WP Extreme Forks on 400/520

[KTM-Lew]

So has any of you done this? I am in the process of doing a swap but a little different. I have a complete front-end off a 96 RM that I'm putting on my 01 400 EXC.

Would like to know what the fork offset is on the Extreme clamps?
Didn't they also use the 50mm Zoch's for a couple of years? Anyone know if they used the same clamps? :uh: :thumb:

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Edit
Both of the 50mm forks used the same clamps=14mm with the exception of the Jackpiner, it used 16mm.

 

[TM-Frank]

As far as I know the 96 Suzuki Fork is a 49 mm, so the clamps of either a WP Extreme or a Marzocchi Magnum won't help you much.

 

[KTM-Lew]

TM

I was planing on having to make a spacer/adapter to make the fork tubes fit. My main concern is coming up with a clamp with less offset than the Suzuki's. The Suzuki's are 20mm and the KTM are 14mm.

 

[TM-Frank]

Lew,

when you are going to work with spacers anyway, why don't you try to get a pair of less-offset-clamps made for your KTm (for example from EMIG -good stuff!-) and simply use thicker spacer bushings?
This would also give you the option of going back to your stock WP fork without disassembling the whole steering head setup again.
Just athought.

Frank

 

[KTM-Lew]

Frank

That is kind of strange.....I spent 30 minutes on the phone with Gary Emig yesterday. He is absolutely the worst business man ever! Spent the whole time trying to talk me OUT of spending my money! Really nice honest guy!

I did find that the DRZ has 18mm clamps so that gives me another option. Now I just need to get the weather above 20 degrees so some of this ice melts off to try it

 

[TM-Frank]

LOL!

But their clamps are really fine. I have one on my TM.
A friend of mine has a WP Extreme fork from a 99 300EXC standing in the corner of the garge.
If you can give me a few days I'll meassure out the offset of those clamps.

Maybe Gary didn't really understand why you are doing that project (I don't either) ;)

 

[KTM-Lew]

Frank

The Extreme clamps are 14mm. Gary didn't feel I needed to go that far and yes everyone wants to know WHY,WHY,WHY!!!

I've never had a twin-chamber apart and thought it might be better to experiment on my own. The only way to be able to compare the action of these versus the 43mm WP is to put them on the same bike and hammer it! The conv forks have allways felt better to me for what I like to do. 90% of my riding is in 1st & 2nd gear. I need exceptional small bump absorbtion to keep my wrists and hands from going numb. Rode a low-hour 96 YZ 250 in a GNCC a few years ago and couldn't go more than half a lap at a time with-out my hands going numb. Sold the YZ and bought an ATK 260 that had conv Paoli that after a little tuning I could ride for 4-5 hours with-out stopping. The combination of the really smooth, vibration free Rotax and the conv forks did the trick. The KTM actually does fine but I'm searching for the holy grail!

I have the forks ready to go with the RM 20mm offset......am just looking at options if it doesn't feel right. Stock DRZ clamps will be a bolt on and are 18mm. These forks are creating a 14mm reduction in trail but my shock has a travel limiter in it so the back-end is down 1". More stuff to consider! :yeehaw:

 

[dthoms]

Lew,
I would like to hear your results, I have O2 250 EXC and my biggest problem with the bike is the forks.
I have the action figured out pretty well, but I feel there is too much flex in them. I know where I could come up with a pair of RM forks but I'm not sure I want to go down that road.
Thanks
Dave

 

[KTM-Lew]

dthoms

I'm using conventional forks......usually more flexable than inverted. You would be better served with the 03-04 KTM forks. The triple bushing fork can be made to work very well.