Triple Tree Color

marshg246 · Oct 3, 2016

My 1974 850 Commando Roadster is stock. The triple trees are a little ratty looking and since I'm rebuilding the forks, I want to address that. This is my first Norton (waited about 40 years to get one). I've always had Triumphs and they always have black triple trees.

I'll powder coat the Norton triple trees but I'm looking for opinions/suggestions on the color. The simple thing for me would be black - I do black parts at least weekly.

So, I'm wondering what people think about black for Norton triple trees and I'm wondering if anyone has powder coated them in a color that looks like the originals and if so, if they know the Eastwood color.

htown16 · Oct 3, 2016

I like black.

concours · Oct 3, 2016

Powder coat thickness will obliterate the casting texture. To me, it looks totally out of place on a vintage bike (mainly because it didn't exist then). I found a silver/"stainless" colored paint that looked pretty close to what they were. JMWO :mrgreen:

marshg246 · Oct 3, 2016

concours said:
Powder coat thickness will obliterate the casting texture. To me, it looks totally out of place on a vintage bike (mainly because it didn't exist then). I found a silver/"stainless" colored paint that looked pretty close to what they were. JMWO :mrgreen:

Can you say what the color is and who makes the paint you found? Was it a rattle can? Is it durable?

marshg246 · Oct 3, 2016

htown16 said:
I like black.

Being a Triumph guy, that looks good to me! Personally, I think black and chrome go together and silver and chrome don't. On the other hand, I like stock so I'm not sure what I want to do. Thanks for the picture, it helps.

baz · Oct 4, 2016

Bit off subject really but I have often wondered why in America yokes are called "triple trees" ???? I can understand down pipes being called headers because they connect to the cylinder head etc etc even tyre spelt incorrectly with an I !! But triple trees ?????

Clanger · Oct 4, 2016

My 75 's yokes are silver hammer finish and original as far as I know.

I find the 'yokes' much less of a mouthfull. Always amusing to see them described as 'yolks', which happens quite often.

Then again I had to stifle laughter when a bloke walked past at a show proudly wearing an 'MV Augusta' T shirt..

peter12 · Oct 4, 2016

There is a fairly recent post covering this in some detail. My 71 Commando in 1975 had a silver top yoke and black lowers. Agree with the fact that they showed the casting marks, so smooth wouldn't look original.

mschmitz57 · Oct 4, 2016

baz said:
Bit off subject really but I have often wondered why in America yokes are called "triple trees" ???? I can understand down pipes being called headers because they connect to the cylinder head etc etc even tyre spelt incorrectly with an I !! But triple trees ?????

I think the term "triple tree" is a slang variation of "triple clamp" which was a term associated with modern telescopic forks In American dirt bike scene. In my early years of motorcycling (in the 70's) I'd never heard the term "yokes" here in the states until later when I began hearing "yokes" being used in relation to road bikes. I've heard the term fork "crown" as well. These terms may originate from earlier front fork designs such as leading or trailing link forks.

To further muddy the waters, here's the Wikipedia entry for "Motorcycle Fork".

"Conventionally, the fork stanchions are at the top, clamped to a triple tree (also called a triple clamp or a yoke), and the sliders are at the bottom, attached to the front wheel spindle"

Clanger · Oct 4, 2016

mschmitz57 said:
To further muddy the waters, here's the Wikipedia entry for "Motorcycle Fork".

"Conventionally, the fork stanchions are at the top, clamped to a triple tree (also called a triple clamp or a yoke), and the sliders are at the bottom, attached to the front wheel spindle"

That seems like a reasonable summary of the situation in the US. However in the UK we predominately use the term yoke. I wonder what they are called in other parts of the English speaking world, e.g. Auz or NZ?

mschmitz57 · Oct 4, 2016

I also prefer the stock "Silver" color. I've bead blasted and repainted several sets of Commando "yokes" painted black. Now that I think of it Norton may have used black for 1 year. Last time I did this I used a silver mag wheel paint followed by a clear coat. Black may be a more logical choice however since the original silver paint allowed rust stains to bleed through on older unrestored bikes. Previously I used good old Rustoleum "aluminum" paint followed by clear coat, but later Rustoleum changed the formulation of this color and became more of a chrome glossy finish. Yuck.

MikeM · Oct 4, 2016

My 71 has the factory finish still on it. It is the silvery, hammer style finish with the roughish looking casting.
I suppose black would look fine but if your going for original style thats probably not it.

baz · Oct 4, 2016

My commando has triple trees made of aluminumb and are polished !!!!! But my "fenders" are painted!!!!

mschmitz57 · Oct 4, 2016

My guess is Norton switched to silver to mimic the chrome headlight bucket and ears, polished aluminum gauge holders, chrome fork nuts.
Black yokes stick out like a sore thumb amidst all those shiny bits. but then that's just my $.02

baz · Oct 4, 2016

all the original commandos i have seen have the yokes painted silver over a basic fettled foundry finnish cheers

pete.v · Oct 4, 2016

Dupli-Color
Engine Enamel
DE1650 Cast Coat Aluminum

htown16 · Oct 4, 2016

Then again silver is nice too.

Vhs silver caliper paint. Have used it on calipers, engine parts, and other assorted bits. Very durable.

ELMZY · Oct 4, 2016

Clanger said:
I wonder what they are called in other parts of the English speaking world, e.g. Auz or NZ?

"Triple Trees" in Australia - unless you're a pom.

concours · Oct 5, 2016

marshg246 said:
concours said:

Powder coat thickness will obliterate the casting texture. To me, it looks totally out of place on a vintage bike (mainly because it didn't exist then). I found a silver/"stainless" colored paint that looked pretty close to what they were. JMWO :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

Can you say what the color is and who makes the paint you found? Was it a rattle can? Is it durable?

Quite durable, 4 years 28,000 miles.

https://www.amazon.com/Krylon-K02400000 ... B003R8QWX6

Burgs · Oct 5, 2016

Hi
Been playing with motorbikes since 1964, and have always known yokes as yokes, triple trees seems to have crept in form somewhere else maybe USA?
Why triple trees, is it the fact that there are three connections, two clamped on the stanchions and third on the steering stem? Then again what if they are not clamped to the steering stem??
Elmsy you must be a young'un as I have only heard the word triple trees used lately (10 years or so) my manuals refer to them as YOKES?

On the original question I reckon silver would be correct, unfortunately my 72 YOKES have been chromed by previous owner/s, so cannot help other than my fading memory.
Best Regards
Burgs

Triple Tree Color

marshg246

htown16

concours

marshg246

marshg246

baz

Clanger

peter12

mschmitz57

Clanger

mschmitz57

MikeM

baz

mschmitz57

baz

pete.v

htown16

ELMZY

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