Replacement fork tubes / stanchions?

Discussion in '5th Generation 1998-2001' started by Pandemonium, Dec 23, 2017.

  1. Pandemonium

    Pandemonium New Member

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    Anyone have a recommendation for replacement fork stanchions?

    I am upgrading my suspension (DMr cartridges in front, DMr shock in the rear) and there are some pits in the fork stanchions/tubes. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth replacing or just sanding & polishing.

    Thanks!
     
  2. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    I have some 41mm tubes from a set of VTR1000 forks. Actually have the sliders too, I took the internals for my 5 Gen rebuild. PM me if you’re interested. They’re just taking up,space in my garage.
     
  3. Pandemonium

    Pandemonium New Member

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    Thanks! If I'm going to replace mine, I would like a brand new set. I appreciate the help, though.
     
  4. Pandemonium

    Pandemonium New Member

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    Some Googling has led me to Tarozzi fork tubes:
    http://www.fastfromthepast.com/fork-tubes/fork-tubes-chrome
    http://www.fastfromthepast.com/05-0395
    $175/each.

    Anyone have experience with them? They seems to make replacement fork tubes for just about every bike. Nobody has them in stock for a 5th Gen, though, so it'd be a special order and would take 5-6 weeks.

    For that cost and order time I'm tempted to just have my mechanic sand and polish my stock fork tubes and hope that's good enough to not kill another set of seals for a few years. I'd love any thoughts from anyone with experience here.
     
  5. OOTV

    OOTV Insider

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    No worries. If you change your mind, I'm only a PM away. Cheers and good luck with your refresh.
     
  6. wstark54

    wstark54 New Member

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    Try http://franksforks.com, used them over the years and always great product.
     
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  7. Pandemonium

    Pandemonium New Member

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    Will check them out. Thanks!
     
  8. Pandemonium

    Pandemonium New Member

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    Update: six months later and my leaky fork seal returned. Apparently we didn't completely remove whatever burr caused the leaks when we polished them. Now I get to tear it all back apart. :-(

    I'm going to do new tubes this time since I don't want to mess with it again for a long time.

    I have a quote request in with Frank's Forks.

    I also found that a Polish suspension company called Tecrol used to make replacement forks for 5th Gens. There's precisely one left here:
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Front-fork-tube-Honda-VFR-800-FI-1998-2001-/192331910155
    Too bad I want to replace the pair.

    Let me know if I missed any options, or if anyone has experience with any of them. Unless there's a reason not to, I'll probably go with whoever is cheaper between Frank's and Tarozzi.
     
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