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[tafka]

Hi All,

I noticed the forks on my DSR look a bit skew.  I have fitted a new handle bar, so I know that is straight.  I can try to straighten them pretty easy BUT measuring the top of the triple clamp, the forks stick out from the top clamp a different amount on each side.  It is hard to get a measure exactly but I think I can even see it by eye, one of the forks is protruding by about 1mm more than the other.  Should I sort this out first before attempting the bouncy bouncy procedure for fork alignment?

If so, what is the correct amount to protrude? Of course it depends where you measure but mine seem to be about 8/9 mm going from the point where the handlebars start.  I.e, If I hold a micrometer against the back of the bars and use the end measure of the micrometer to measure the distance from the top (outer) of the fork to the clamp, the difference is about 1mm for the two sides (8ish on one side, 9ish on the other).

Incidentally, despite this, it looks like the wheel is out of vertical alignment in the opposite direction from the misalignment in the top of the forks (almost like someone has attempted to correct this by adjusting the top of the forks).  I'm hoping resetting the lower clamps/axle clamps will sort this.

Opinions?  Anyone know the exact measurements?

Anything else to watch out for with the fork alignment?

Thanks for any help.

regards,

Taf.

[Fran K]

I would say make the top the same stick out.  Probably the manual has a suggestion, it is sort of an adjustment.  Loosen up stuff, roock the handlebars vs the wheel and see where it naturally settles.  There may be top out bushings in the forks and the position in the stroke when you examine it, see if the deviation from expected is only an fully extended.  Rotate the axle and see if any strange behavior.

[TheRan]

I wouldn't worry about such a small difference, the fork will hardly ever be right at the top or bottom of the stroke and there's enough compression in the top/bottom out bumpers to make up 1mm of difference. There isn't really a right amount of stick out, as long as the fork is fully in the top clamp, the clamps are in a suitable position (there is a taper near the top of the fork where it gets narrower), and they're not so far up in the clamps that at full compression the tyre would impact the mudguard (or in the case of an S, the mudguard hitting the lower clamps). It's just personal preference for how high you want the front end.