Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Springer Front End?

Anyone ever try putting a springer front end on the front of an America? Was at the NYC Bike show the other day and this custom Triumph place out of Jersey (TT Cycles, I think) had done some nice Triumph customs using harley springer front ends. I asked the guy, if he had ever done a BA with a springer and he said he hadn't, but it got me thinking....

here is their web site: www.TTCycles.net

BIKER (Ed) has one.

At one time, it was rumored that QPD was working on a springer front end. Can't find their website anymore, don't know what became of that.

A member here, Biker I believe, made his own girder front end.

Didn't D&D Cycles do one? There was a small picture in one of the Triumph (aka Torque) magazines. It was raked out quite a bit IIRC.

And IIRC, Biker's is a girder front end, which isn't quite the same as a springer.

I'd like to see what the springer fork from a Harley (preferably in chrome - I like chrome) would look like on an America. I'm thinking it would look pretty sweet and might not be that hard to "bolt on" (famous last words).

this bike was at AMA days in mid-ohio last year... talked with the owner for a few...he knows about this site.. but never really comes here..and if i rember right he was out of chicago .... very nice guy...

very cool bike...

now this is my bike with a girder front end..



Ed

Ed,

Just noticed your sign off. I think you know my opinion on it.

The springer in the first shot looks like one of those $300 jobs. I was looking at doing it and looks like he did exactly what I had in mind. The big problem I ran into was our neck is about an inch longer between bearings than HD and thus every springer I found was an inch too short there. Looks like that bike has spacers on top of each outer leg for the top tree and then he probably machined a new shaft for the bearings. I thought about doing that but didn't know about that much stress on those spacers.

I guess it always sounds easier than it actually is. Good to know about the difference in dimensions between the Harley steering neck and ours. The top picture is pretty much what I was thinking about, but maybe a slightly shorter fork with just a little less rake (though tough to tell with the bike on the sidestand). Anyway, very cool setup on both machines.

dog here is some more pic's...





sorry this all that i have...

ED

Thanx Ed but that first pic showed more. If you look at the top of the main leg where the top tree slides over you can see a little more than an inch of smaller diameter leg. He either used long studs in his risers with spacers, has the top tree on the lower part of his risers, or made a threaded extension to accept the top tree.I wasn't sure about putting that much stress on a 1/2" bolt. I figured it would probably be OK but didn't want to risk my butt on it. A good grade 8 should be fine though. Then there is the matter of making a new shaft, not a difficult job, but one more thing to consider. Turning radius is another and don't want it to dent your tank.

Here is an email of a guy that custom makes springers for any bike. He said he is able to make one for my america if i wanted one. i was going to but i started a custom instead. Springer

Not a bad price for a custom made front end but out of my price range.I was gonna mod one of those $300 cheapos off Ebay, $500 with disc brake, front wheel,handlebars and risers, and headlight.

What's the thumbs down for? The cheapo springer?

You can get one custom made...

http://www.jeris-springer.com/

Oops, didn't click Jack's link. NEVERMIND.

I've always liked the look of a custom, but a lot of the best customized bikes sacrifice comfort for looks or design (hard tail…). So this leads me to ask, how does the Springer (Girder) front ends ride? I am still on stock springs with the intention of getting the Progressives this Winter, but if the Springer systems are comparable I might add it to the “To-Do” list.

Springers tend to hop some and in most cases have no dampening. Some have a shock but still not the same as forks with oil in them. Some girders have a clutch like system on the sides that act to dampen the spring action so they don't hop but still not an oil filled fork. I have ridden my springer hardtail for years and loved it but it definately doesn't handle like a stock configuration. I was used to it and loved it but if you are looking for superior handling it isn't for you.

going to say I like my girder.. and it handles very well there is no bounce to it..at all ...and the girder is much more in line with triumph... then a springer..

ED

This girder on a bike I cut and raked has British patent numbers on it.



This is very early stages, it now has fat bob tanks on it and a skirted early sporty rear fender among many many other things. This is the last pix I took of it though, I do have a few earlier shots with the steering head cut off and nothing welded back on yet.

is that a clubman or a amf cart????
LOL LOL LOL HAH HAH!!

I like springers, in my opinion nothing says American Biker quite like the original Harley springers. As for aftermarket, there are but few of the customs out there that hold any appeal to me. This one is pretty hot, however it is only sized for HD at this time. It is a Parks Custom 'Big Boned' springer. Beefy and bada$$...



Here is another springer made by Spartan Custom Frames that kills: