Parts for forks

[Tony Smith]

+1, Time to make a trip to your favorite hardware store and get the longest socket extension they have... or (2)... this is part of the "airhead maintenance initiation"!

About a 14-inch extension and the correct socket will do it.

13mm (1/2")

[Tony Smith]

Thanks all. It all sounds so logical when you can tap into the voice of experience. I hadn't even considered this as an option but it's a beauty. And I'm almost certain I have the extensions to do this. Thanks!

If you don't - I do.

[Tony Smith]

what's available I really would like to know. Then I can look around for options.

What the hell, I've blown the budget anyway!!

Best option in Australia is IKON, these are the old Koni shocks, now made right here in Sydney. Hagons are in the same league in terms of price/performance, but your nearest service depot is overseas. I recently bought Betors on something of a whim and they haven't annoyed me enough yet to either change the damping fluid or "deep six" them, they are a lot cheaper than Hagon or Ikon, but they are not as good either. That said I took a loaded R65 to the Lions Den last weekend and they performed adequately.

On the more esoteric end, apparently Fournales are still available, you would have to sell your most beloved Harley to buy a pair though.

There are cheap YSS copies available on Fleabay, I bought a set and they are actually not badly sprung and the damping is infinitely adjustable (air over oil) - if they had more than 2" of they would be great. If you would like the set I bought - you are welcome to them as a free gift.

[georgesgiralt]

Tony,
Yes, Fournales are still available (I live 10 km from the factory) they are expensive but they will outlast you and the bike. They are totally rebuildable and you can change the oil easily.
You also have EMC in France and Shock Factory the later being cheaper and rebuildable too. They adapt the spring and damping at your request on order. I did not know that Betor was still in the business.

[Tony Smith]

Tony,
Yes, Fournales are still available (I live 10 km from the factory). I did not know that Betor was still in the business.

I will look to see if Fournales have a website.


And yes I was a bit surprised to find Betor still in business (old jungle saying from the 70s - "betor than nothing, but not by much". I once fitted a set of stock FVQ (themselves known as "fade very quickly") OEM shocks from a Honda-4 to a Bultaco to replace Betors and counted it an "upgrade."


But i am going to have t change my tune. I emailed Betor and told them what i weigh and what the anticipated load on the bike was and they sent me a spring/shock combination.

I'm actually rather pleased with them, they could do with more damping, but it isn't urgent enough for me to start experimenting just yet.

[georgesgiralt]

Tony, the web site is here : http://fournales.fr/
I'm sorry, it is in French only...

[Tony Smith]

Tony, the web site is here : http://fournales.fr/
I'm sorry, it is in French only...

I actually had a look at it last night and Chrome did a fantastic job of translating it (that's how I ordered Betors from Spain bye the way).

Anyway I discovered that my old mate Bertrand Cadart is STILL the Australian agent after 30 years. I have emailed him and requested a price.

[peteremc]

OK, a few days off-line mostly due to the activity that pays for the fun - work - but some progress on the rebuild today.

Firstly, thanks for your kind offer of the shockies, Tony, but I think I may just tidy up the old ones and see how they go. If they are not up to scratch I can upgrade later. That way I may sneak the purchase past the minister for war and finance as a 'failure' rather than an 'upgrade'.

So, the forks all went back together and the only way I can describe it was "bloody beautifully". Thanks to quality parts, great advice from the forum and 2 X 12 inch socket extensions and a 13mm socket.

What else can I say? Following reassembly of the forks, I've spent today getting to this stage (see photos). Everything is aligned as it should be, turning freely and working like a dream.

I should update a rebuild post I started over in the rebuild section and might do that soon.

Thanks all. You are a brilliant support to a complete novice.