SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Brother in need...
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1243091715

Message started by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 08:15:15

Title: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 08:15:15

One of our brothers is in need of our urgent help. I just spoke with Guy (Serenety3743) who is currently in Alabama visiting family. He's about an hour south of me. He rode his bike from his home in North Carolina. He had some misfortune and now needs a new front end. A harley shop tried repairing the fork tubes but no luck. I'm trying to help him out. There's an awesome bike salvage place near me that likely has a replacement front end, LS650 or otherwise.

Now, for your help- I've read that there are other front ends that will fit the LS650. What other model front ends will fit the LS650?

I've got til 3pm today to secure a front end for Guy so I need this info ASAP. 3pm is when the bike salvage place closes. Then everything will be closed for an extra day due to the holiday.

Thanks.

DJ

Title: Re: EMERGENCY- PLEASE READ
Post by JohnBoy on 05/23/09 at 08:48:59

this was posted in another thread...

Re: question bout getting new forks
Reply #3 - Today at 05:44:39 I got em from a 1985 KX500. Need the whole stem, triples, the wheel brake ...
Junkyards have them and they wont run you more than couple 100. They are larger dia, have less offset and are a decent (9-12 in) longer for an added 10 degrees of rake. They have 21 inch aluminum laced rim in a 90 width. They will also interchange with KX 250 and 125 parts in that similar vintage. Best of all, over other dirt bike front ends these will take savage risers and 1 inch drag bar. Yea cables and wires fit too.
Cool.
Srinath.

Title: Re: EMERGENCY- PLEASE READ
Post by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 08:53:58

Thanks JB. Looks like the bike salvage has a set for an LS650 after all. Just gotta get them to Guy.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by Savage_Amusement on 05/23/09 at 08:59:05

I hope he is alright. I'm so glad to see people helping each other out, it is actually kind of inspiring in this day.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 09:13:01

Guy said he's fine. Just bent the fork tubes a little. Sounds like more damage was done trying to straighten them at the HD shop. But if he can't get a hold of some today then it's a long wait. Around here most bike places are closed on Monday. With Memorial Day being this Monday, then Tuesday becomes the bike shop's Monday. So Wednesday is likely the soonest to places will be open after today.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 09:31:16

Update- going to the salvage yard to check out and pick up fork tubes. Looks like Guy is gonna swing by the house tomorrow to pick up the tubes.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by High-Def on 05/23/09 at 09:56:27

Nice, good on ya Jim.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/23/09 at 12:51:09

Guy, here are your new used forks. One has a faded decal on it as you can see. (FYI to others- Guy can't long on where he's at so he's on here as a guest).

http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh128/russ_diamond_jim/forks.jpg

Structurally they are in good condition. The dust seals are cracked in a few places which is expected. Should be a direct swap, though. The seals are most likely good. No sign of leaking but I figure they haven't been riden on for a while. I inspected closely and wiped them down a little to get the thin layer of grime off the bottom sections. If the seals leak, the ride home might be a little bouncy but they'll get you home. The people at the Midway Cycle Salvage in Madison, AL were pretty cool so a plug here for them.

Meet you at exit 310 about 1pm tomorrow.

(I was editing this while yonuh was posting)

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by Yonuh Adisi on 05/23/09 at 12:53:27

Unless they were cleaned up, it looks like the seals are intact as well. How much did they set ya back? (Still looking for parts to build the 87 frame for my daughter.)

And very cool on ya Jim to help out a fellow biker.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/24/09 at 14:10:24

Update- hooked up with Guy earlier today and he got his forks. He came to the house and we had a chance to chat for a little while. Very cool guy. He lives fairly close to Toymaker and said he's donating his head/head cover to Oldfeller and Toymaker to let them experiment and see if they can figure out a way to repair worn cam journals.

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by verslagen1 on 05/24/09 at 14:29:47

What comes around, goes around. ;D

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by diamond jim on 05/24/09 at 14:38:54

Yep. When I break down in Deals Gap maybe he can help me out!

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by serenity3743 on 05/26/09 at 09:07:30

Hey, "guys," I'm back at my computer and catching up on DJ's thread. I'm doing fine, just a little contusion/bruise on my right eyelid, a scratch on my nose, and one on the corner of my eye. I think I hit the upper windshield when my bike came to a sudden stop against the rear bumper of a Ford Aerostar. Only damage to the van was a tire mark on the bumper. I was telling DJ that that 1.5 seconds of slight inattention cost me about $350 in real cash, plus aggravation, plus DJ's time and hassle. But he is a friend indeed as the saying goes. I plan to pay it forward.........Guy

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by Savage_Amusement on 05/26/09 at 11:43:04

Well I'm glad that you are o.k for the most part. Thanks for reporting in!!

Title: Re: Brother in need...
Post by serenity3743 on 05/26/09 at 13:37:15

Here's some good information to have: The backwoods Harley shop where "Kenny" said he could straighten my bent forks, well he found out that Suzuki forks are a lot softer than Harley forks. When he put them in a hydraulic press, they dimpled before they straightened. This of course closed the inside diameter of the fork tube so that the spring would not insert past the dimple. Kenny forced the springs inside but they wouldn't go far enough in to accommodate the top tubes (inside the upper fork). Also, the tubes weren't really straight after all, because I could not get the lower tubes to line up correctly for the axle threads to catch. So it's a good thing DJ was able to find those salvage forks!!!...........Guy