| Author | Message | ||
     Williamscottrobertson |
These forks on eBay are engraved race use only. Anyone have any info on why they are stamped? https://www.ebay.com/itm/322329853301 | ||
| S1owner |
Most of the race use only is because it was not a factory item and was not an oem part thus it was not involved in official bike testing and being a true stock part. Alot if us have Race use only parts installed. These are built to handle the track if thats your style go for it | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
That's what I thought. I wonder if these are stiffer springed or something? | ||
| Sportyeric |
He has listed these as also for X1, M2, etc. Be aware the S2 has longer forks than the others because of how the handlebars mount. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Sporty, do you think these are longer for the s2? The wp forks were only on the s2 correct? | ||
| Sportyeric |
After I posted the bit above, I reconsidered, given that they are WP. However, I just now went out and measured mine, which are off the bike for seal replacement. They are 31 1/4" top to bottom. 30" top to axle. So in no way do I see 28" forks being for an S2. | ||
| 1313 |
The wp forks were only on the s2 correct? That's a BIG negatory. WP forks were used through the 1998 MY, with the Nissin forks first appearing on all 1999 MY bikes. The shape of the outer tubes of those eBay forks do not match the shape of S2 forks, but they do for the WP forks used on other models (S1, S3/S3T). My best guess would be that they're S1 forks, 1313 | ||
| S1owner |
Being they sayvrace use only I would wager they cam from an S1 but I could be wrong my wife. Says that it happens way more then I am aware of!! | ||
| 651lance |
Back in the day we had four race bikes. Two were S2's and were S1's and they both ran S1 fork's with clip-on under the triple trees. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Interesting. Thanks for the info!! I have a seal leaking on my s2. The threads on here related to seal replacement on the wp's look involved. I haven't ever replaced fork seals and I don't have a 40mm driver (from what I read I need one of those if I were to do it myself). Would it be adviseable to take it tand the new seal to a metric shop to be replaced? I doubt the HD dealer could do it? | ||
| 651lance |
If you're in the Minneapolis MN area we still work on Buells. Or you can bring them to my house and we'll knock them out. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
Lance, I'm a corporate pilot but don't get to Minneapolis much. If I were coming I'd throw it in the plane and meet you  . Would you change them out if I mailed them to you? I'd compensate you of course and pay shipping both ways. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
The Nissin forks were around in 98. Only the 96/97 S1s have the WP forks. The 98 bikes have the Nissin forks. The fork seals are a pain to track down, because the oem seals cost way too much. A lot of KTMs use WP forks though. I found the measurements, and dug around a little online until I found a ktm that used the same size seals, and ordered some aftermarket ktm seals on ebay. They've been working perfectly. Changing them isn't too bad. I had to come up with a special tool to use with some tie down straps to compress the internals while I put on the split washer to hold it all together, but otherwise it wasn't bad. I used other people's suggestion and used a piece of PVC pipe, either 1-1/2 or 2", can't remember off the top of my head, cut it into two pieces length wise, and took a dremel to the one end so it fit the profile of the fork seal right, and used that to knock it in place. Definitely a do-able job if you follow the service manual instructions and watch a youtube video or two first. | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
I found seals on eBay for a ktm 40x50x7/10.5 that I believe would work. $12 for a set of two. I just bought a set of oem from Jeff caco for $40 to be sure I had the right size and oem quality. A friend of mine used the pvc method on a wr450 and the seal still leaked after install. He wasn't the most patient though. I just want it done right and I trust the local shops about as far as I can throw them. | ||
| 651lance |
I'll help you out if you want. I can change them out for you. Contact me at lkugler@stpaulhd.com | ||
| 1313 |
The Nissin forks were around in 98. Only the 96/97 S1s have the WP forks. The 98 bikes have the Nissin forks. Say WHAT? My 1998 S3T Defender has WP forks. I just went downstairs to look at it for a sanity check - even though I already knew the answer. 1999 was the first year for Nissin forks. 1998 was the first year for some other Nissin components near the forks, however. The front brake caliper along with the rear brake caliper, rear brake master cylinder were Nissin starting in 1998. Just trying to ensure accurate information is posted, 1313 | ||
| Basti |
Sorry Guys but the USD forks from 1999 onwards are made by SHOWA :-) To my little knowledge Nissin never made or makes forks, they just produce brake components and yes the switch to the Nissin brakes cam already 1998 . Hope this helps | ||
| Ratbuell |
 (Could we create a new emoji there that says "what he said" on the sign? I hate calling these nice people "stupid"...) | ||
| Hootowl |
Yeah, pretty sure that was just a brain fart. | ||
| 1313 |
Definitely a brain fart, Showa is correct for suspension mfr. after WP. I even questioned myself when posting last night "Nissin doesn't sound right for suspension, that CAN'T be right..."  Good to know that someone is paying attention and Showa suspension definitely started in 1999! 1313 | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I should specify that I don't know WHO made the newer forks, I just know that the 98 S1W had different forks than the 96/97 bikes. 96/97 S1s had forks with the 40x50x7/10.5 fork seals, and the 98 bikes had seals that were(as best as I can tell) 41x54x11. It's very possible that the 98 bikes still had wp forks, but if they did it was a 41mm version instead of the 40mm on the 96/97? All I know is that you can find fork seals listed for the 98 bikes all over the place for cheap, and finding them for my 97 was a pain. If the showa forks didn't start until 1999, then I'm guessing the S1W came with it's own special fork?? That would be silly. I was a little worried about my right fork after I replaced the leaking seal because I noticed the inside of the fork tube had a little bit of pitting in the chrome, and I know it was likely it'd cause more leaking, but so far I haven't found another drop of oil on the outside of my fork leg, so the ktm seals and the pvc driver both worked well. There's definitely potential for it to not if you don't take your time and are a little too rough with them. If all of that is incorrect and all S1s had the same exact fork, then I just wasted a ton of time after being mislead by the internet due to all of the S1 fork seals only being listed for the 1998 bikes, and will be happy to know I can just grab a pair off of ebay next time around. | ||
| Basti |
All S1 and 97/98 S3 had original the 40mm WP fork, no difference between 96,97 or 98. From 99 on the USD forks ( X1 and S3) were made by Showa and had 41mm, BUT the old 40mm WP forks and the newer 41mm Showa forks share the same 54 diameter in the triple trees/ fork clamps, the same lenght and the same axle. So they are very easy interchangeable, only difference betwenn them are the left spacer as the older models run a speedometer cable and the newer ones have an electric speedometer | ||
| Williamscottrobertson |
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| Upthemaiden |
Well then it sounds like I may be wrong(although in my defense, I got ALL of my information from this forum haha). Next time I order some fork seals I'll probably just order the same size KTM seals and skip the S1 seals listed online to be sure I'm getting some that work. | ||
| Gmaple |
Race tech has the seals for the S2 bolt. I think they were $ 40 shipped. | ||
| Lornce |
S2's used WP Roma forks. S1' and S3's up to '98 MY used WP forks also, but they weren't Roma's. Not sure what they're called, but they didn't have compression and rebound damping like the Roma's. '99 and later tubers used Showa forks. '98 saw the introduction of Nissin brake calipers to replace the PM calipers of earlier machines. Hope this helps clear up some muddled info.  | ||
| Screamer |
Haven't been on for a while so I'm kind of late to comment on the "Race-use-Only". Stamped with Race use didn't always imply that the component was modified or improved for racing. Sometimes parts salvaged from bikes being scrapped or components with cosmetic blems would be given to Henry and Jamie to be re-purposed for race support. To help ensure the parts didn't get re-sold and end up on street bikes they were stamped or etched "Race-Use-Only". |
