Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Springer front end anyone?

I got an 03 america, i was trying to find a black powdercoated springer front end to fit it...any suggestions?

i found this one on ebay, but its obviously for a harley and im not exactly sure what sizes i need to match for the america

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-OVER-CH...emZ140128081198

anyone have any ideas?

what are the downsides to the springer front end? rougher ride?

Thanks alot

Tom

send a PM to the ultimate rebuilder man, bonnevilleamerica.com member, Biker. his real name is Ed.
great guy, great ideas...

I was thinking about a springer front too.....

DNA makes a powdercoated and chromed 'universal' springer front end kit which includes the braking assembly and front wheel. They don't make it for the Triumph but we have made it work. You end up tossing your whole front end. You specify the fork lengths and wheel size. You will need to 'find' upper and lower bearings and a host of other not of the shelf parts. Now....you are looking at about $3500 in parts. And that doesn't cover the remote possibility of finding someone to undertake a project of this magnitude. The ride is absolutely deplorable and you have essentially turned your beautiful Triumph into a Harley Davidson Sportster circa '76'-86'. However...In order for this to work(visually speaking), minus the ride and handling, you will have to go after the late 50's early 60s' bobbed look. And that means cutting the bike up. Personally...it just doesn't work with the new Triumphs and is very costly.

Didn't the guy who makes the belt drive kit offer springer front ends for our bikes at one time? Yup, just looked it up in the fourm archive from the old board;

"ONE THING HARLEY DAVIDSON HAD THAT I ALWAYS LIKED WAS THAT SRINGER FRONT END. NOW YOU CAN GET ONE FOR YOUR AMERCA OR SPEEDMASTER AT www.quietpowerdrive.com or ph# 610-857-1531. Don,t know all the stuff that will have to be changed yet. Anybody else know?"

The entire thread is here.

Although they aren't shown on the QPD website anymore, maybe he has one or two laying around.

I had a harley springer called bad boy which was blacked out and only produced for three years. Before that I had a low rider which is supposed to be the best handling bike. But the springer held the road like glue and I have never scraped pipes with such confidence. My speedmaster attracted me partially because it's blacked out. It holds the road good too as we all know. I don't like scraping pipes anymore. I like covering my face now too. OMG I'm old!

yeah that seems like alot of work & money. I was just hoping there was a direct replacement type of kit for the america. I mean im handy, but im not the "fabricator" type that goes out and gets a 1976 chevy pinto axle bearing and a door handle off a 86 toyota camry, and somehow makes a springer front end fit on his bike...ahah

I was going for a modest bobber look really, not too crazy with the streched out chopper style or anything. I just figured if my bikes got white walls, and other modest touches of nostalgia, i might as well be trying to get the springer up front. But i still want a bike thats reliable and handles well rather than look a certain way. Which is why I'd go with a "trusted" kit type of modification.

I agree alot of work and $...for a few thousand more you could get a roller, put the motor/trans in it and make a better looking bobber...

thank you

well i don't have a springer... but i do have a girder front end on my bike.. that was made by me and a friend.. it turned out very well and also performs very well also.. it is made off a patent that is over a hundred year's old and we made it with all new technology.. and this thing handle's great anyone who has rode with me can see that and one member here has rode it and said it was great also..



now alot of work and time went into this front end and i love the look of it but here's proof that yes it can be done

Hey Ed, I'm sure I've asked you this before in person but, how does your rake/trail/wheelbase compare to stock?

I like that girder style alot, biker....its definately out of my league as far as fabrication goes...ahah

at least you know where im coming from

hi benny well that is a very good quistion when i first made it the rake was stock and the trail was just a little longer then stock... but now with the new wheel's on thing's will have changed a bit.. but still close to stock..
and yes the wheel base is longer about 2 1/2 inch longer..

BIKER

pat

thanks Ed

I need a refresher on the whole rake/trail thing I guess... How can it be the same with a longer wheelbase?

But yeah, I bet it rides great! When Ed and I were talking, he explained that there's needle bearings in there (right?) that spin much easier than a sliding fork slides, thus eliminating "stiction" that is common with telescoping forks. That gives it the smoothness.

Quote:

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I need a refresher on the whole rake/trail thing I guess... How can it be the same with a longer wheelbase

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thats easy bud the rear wheel has nothng to do with rake or trail its all done off the front wheel and the steering axis and tire radius..ok hears a link to help.

web page

now don't over think this it's all really very simple..

BIKER

Dang, that's a great looking girder. Very nice.

Awesome link!! But how did you get a 2.5" longer wheelbase without effecting trail? You didn't move your back wheel did you?

ok benny you have to keep the wheel base out of it... it has nothing to do with it... why mine is longer is because of the off set in my trees and my rocker's that also makes my bike have a longer wheel base..look at the link... trail is done off the front wheel and the steering axis



BIKER

Oh ok, the taller tires, etc makes sense. I got the rake/trail thing now

I was still thinking stock tires... If you kept rake and trail close with stock wheels/tires, you'd still have the same wheelbase...

not with my 3 inch rocker's benny it's hard to show you on here if you make the noreast rally i can show you better

BIKER

Definitely!

So what about this front end off of ebay...seems like its got it all. What size neck bearings do americas have?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...600512&rd=1,1

Dimensions
Top Bearing Set ID=26 mm OD=47 mm Width=15 mm (verified with caliper)
Bottom Bearing Set ID=30 mm OD=55 mm Width=17 mm

The lower bearing set I got from my mechanic didn't have the pressed race (cone), thus no caliper verification.

Bearings:
Top: Koyo SAC2647-1
Bottom: Koyo SAC3055-1

I am working on a cross reference for tapered bearings. All Balls is one.

BTW the Honda 1995 CBR600RR uses the exact same headset bearings.