O/T Motorcycle parts

[wildcard]

My daughter has an 03 Yamaha V-Star Classic. It has been in an accident and needs the forks replaced. They say all the lights and such are reuseable. My question is, will any Yamaha forks fit or does it have to be the exact same as is on there.

[fordman]

from my bicycle days what you will want to watch for is length and diameter of the center shaft. and fork lenght.

[Ranchero50]

I'd call one of the aftermarket catalog guys and see what they suggest. I'm sure the factory shop is going to recommend a direct replacement.

[woods]

The most important thing is of course diameter (so they fit) and then length, as mentioned. If you go too long or too short, you will change the rake and trail, which can have some very ill effects on handling.

[wildcard]

Thanks guys. I don't know the first thing about working on motorcycles. But it looks like I'm fixing to learn the hard way.

[fomocoguy]

After owning 50+ motorcycles over the years I can tell you that most parts are model specific. You may find a set that's the right length and diameter but the chance of finding some with the correct design for mounting the front wheel and correct mounts for the brake caliper, as well as being set up for the right diameter disc, are slim. If you do find a set that fit but are from a defferent model get the wheel and brake setup with it. I am willing to bet that you'll need to find a set from another Vstar.

[BobbyFord]

Check Ebay, Craigslist or you can look in your local yellow pages for a motorcycle salvage yard. We have several motorcycle boneyards in my area.
Check this place, they'll prolly ship to you...> http://www.johnsonandwood.com/

[fuzzier1]

To begin with they are model specific and are not easily changed from one to the other. That being said I have installed a Suzuki GSXR complete frontend on a Yamaha FZR400 but I was a machinist in a previous life. It was easy by replacing the Suzuki stem with the Yamaha's in the triple tree.

On to your bike, is it that the tubes are bent? Are the sliders damaged? Any wheel damaged? If it is that the tubes are bent you can replace just the tubes. This is easily done and typically only requires a seal driver as the only specialized tool. Also if the tubes are bent it is a good chance that the triple trees and trill clamp is twisted.

If you could post a picture maybe we could help you further.

Fuzz

[woods]

Yeah...my stuff is usually put togther by whatever parts I have laying around. I find that almost anything will fit with enough massaging.

[wildcard]

I can't get a pic right now. The bike is at her house 50 miles from here. She said a couple mechs looked at it and said basicly everything from the gas tank forward needed to be replaced. But she could reuse all the lights and such.
I know when I sat on it with the handlebars square with the tank, when I looked over the bars, the front wheel was still turned about 5 to 10 degrees to the left.