Front End Forks Swap YZ

Discussion in 'TR650' started by Shawn Johnson, Aug 31, 2015.

  1. Gibster Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Reno, Nevada
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    '84 XR350R
    Race Tech is now offering springs for the Terra.
  2. Rickyme Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650, WR300 both 2013
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TTR 600 Belgarda
    I am very looking forward to reporting on how good my new front end is, shouldnt be long now
  3. Shawn Johnson Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Terra TR650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 KTM 1190 R, 2017 KTM 690 Enduro
    When you do post some photos with the new front end.
  4. Baddrapp Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Yucca Valley
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650
    When mine bottoms it is not a tire hitting a fender. It is metal to metal bang. Loud and hard. Evidently they do not any form of cushion for bottoming out. It is a metal to metal bottoming out. We had packed in and my bike was stripped of gear. Just me on the bike. They do good going slow but as soon as you start picking up the speed you hit their limit very quickly.
  5. Glengemen Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Las Vegas NV
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha Raider 1900
    Shawn, do you have the forks set longer than stock(for the Husky) giving it more rake? If so is that giving the bike more stability?
    I've taken mine to 110mph several times, but it sure isn't confidence inspiring at speed. 60-70 or so is about as fast as I can feel good on dirt. The longer forks help that. I really want to get rid of that uneasy feeling this bike gives me at speed.
  6. Shawn Johnson Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Terra TR650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 KTM 1190 R, 2017 KTM 690 Enduro
    If you do my conversion you can make the rake longer for more stability( up to 1 1/2" longer). I kept mine the stock height because I prefer the better handling at speeds 65mph and below since I rarely go faster than that.
  7. Shawn Johnson Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Terra TR650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 KTM 1190 R, 2017 KTM 690 Enduro
    What forks are you talking about, stock or YZ?
  8. Baddrapp Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Yucca Valley
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR650
    Sorry, I was still going off about the stockers.
  9. Rickyme Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650, WR300 both 2013
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TTR 600 Belgarda
    Job Done!!!

    I gave the assembly job to a mechanic mate of mine, much tidier than I would have done.

    But first was it worth it?
    A different bike completely. I think the addition of proper sag has helped a lot here, it actually feels like a trailbike - a heavy one with a very high ist gear but yep its fun off road now. The rear suspension is now obviously lacking but that will have to wait a little while.
    I put new pads on the front brake and once scrubbed in they are ok, fine for off road. Ive spoken with Aquatic, hes up in Qld and may get an axle machined up and use his caliper mount for the terra brembo set up after Christmas as he is too busy at the moment .
    But for now Im just going to ride it. It is like getting a new bike.
    The work I had done on the old YZ forks was well worth it and a big shout out to Trooper Lu's in Sydney, talk to Christian if you want a no bullshit quality result.
    Ive only just got the 250mm clearance under the guard so Ill drop the forks another 10mm which will give 10mm left out of the triple clamp.
    My mechanic didn't use the extra spacer on the axle When the front is properly alligned (by leaving it loose and bouncing the suspension before tightening) the axle sits about 10mm inside the clamp as there is no lug on it like the Terra axle.
    I think if you use bar risers you wont get the slow speed handling advantage as much so I recommend shortening the fork to 250mm travel.In fact as soon as tried it the bike felt much more nimble and less weight up top and thats with the fork length increase





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    Attached Files:

  10. Shawn Johnson Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Seattle
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2013 Terra TR650
    Other Motorcycles:
    2016 KTM 1190 R, 2017 KTM 690 Enduro
    Looks awesome! I know I have WAY more fun riding my bike with the fork conversion.
  11. Rickyme Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650, WR300 both 2013
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TTR 600 Belgarda
    Yeah thanks for posting this thread Shawn , I didnt think the terra could be this good.
    Im just amazed by how much negativity there is around this mod which basically makes it safer to ride
  12. engineerk9 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Narrabeen
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650
    Other Motorcycles:
    Kawasaki ZRX1100
    Shawn please show a little respect WayneC has a huge range of experience & knowledge gained over decades of doing the work, he's more than willing to share that wisdom, be gratefull
    PaulC and rride like this.
  13. engineerk9 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Narrabeen
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650
    Other Motorcycles:
    Kawasaki ZRX1100
    The Terry Hay - Shock Treatment conversion makes more sense & is simpler
    PaulC likes this.
  14. engineerk9 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Narrabeen
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650
    Other Motorcycles:
    Kawasaki ZRX1100
    Placebo effect ??
    mag00 likes this.
  15. Thumpa Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    san francisco bay area, california usa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    TR 650 Terra
    Other Motorcycles:
    CCM Dakar, G650X
    Can you be a little more graffic as to what this conversion consists of?
  16. engineerk9 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Narrabeen
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650
    Other Motorcycles:
    Kawasaki ZRX1100
    Modifications to both tubes & one of the compression & rebound valves, finally shim pack to suit riders preferences, takes only a few hours, produces literally a magical carpet ride at the front, amazing difference
    Terry Hay is a professional Suspension specialist it would be unethical to divulge the specifics
  17. Rickyme Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650, WR300 both 2013
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TTR 600 Belgarda
    OMG !!! yes please post another thread ...
    You will still end up with the same limited travel and no adjustability
    Shawn Johnson likes this.
  18. engineerk9 Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Narrabeen
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650
    Other Motorcycles:
    Kawasaki ZRX1100
    190mm is a reasonable amount of travel, having a great setting for compression & rebound damping, spring & pre-load rates set for individual rider preference for most of us is good enough - certainly for me & I do adventure rides of several thousand kilometres at a time
    PaulC likes this.
  19. Rickyme Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Sydney Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    Terra 650, WR300 both 2013
    Other Motorcycles:
    Yamaha TTR 600 Belgarda
    fair enough, not disagreeing with your logic there
    for me I like the extra travel for the emergency moments and also to make adjustments for when I load a lot of gear on it.
    Also my attention span is pretty short so 5-600 km over a couple of days is enough for me.
    Probably should have bought a KTM 690
  20. Aquatic Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Buddina, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    none
    Other Motorcycles:
    BMW F650GS Dakar
    Just read this thread from Start to finish.

    @Shawn - I admire what you have done. Like me you went the "value for money" option. It is how I got started with my conversion kits. Put something out there that is plug and play without have to go to the expense of getting machining done. I agree that my parts are not cheap. But they are cheaper than most.
    As a person with an engineering background I have really only have 1 major concern. Brakes and travel can be fixed, but if my understanding of the parts you used is correct. Your forks are no longer parallel!
    Without getting into the maths of it, forcing the bigger diameter YZ forks into the smaller Husky lower clamp puts the forks out of parallel by 0.5mm over the distance of the top and bottom clamp. Roughly 0.75mm over the full travel of the fork.
    Not a huge a mount, but that will be enough to cause wear of the sliding internals over time.
    In my opinion. The ideal fix for you would be to get the lower Husky triple machined out to the correct diameter for the YZ forks.

    As I said to Ricky the other day, another option for the brakes is too modify a BMW/Husky OEM front disc to fit a YZ hub. It is possible, I have done it.
    Then use the caliper hanger I have and you have the full husky brake system.

    Keep the rubber side down!

    Cheers
    C
    PaulC, mag00 and engineerk9 like this.