SRAD Fork Stanchion Surface Defect.

Good morning!

All Bike Engineering have completed the work of replacing the worst fork stanchion. Interestingly they have told me these forks are not SRAD forks but in fact are TL1000S 1999 forks. Now a question for YC in particular, but also anyone else who can comment;

Are these TL1000S forks as good as SRAD forks? And will the valving(if its standard) be more suitable to the SV? I'm thinking of revalving later this year (sending to YC) and I'm wondering if its worth getting different forks closer to the time and selling these ones on. Obviously if I were to sell them on they would have been repaired and in full working condition because I'm not a c*** like the guy i bought them from.

[yorkie_chris]

Hmmm maybe not so good... didn't TLS have 55mm lower clamp? Check this...

They're kayabas... and they're a sort of arab... quite a few of them in iraq i think...

Maybe it is possible to do something with them. Maybe like shoehorning in some late GSXR cartridges. Otherwise I'd fit replacement pistons, and maybe needles too but I'd have a closer look in there. Either way probably cheaper to start with the 750 SRAD stuff in the first place because they've got decent pistons and that.

Ok well i guess ill get saving for a loose pair of SRAD forks, then post them up to you for the work to be done. For now though I want to spend ALL my money on petrol and tyres as the bike should be finished this week

TBH the TL1000 forks arent too bad especially when fitted to a lighter bike such as the SV, try springs and re-set the air gap first before anything else. They are lighter sprung than the Srad forks and the valving would make them fairly compliant for the road. Failing that Racetech make a decent valve kit for them for not alot.

What air gap do you recommend on maybe stock TL1000s 1999 forks fitted to a 2001 sv650 with a 2003ish B1H rear shock? Springs removed, leg fully compressed I guess? I'm hopefully rebuilding them tonight. Will SRAD 750 seals fit? Im hoping they do as obviously I bought the wrong ones.

The TL1000s fork seals are a 43x55x9.5/10 and the Srads are 43x54x11 so they would be a little too loose. Air gap wise id start at 100mm spring out and fork compressed.

Ah crap. What a ball ache. Where can i buy them with fast fast delivery?

Try Wemoto..or Mark Sadler is close to you at go racing developments but id expect him to be off to Oulton Park same as us tommorow, you could try him quite early he is 12 miles outside of Oxford Give him the sizes he should have some.
Tel: 01993 702160
Mob: 07739 430671

I have some in stock but am down to one member of staff tommorow and friday due to racing commitments so couldnt promise to get them out to you until start of next week..

I rebuilt the forks and all seems to be good 350 miles later. Oil tight and functioning properly.

The head bearings however are not. I am unsure what lower yoke I have. I would assume TLS1000 as that's what the forks are.The lower fork diameter is 55mm, upper 50mm. I fitted standard size tapered roller SV650 lower bearing. It was the unsealed type and i forgot to put the dust cover washer on before driving the new lower inner bearing on. The top bearing was Zorans GSXR-SV bearing.

It all appeared to fit when i put it back together, nothing strange. Now I have a rattle/clunk from the front end that I can feel through the bars. It was there before and after the recent front end rebuild I carried out. (Disks, brake rebuild, fork rebuild)

It is there when the head castle nut was tightened to the point the bike handled like the front tyre was flat.

So i think its either fit or the washer missing. Does anyone know if the dimensions of the steering stem on the lower yoke of TLS1000 and SRAD750 differ?