1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

1976 GP 175 - Question About My Forks

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by Binx, Sep 8, 2015.

  1. Binx Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Land Of 10,000 Lakes
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1976 175 GP
    Other Motorcycles:
    2003 BMW GS, 2004 Honda Ruckus
    Greetings - Am new to this forum and new to Husky ownership.

    Traded a 12-pack of beer for a 76 GP 175. Bike has been sitting in a barn for 35 years, and has been sorely neglected. (Genuine barn-find.) Don't know if the motor runs and won't know till I get a new float bowl gasket for the Amal.

    Here's my question: how can I identify the forks on this bike? They have Schrader valves on the fork caps and I don't see any Schrader valves in the parts manual. Makes me think they could be period, after-market forks? Or maybe a common mod to the original Betor forks? There is a sticker on the air box cover that says, "Fox Forx - Designed & Manufactured By Steve Simons".

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    Looking forward to my restoration adventure. If I get ambitious I'll post the progress in the Vintage Restorations forum. Binx image.jpg
    Binx, Sep 8, 2015
    #1

  2. suprize Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Bendigo, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    WR 400, bike in a box Moto Villa 350
    Other Motorcycles:
    ktm 300
    possibly a home made modification, was popular when "air forks" became the rage. Or, as Betors had a habit of weeping oil all over you from the bleed valves, someone has replaced them with Schrader valves to control the weep....
    suprize, Sep 8, 2015
    #2

  3. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    The sticker on the airbox may have been wishful thinking unless there actually are Fox Airforks on that and we just can not see them:)
    jimspac, Sep 8, 2015
    #3

  4. ajcmbrown Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Metung Victoria Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    400WR 250WR 07 WR500 430AE 360AE
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 500CR Ducati Multistrada 1200S
    ajcmbrown, Sep 8, 2015
    #4
    Binx likes this.

  5. Binx Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Land Of 10,000 Lakes
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1976 175 GP
    Other Motorcycles:
    2003 BMW GS, 2004 Honda Ruckus
    Ajcmbrown - I'm certain you uncovered the answer. This explains why the the fork caps don't match the shop manual or the parts manual. It also explains the "Fox Forx - Steve Simons" sticker on the airbox. An after-market kit with an interesting history.

    Speaking of history - how did you find this info? A Google search? Or is Husky History your thing? I spent 12 days looking for the explanation. I'm way impressed. Many thanks.
    Binx, Sep 8, 2015
    #5
    ajcmbrown likes this.

  6. ajcmbrown Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Metung Victoria Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    400WR 250WR 07 WR500 430AE 360AE
    Other Motorcycles:
    1985 500CR Ducati Multistrada 1200S
    Well, I could say that I am a fountain of Husqvarna knowledge, but that would be an enormous lie, I could begin to explain how I had just such a kit in my Husqvarna but that would also be bull$h1t, I could also explain how I searched the internet for hours.....well you get the point! :D

    Seriously, I just used the Google search below, took all of about 30 seconds, no skill, special knowledge, previous experience or effort on my part.

    https://www.google.com.au/search?q="Fox Forx - Designed & Manufactured By Steve Simons"&oq="Fox Forx - Designed & Manufactured By Steve Simons"&aqs=chrome..69i57.13021194j0j7&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
    ajcmbrown, Sep 9, 2015
    #6

  7. justintendo klotz super techniplate junkie

    Location:
    mercer, pa/northwest pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    84 250,86 400,87 430,88 250,95 360
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 kawasaki zrx 1100
    as you own your husky, your google skills will also grow, grasshoppa...
    justintendo, Sep 9, 2015
    #7
    ajcmbrown likes this.

  8. Richard Colahan Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Upper Black Eddy PA
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    71 250 Cross, 74 125WR, 75 250WR
    Other Motorcycles:
    Vintage British bikes, 1969 Penton
    Those bikes came with Betor forks...it looks like that's what you have. Certainly the triple clamps are Betor.
    Attach a photo of the whole fork set to clarify.
    BTW, I have the same air bleed caps on my 1974 125WR Betors...they were an aftermarket item I bought back in the day.
    Still in use in AHRMA XC races!
    Richard Colahan, Sep 9, 2015
    #8