NC30 fork tube / yoke height?

[Neosophist]

I have an 89 (K)



I've seen pictures like this with the fork tops 'flush' with the yokes.

However, theres a 'stopper ring' circlip that fits under the clipons.. if you drop the forks through the yokes until they hit the stopper ring, which is how I presume you would assemble them, then the forks protrude through the top of the yokes by about 0.75cm.

Like in this picture



If you level them up with the yokes then the stopper ring is kind of just on its own.

Does anyone know which is the correct way? I'd have thought like the latter, as the stop-ring is there to line things up...

I believe the one at the Motegi museum also has the forks protruding through the yokes.

Hopeing somebody here knows to save me the drive to go and look

[royster81]

go....drive...have a look....and take lots of pictures.


i'd go with protruding resting on the stopper ring.

[Neosophist]

go....drive...have a look....and take lots of pictures.


i'd go with protruding resting on the stopper ring.

Haha I have millions of pictures from Motegi, I can put them onto an album if you want to look? Mind you I dont' mind an excuse to visit Motegi again :D

Yeah I think it's on the stopper ring too. Seems to ride fine like it.

[royster81]

Yes please I'd like to see them again.

I think the stopper ring is the only logical answer and it's the most straight forward way of getting both forks and clip ons at the same height. Maybe the ones you've seen were they are flush is someone trying to gain a little height to avoid tyre/radiator damage.

[AK76]

Looking at the VFR service manual, it shows the stopper ring beneath the clip-on, which is beneath the top yoke (or the bridge, as Honda call it), and it shows the top of the forks +/-1mm or so above the top of the yoke. I've posted a pic below, in case you don't have a copy of the service manual (if you do then it's on page 144 of 226, Section 12-10).



Not sure if there's a difference with the earlier K models (like you & I have) and the later models (which I think the manual is based on) but, like Royster, I would assume that the 'stopper' ring is there for that very reason - to 'stop' the forks going up through/past the clip-ons.

One of my strip-down photos clearly shows the 0.75cm stick-up you've mentioned.



Strangely, the 1989 VFR400R in Motegi (I can't remember where I 'acquired' these photos from - think it was from someone on here ) appears to have the top of the forks as per the service manual (+/-1mm)

[Neosophist]

Interesting.

And yep. I took those photos.

I'll do some asking around at Honda

[AK76]

Interesting.

And yep. I took those photos.

I'll do some asking around at Honda

Nice photos...

I'd be interested to hear what you find out, for the re-build of mine later on.

[Neosophist]

Interesting.

And yep. I took those photos.

I'll do some asking around at Honda

Nice photos...

I'd be interested to hear what you find out, for the re-build of mine later on.

I'll upload them all, I think I have about 150 I took at Motegi, it's not too far down the road so next time i'm over there i'll speak to one of the engineers in the workshop about the fork height.

While it is true the manual shows them flush ( I looked at this before asking the question ) it would appear that the stopper is there to align the forks properly... Maybe an omission of the manual where it doesn't actually reflect the forks properly... will see what I can find out but I have them set so they protrude slightly (against the stop ring) and it seems fine..