R1 front end handling question???

philk · Post by **philk** » Tue Nov 21, 2006 10:58 pm

Ok so the r1 front end is in, it looks a bit lower at the front end.

So the rear spring is going onin the next week or so.

Question is to all running a r1 front end, how did it effect the handling and did any of you feel the need for a steering damper?

Post by **stormy** » Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:18 pm

Don't need a damper, if anything the steering is a little heavier with the R1 front. I've also fitted LSL bars to get the bars back to near original height, cos there was a lot of weight on the wrists.

Found it made little or no difference to the way mine handled ..... once I'd sorted out the spring rate with the help from K-Tech Suspension. Having said that, I never rode my TRX with stock front end anyway, aftermarket replacement forks were on the bike when I got it ..... then I crashed it at Mallory .......

I run with Kawasaki ZX6R front springs in my R1 forks, the front is firm but supple, and only a real hard emergency stop sends the nose diving downwards.

philk · Post by **philk** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 12:20 am

Thanks Stormy. much appreciated

Quan-Time · Post by **Quan-Time** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:44 am

i got a R1 front...

pro:
brakes better
smoother feed back in corners
cruising just feels more comfortable

cons:
steers differently cos its lower, thus sharper
took a bit of time to learn the new braking.. actually surprised me how savage it can be.

Im glad i did it.. its sweet... grats on the conversion !

Post by **Kevtrx849** » Sat Feb 17, 2007 1:25 pm

Any of you blokes have the dimensions of the required step down washer for the top clamp or the facilities to make me one?
I'm still waiting on the forks and top triple to come from the states. Everything else is ready and waiting to go on.
The trx steering stem was a push fit into the R1 lower clamp so i drilled and tapped a grub screw into it to secure it.
Also did you adapt the TRX switch to the R1 clamp or use an R1 unit.
Can't wait to take it for a run.
CYA, Kev.

twolfe · Post by **twolfe** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 10:23 pm

G'day Kev, if you can get the dimensions I can make the spacer for you.I just need as much info as possible, a drawing would make it much easier.
Terry

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:48 pm

Hi Kev..

I made a spacer - I'll pull it off tomorrow and give you my dimensions, although my stem wasn't a press fit and had to be welded/re-machined to go into the yoke.

Greg

Post by **Kevtrx849** » Mon Feb 19, 2007 7:10 pm

Thanks Greg/Terry, all help greatly appreciated. How about a photo of the part to please Greg.
CYA, Kev.

Quan-Time · Post by **Quan-Time** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:10 am

did this all ages ago:

This is the top triple clamp, note where i inserted a spacer and reducer into the middle to make it fit properly to a TRX stork.

And these extensions are for the key start to work.. Note you will have to modify your steering lock accordingly. You can see ive actually counter-bored where the forks fit in.. This is so i could align the new parts i made properly.. Works perfectly.. You can just see the seam in the last image on the inside..

This is the actual height difference. This is why i modded / added the new extra pieces to make the overall clamp MUCH longer..
I pushed out the storks, put a slight knurl on the TRX stork, pressed it in with a bit of 243 loctite. (super stud locker from memory). The TRX stork was somethin like 0.15mm smaller on diameter, so it was a thumb push in before the knurl

The below image is basically the finished product and how it turned out.. You can see where i made a new piece and welded it in

I can easily replicate this, and i can prolly source the R1 triple clamps (i used "blue top" forks, from a 2000 model, i think thats the year).

Hope this helps..

I live in adelaide if thats any help. Yes i make parts like this for a living, yes i can help you, yes i will charge you

Post by **Max** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:35 am

Neat work. But it would be a bugger if your kid knocked it off the side stand and bent a bar!

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:57 pm

Here's my spacer...

This one's a side view - total height 19.5mm, height of top shoulder 11mm, depth of flange 8.5mm. Max diameter 38mm, flange diameter 28mm. Internal diameter 24mm. I cut a small recess into the top face to accommodate the steel washer.

I put a couple of the spacer installed to show how much longer the TRX stem is than the R1, especially when the R1 yoke is about 10mm thinner than the TRX item...

The yoke you can see is the one I bought to salvage, the lock casting had been buggered by the previous owner binning it on a trackday. I might even try and tidy it up and use it on the finished article - sacrificing the ignition switch in favour of a relay on the kill-switch... who knows!

Here's a vaguely arty pic of the bike as it is at the moment!

Love to all

G

Post by **Kevtrx849** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 6:58 pm

Thats brilliant, thanks guys. Nice bit of work. I'll see if my mate Terry can spin that spacer up for me. I love it when someone else does all the hard work

Once again ,i appreciate the effort.
CYA, Kev.

twolfe · Post by **twolfe** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 10:43 pm

I'm onto it Kev.Hope I am understanding what Greg is saying.I'll knock it up today and post it off.

Post by **Jak** » Tue Feb 20, 2007 11:02 pm

Greg wrote:Here's a vaguely arty pic of the bike as it is at the moment!

You often get caught short then? (like Max and Triton

) .... looks like a potty on the seat

Greg · Post by **Greg** » Wed Feb 21, 2007 1:39 am

Hardy har...

Fuel bottle...

Remotely fixed....

Only slightly leaky....

FCRs fixed now thanks...

Just bought a 39 for the KTM ...

Hope I have as much fun with that one ..

G