fork identification

[JimF]

IMG_20160703_185121.jpg

IMG_20160703_185112.jpg

I have a 250 narrow case that came to me with these 32mm forks.

I took a slow speed low side crash on the bike a couple years ago and am just now getting it back together.

I had to have the fork tunes straightened and I thoughtfully went to measure the quantity of fluid in the tubes, but they were both clearly under-filled.

I am looking for recommendations on quantity and oil viscosity/type that these forks shield use.

I can't find any hint as to the fork manufacturer.

Jim

[Jordan]

They look somewhat like these Metal Profiles forks.

http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/ ... forks4.jpg

from DMW website: http://www.historywebsite.co.uk/Museum/ ... Wforks.htm

They are still being made in UK, now by Greeves: http://www.greevesmotorcyclesltd.com/forks.html

[amartina75]

i thought they looked like Harley Sprint forks or 32mm Ceriani forks, they do resemble those forks. But clearly Jordan is right the only ones that match yours exactly are the ones he posted a link to. The off center pinch bolt and the drain holes on the outside are unique to those forks alone it looks like. I wonder what bike they could of come from originally?

[JimF]

Thanks Jordan,

Those are my forks. I had not included a photo of the triple trees but they are an exact match.

All is good now.

It would be interesting to know how the forks came to be sourced, particularly if they came from a donor motorcycle as it would had to have been a small displacement bike and probably European.

Thanks to this great community.

Jim

[JimF]

IMG_20160711_201830.jpg

Purposefully shot from this angle because the headlight is way too far forward than it should be.

The forks are 1.25" (yes Imperial sized.) It's a little under 32mm. I can't find 1.25" headlight brackets, much less having any choice about how far out (or in) the brackets hold the bucket. I found a set for 32mm forkes and shimmed them but they look modern and inappropriate and the place the bucket too far forward.

Jim

[amartina75]

Jim it doesn't seem like .25mm difference should be a big deal if they are a clamp on type. Can you measure your old ones or a stock set to see about where you want the headlight to sit?
How about these items
https://www.ebay.com/itm/381329857585
https://www.ebay.com/itm/291795307462

[Rick]

Jim,
What I can add-
The Metal Profiles forks were often part of the Rickman frame kit- bigger tubes than yours and disc brake sliders for the twin engine kits, but I've seen those forks on lots of the small single cylinder Rickman frames.
You probably saw that the brochure calls for 150cc/5oz of 10w30 oil for the S600 fork set.
The S600 tubes are 1.25" which is only 0.0098" bigger than the stock 31.5mm Ducati fork tubes- you could get a set of Ducati triple clamps bored to replace your clamps and use the MP tubes with standard cast Ducati fork ears. The MP brochure says they have rebound and compression damping, even hydraulic cushions at both ends, so they're probably an improvement on the Ducati fork. You'd want to make sure that when the MP forks were installed they didn't modify the steering stem frame tube- you'd need to use the Ducati bearing cups.
The MP forks may be valuable- you could sell them and mount some stock forks.
It's probably just the camera angle, but when I look at this picture it looks like the frame tube from the steering stem tube down to the front engine mount is bent, right below the triangular steering stop plates.

frame downtube.jpg

Rick

[Jordan]

it looks like the frame tube from the steering stem tube down to the front engine mount is bent, right below the triangular steering stop plates.

That's where they bend in a front end bump, also top tube. Should sharpen the steering a bit.