Fork Change ?

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Oct 27, 2016
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Has anyone changed the fork stanchions/front wheel to a readily available more modern set with a disc brake? I was thinking the roadholder legs are about 35mm in dia. That's a fairly common dia. in 70s 80s Japanese bikes. If you could find a set with approx the same spacing ( 7 3/8"?) it would seem like a pretty easy upgrade.
 
Do you mean retaining the Norton stanchions ?

If Japanese stanchions in the Norton triples.
I can not think of a Japanese fork that used a taper on the stanchion upper or any that would have the wall thickness to grind one onto it.
The Norton stanchions are an odd size around 34.5 mm and the Asian tubes are more likely a round number.
Add to that the early damper rod forks were not that great but a emulator could be used but then a cartridge could be put in either.
 
I think the OP means replacing the whole front end, triple clamps, stanchions, front wheel, disk, etc...
 
Do you mean retaining the Norton stanchions ?

If Japanese stanchions in the Norton triples.
I can not think of a Japanese fork that used a taper on the stanchion upper or any that would have the wall thickness to grind one onto it.
The Norton stanchions are an odd size around 34.5 mm and the Asian tubes are more likely a round number.
Add to that the early damper rod forks were not that great but a emulator could be used but then a cartridge could be put in either.


Yes I did mean Japanese into the Norton triples, I forgot about the taper, good point.
Guess that idea is out. :)

Has anyone changed the whole thing including triples?
 
I think the OP means replacing the whole front end, triple clamps, stanchions, front wheel, disk, etc...
I agree with above. IMO unless you change the internals in Roadholders, they are a bit rubbish, because Norton got the internals wrong. As seen elsewhere on this website, landsdown cartridge s etc. Would be the way to go. Japanese calipers with one or two exceptions, are not much good, but the twin pots on a slider not bad, but opposed pistons are even better.
 
I've seen a number of Norton racebikes with Commando disc brake in up to -72 classes. As the stanchions have the same taper on all Roadholder forks, it's a simple bolt on. A lot is written about improvement of the Commando brake. Parts for that readily available. Of course if making a new triple tree, you could put on a lot of different wheels and forks. My -72 Honda CB250 racer has got disc brake from another Honda model. With special triple tree. The Suzuki RG is changed to Yamaha forks, brakes and wheels. Because it had 18" wheel. No slicks available in that dimension.Only had to move rear disc in 5.5mm. I don't think the Roadholder is bad. I feel as confident as I do on the Ninja. A very fast racer tried my Manx, which has standard suspension and drum brakes last year. Comment: Handles well, horrendous brakes.
 
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What I'm mainly interested in is improving brakes at a reasonable cost.
 
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