Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge rebuilding a bonneville america?

After crashing the front end of my America, insurance company totalling. I would keep it if I could find a good set of forks, dealer says I would have to buy new, and its not worth that price. Any thoughts? Anyone interested in a good engine and rear end? I'm not sure about the frame, yoke may be bent (hit the guard rail)

PM Dinqua. He might be interested in that motor.

Welcome to the group, its a shame you only found us after you cracked up your bike. After getting the frame and neck checked out, I'm sure you can find a good front end to put it back together from either ebay or one of the few dealers that also sell used parts. If you decide not to rebuild, I'm sure someone will be glad to take whats left off your hands.

call Forks By Frank they told me they would make me a set when I was asking them for shorter tubes but they want the old ones to copy and I didn't want to take them off and wait. Maybe they can use your bent forks to copy. They quoted me somewhere in the neighborhood of $250 if I remember.

Yeah, I forgot about Franks- I've been looking at some of the chopped Americas online, there are some pretty nice ones out there, would be interesting to try something different.

Been and done.
Secondhand forks are out there, just takes time to find them.
I was 9 months between the crash and the bike being road legal again. As the forks I got were Speedie ones I did the brake upgrade too. I paid for a service on them too, and it was still 1/4 of the price of a new set.
My insurance estimate said that the frame would need replacing too, but that's a lot of work. My dad and I did a number of things with a spirit level and a broom handle and concluded that it wasn't. From the 3 miles I've done since the rebuild it doesn't feel bent and doesn't pull to one side. Though ask me again tomorrow evening.

My advice as some one whose been there, if you can rebuild. There's nothing more satisfying than seeing a bike that was written off back on the road. If you can't still buy it back and strip for parts. You'll make far more that way than you paid for the salvage. (I paid £500 for the 'salvage' of mine, I was offered £1000 over the phone by a breaker...)

I will have a set of forks off my 04, as soon as I put the ones off the speedmaster on. The only problem is it will cost an arm and leg to post to the US..

Measure the diameter and length of the fork stem and work from there. Nothing really says you have to use OEM forks, and I am sure you can find something that will fit. For the factory price of exact replacement parts, You could probably get a really nice girder made.

Sounds to me like you're in the perfect postion to look at a girder or springer set up for your new custom scoot.

41mm is 41mm(size of our forks), whether its on a HD or a TRIUMPH. You just have to decide whether you want standard length or chopper lenghth

Excuse my ignorance- where would one find girder or springer set up? That sounds very interesting

Paughco, Kiwi Motorcycles, J&P to start with but you could just google either term (i.e. type motorcycle+girder) and parse the results, there'll be plenty. Here's a Dufree Girder to view:

You can get a springer from Bob Oswald (oz). But why? Springers and girders are ancient technology. They are way overpriced, and will rob you of handling. Of course you'll look cool to the HD folks.
I see Oz's site is being reconstructed. Maybe he is not offering the springers anymore.

Having riden a smaller bike with girder front - don't do it. It'll shake your arms to bits. While I know we don't all ride for speed, you won't be able to go above 50 and so may as well have a 125.

Yeah, the girders look pretty rough for handling- I'm told the new springers handle rather well- I'm just thinking this way if I can't find stock forks.