A really light.. wallet. There is a whole group of people obsessed with alternative front ends. I kinda fall in that category. The idea is lighter weight, controlled progressiveness, anti dive, massive adjustability, lower CG, etc. This site is kinda dedicated to it - http://unlimited-eng.skyrock.com/ I'm fascinated with the idea and have drawings of my own design. Decoster loved his works Suzuki... Honda built many crazy variations. The old works build whatever you like days were cool. Twin cylinder and pipe too!!!
Conventional forks are really not that great at the stuff they need to do; they have lots of friction drag, they require very large high tolerance machined parts, they're riding in directions they don't need to be (or not rigid enough in directions they do need to be), they have pro-dive geometry (arguably you could run zero or negative rake and eliminate this, but the packaging gets really ugly), the damping components aren't ideal, and some various other stuff. The problem is that none of the other (linkage) solutions are simple/cheap enough to make sense, so telescopic forks are the best choice for most applications. You can, with a large budget and patience, come up with some really neat stuff. That works Honda is really cool.
Another big issue is all the points or wear / slop in the linkage front end. I believed if developed and accepted it would be fantastic. BMW has sold piles of a semi non fork... this one is designed to look conventional... This one not so much... I have ridden both and both work VERY good. I rode one that was exactly like this (K1300s) had programmable power, crazy adjustable front end etc. What i noticed about it was how it completely ignores bad road while leaned over at speed. Felt semi odd at first but the more i rode it the more I loved it. Was super confidence inspiring. Semi anti dive as well. they make lots of road bikes with non telescopic forks.
Of course, the great irony is that when BMW built a bike to actually be high performance (S1000RR), instead of using their "superior" front suspension technology that they are always touting, they used telescopic forks.
When you have 100 years of experience with something that's what you go with. Packaging for aerodynamics, mass and around engines to be used for 200 MPH race bikes probably has a little to do with it as well. If you notice their race bikes are very conventional to most race bikes using in line 4's and a conventional setup. Its the EZ rout to success as you are on very similar machines to everyone else. They probably could not afford to go clean sheet and spend years refining. We use fossil fuels because we know it and have a massive 100 year infrastructure. Could we have only electric cars right now? Sure but it would have taken a 20 year commitment to change the infrastructure and technology. As with many things you sometimes have to go with what is EZ and supported.
Anyone having trouble with their standard chain? We have these Ultra-duty chains at work, granted, them may be SLIGHTLY heavy, but they are very long lasting!!
Holy cow, looks scary. What's going on with that front brake too? Looks like a triple leading shoe?!?
Hey Tinken -- If you have access, can you find out who the artist is who did that print? My dad had the entire series. There was one with a "Flying "W"" too I remember. I'd love to get the set but have never been able to track them down!
