modern forks on old bikes?

so what is the deal? can you put modern forks on old frames? i really wanted my z440 to hav gold forks, such as gixxer or simular, but would it atcually ruin the handling? or just never kit .. ever. i haven't done any measurements of the z440 yet but ill post when i find out, and then see what forks may be fit enough to just drop in and what will need a bit of work. there is a fabricator just down the road that does cafe racers ( i thinki) so it could be a job for them.
any thoughts? or has anyone seen this kinda thing done before?

Cafe racers are all about individuality, there are no 'rules' and if you want to fit gold forks go ahead!

Easiest way to see what will fit is to measure the length of your existing forks, if you don't already know the diameter beg, borrow or steal a micrometer and measure them up (don't go by guesswork or a tape measure, a couple of thou can make the difference between them sitting in your headstock, or dropping out at very inappropriate moments!)

Then troll your local breakers, free papers, motorcycle mags, E-bay etc. for your replacement forks.

Thanks for the quick reply. I've just ordered a micrometer, don't know if it was any good as it was only £17 but least I have one now.
I did e mail a garage just down from me the builds cafe's a fabricates their own parts, and asked them if it was possible for them to fabricate me a top yoke. They did mail back unfortunatly which was a shame because they would have been very useful for the future.
I've also decided that I'm going to get a 1976z400 frame rather than the 81 z440 ltd I got for the moment. For the pure reason I don't like the back end where it lips up a bit. I wanna keep that straight. So I cant measure up at the moment. But once I've found what forks fit I'll post it up here for future reference.

well i got my frame through, but the micrometer wont get close enough to the gap to measure the diameter. it looks like 31mm but i cant be sure, im going to try an the zkwak z forum to see if anyone knows the measurements.

Didn't your micrometer come with internal 'prongs' as well as jaws? If not I'd send it back as unfit for purpose. I got an electronic set from Halfauds for 20 quid which not only have external and internal measuring, but a digital display that swaps from imperial to metric at the push of a button.

AH BALLS! NO THEY DONT, ILL HAVE ANOUTHER LOOK. but not in capitals.
mark

Hi Mark, these are what I bought: http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_530639_langId_-1_categoryId_165469

Not the cheapest, but they have internal and external measurements and even a depth gauge, accurate to within .01mm and come with a lifetime guarentee!

thanks mate, lets hope the life time guarentee last for the one time im going to use it. but hey least its anouther tool for the tool box collection.

Hi
its not a micrometer you want its a vernier or internal micrometer
Steve

Cheers for the heads up steve. Ive opted to refurbish the old forks now anyway as i was going to find it difficult to put spoked wheels on modern forks. Least this way i can refurb some z400 wheels and know for sure they will fit.
Cheers again mark

Pud wrote:

Hi
its not a micrometer you want its a vernier or internal micrometer
Steve

Hi Pud, if he's measuring the diameter of the forks (which was the original question) he needs a micrometer, if he's measuring the internals of the yokes he needs a vernier, the the ones I bought have both, plus a depth guage and an option to swap between imperial and metric, best 20 qiud I've ever spent!

pauliexjr wrote:

Pud wrote:

Hi
its not a micrometer you want its a vernier or internal micrometer
Steve

Hi Pud, if he's measuring the diameter of the forks (which was the original question) he needs a micrometer, if he's measuring the internals of the yokes he needs a vernier, the the ones I bought have both, plus a depth gauge and an option to swap between imperial and metric, best 20 quid I've ever spent!

I agree whole heatedly just thought with the accuracy he needed a set of verniers would suit him best especially with what you have already mentioned got my set from machine mart