by Bill Jurgenson » Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:28 am
Doug did it the right way.
Don't mess with the bearings unless you are a very competent tool maker.
Aside from the race track, for the life of me I cannot see anything gained by swapping the OEM RSU fork. And I have done this a few times and with various forks.
You have two possibilities:
1) you take one of several 41mm RSU forks as is (KAWA, Yamaha, Honda...) and stick the staunchions into the OEM tripletrees and use the front wheel and brakes tha come with that particular fork and model.
or
2) as Doug said, you have a new stem that fits the MZ head and bearings machined (or do it yourself in my case) and shrunk into the clamp belonging to the desired fork.
I have done both. the latter several times.
Obviously the first method is far simpler and cheaper.
For street use I would do neither. There is absolutely nothing gained for everyday use from an adjustable, let alone an USD fork. I know from personal experience. Handling and comfort are far better with the OEM Paioli 41mm RSU fork equipped with decent progressive springs such as Wilbers or WP and proper oil and air cavity height. To top that, you have to invest heavily and the street-going qualities will not be improved. Race track, yes, but, again, only with serious investments. And the drawback of any and all probably exchange candidates is the accompanying 3,5" front wheel which the Skorpion does not need. Not on the street at least, and the only real reason on the track is to be able to mount slicks and rain tires which are not available in 110 widths. For racing the alternative and one route taken, is to mount narrower rims and use 125 GP racing tires.
But back to our topic.
Nothing will be improved and lot can be harmed.
Anybody wanting it, I have a KAWA 400 41mm RSU complete with brakes and front wheel. plug and play as it were.
I've not used it. I know why.
Before fooling around with something you will not better, spend the money on a decent strut. THAT will definitely be a BIG improvement.
Sorry to be a party pooper. I have owned 3 Skorpions myself, the first bought 94 one of the first sold in south Germany. I still own one. And the Yamaha SZR as well. most know this. I have raced the beast seriously and used the others in street trim for track days. And I have used all three extensively and for (in Europe) longer travels.
Bottom line. I have a wee bit of experience with the beast.
A lot of what I read in this (and other, believe me!) Forums makes me cringe.
while the F3 complete front end is sitting in my garage.
