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Buell Forum » Old School Buell » Archive through August 22, 2014 » Barn Built Buells » ROMA FORKS: CRASH COURSE « Previous Next »

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Kc_zombie
Posted on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 09:48 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Can you all give me some background on the ROMA forks? I have heard they may be the best alternative to WP and Showa and it's made me curious about their origin, adjustability, parts availability and performance when compared to the WP and Showa.

Thanks for your input.
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Ratbuell
Posted on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 11:39 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

A Roma fork IS a WP fork, just a different model. Later (after the S2) WPs used on Buells, one fork had compression adjust and the other fork had rebound adjust. Romas, they each have both adjustments.
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Greg_cifu
Posted on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 12:44 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I've read in here--though I haven't needed them yet--that the Roma seals are getting to be very hard to come by. No clue if that's true or not because I've been lucky enough to not need them.

Something I CAN tell you: on hard bumps, the pressure inside can sometimes pop the adjuster caps loose. They're just a barbed plastic knob with an o-ring. They push into the fork cap and snap in place.

My S2 did that and lost one of them. Early KTMs used Roma forks so that's where I went to try to get them. No luck.

I ended up buying a pair of old, damaged KTM fork legs from a guy on Ebay. After winning the auction, I asked him to carefully pop the caps loose, just send those to me and relist the remains for whatever he could get for them--"Thank you." I think I paid $40 for those caps and was damn glad to get them.

Performance wise: I have three Roma-forked bikes, one Showa and one 1998 WP. It may be placebo effect and some may be setup better than others. I like the Romas. The finish and the ride is very nice. As much as I hate to admit, I think the Showas are number two. They are finished more nicely than the later WPs and seem to be as stiction-free as the Romas. My 1998 WPs are freshly charged with oil and were carefully measured for oil level. They seem to have a bit more stiction than the Showa so small ripple bumps transmit more readily to the bars.

Just my $0.02.
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Jolly
Posted on Sunday, June 23, 2013 - 10:18 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I bought my Romas for the purpose of putting them on the x1 and being able to put clip on style above the top tree as they are the right length for that type of set up and they are ready to go buell "friendly"..all the bonuses of the better shock, are just that...BONUS!!
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Fahren
Posted on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 12:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I do believe the Roma seals are hard to come by, but I think the Buell parts guy in the Netherlands (can't remember company/username) has them. Al does not, IIRC.

Edit: Easyrider (username). Twin Motorcycles (NL).

(Message edited by fahren on June 24, 2013)
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Kc_zombie
Posted on Monday, June 24, 2013 - 11:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Very helpful. Thanks everyone.

(Message edited by kc zombie on June 24, 2013)
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Al_lighton
Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 12:18 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

We have the OEM seals, they aren't an issue at this time, http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-p rodshow/6156.html . It's the upper bushings that we don't currently have.

I also have a bunch of the other internal parts that are obsolete, but they aren't on the web site. If you need something for the ROMA forks, ping me, I MIGHT have them.

(Message edited by al_lighton on June 25, 2013)
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Beardo
Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 06:56 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So the WP fork seals are all the same?
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Fahren
Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2013 - 11:25 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Thanks, Al. Good to know!
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