road,
London
SE26 5AZ
020 8663 6444

[drbaig]

Also saw original yamaha stanchion for £120.

I am contemplating now getting that as it is only £30 more than the pattern stanchions.
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yzf 600r

[totalllama82]

I'd go for the OEM. For the sake of £30, it'll (hopefully) save you swearing at the thing in 16 months time again.
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Gone: Haotian HT125-8 / Yamaha YZF 600R Thundercat / Kawasaki ZX9R C2
Current: Kawasaki ZZR 1400 A7F

[Vincent]

I've had planty of success replacing with a used sets.......it's just best to check them out in person or with very clear pics first. I suppose it depends on the bike and the supply of used parts.
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Space Is Deep

[drbaig]

Checked ebay price for a pair is 90-110. I only need one. And there is apparently pitting above the travel but not want to take any risks. There is also another pair with some marks apparently which are too tiny to be picked up by a camera. Therefore I am not going that route, unless it was significantly cheaper which it is not.

Pattern stanchions by ABE are 90. But they seem to have a bad reputation ? Plus no warranty unless they install it themselves. I asked.
Wemoto sell some paulo tarozzie forks for 113. Might as well get OEM.

OEM are 120 somewhere from germany. So I am leaning towards them.

Then apparently I should also install new bushes with a new fork tube. Another expense.
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yzf 600r

[Vincent]

Don't be too put off by any pitting above the lower yoke - that's easily sorted and won't damage anything. Main things are that they're straight, and no pitting at all in the swept area.

£90 is probably a bit steep tho, esp if you only need one.
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Space Is Deep

[Vincent]

Have you cross-referenced the PN to see if they're used on any other Yamahas?

Also, if you're swapping the stantions around, it'll cost you a fair bit in seals, bushes, oil etc. Have you had a look for a decent used front end? You can sometimes get lucky at a breakers and then you can sell on the wheel, tyre, Mudguard, yokes etc.

It'll cost more in outlay but could work out cheaper in the long run.
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Space Is Deep

[Kickstart]

[mudcow007]

[Ariel Badger]

Hard Chrome and a grind does not come cheap. I had a small shaft built up by 0.003" and it cost me £60.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Pete.]

[Commuter_Tim]

[mudcow007]

[drbaig]

I am not going the rechroming route because it will probably cost similar amount. I don't want to deal with the hassle of posting the stanchions then waiting for it.

The only options left are buying OEM vs ABE/wemoto.

I should have checked the forks properly when buying but I think I overlooked it when the mileage was 10k and I was only paying £900 for the bike.

I am leaning towards OEM because ABE seems to get bad reviews, though I am vary of how the negativity is always the loud minority.

Then there is the thought at the back of my mind to not spend £200 replacing stanchions, bushes, seals and oil. Just get the cheaper stanchion replace the seals and be over and done with only to cry a year later at the quality of the components bought. hah!

I think I should just do the job properly and stop being a stingy bastard.
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yzf 600r

[evoboy]

Thundercat stanchions bend very easily so I can understand why you have trouble sourcing a 2nd hand set.

I wouldnt be surprised if there are other Yamaha's of that era that use the same stanchions.

I have an after market stanchion on my X7. It shows no sign of pitting and has been on for nearly 2 years now...
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[drbaig]

The only reason I did not buy the stanchions from ABE (allbikengineering) is the first link you get on google is on the honda hornet forum complaining about how bad they are and then there is this thread showing the fork pitting. https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=270396

I have not been able to find if there are any other yamaha's that use similar stanchions to the thundercat.
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yzf 600r

[Shaft]

[.Chris.]

There's a small series at the moment in CMM magazine about rebuilding forks (in this case, on a Honda CB400/4). They decided to have the original stanchions rechromed rather than buy aftermarket items but the quality of the replating job wasn't terrific.

Given the fairly narrow price gap between original and aftermarket, I would go for original without hesitation.

I'd be interested to know if the Tarozzi stanchions sold by Wemoto are any good.
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Chris
1985 Kawasaki Z550F

[drbaig]

[Amarok]

If you change your mind and go for re-chrome make sure they properly package them. I sent a pair for re-chroming and they came back with the top threaded part caved in. Finish was good otherwise.
Can't tell you where I sent them but found the company in MCN.
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going round the bend