GearJammer
03-29-2006, 12:48 PM
This may be a stretch, but please bear with me here. Last year while I was working in the shop & taking a break, standing there smoking a cig & looking at the bikes, I noticed that the front forks of the 250 Rebel looked pretty dang close in size to the front forks on one of the chopped Trumpets. (The other Trumpet has later stock Triumph forks of an obvious larger diameter)
Took some quick measurements & danged if the 250 Rebel & stock Triumph forks aren't REAL close (31mm or 33mm ? Can't remember the exact measure) Anyways, before I sold the 250 Rebel & the other 250 parts Rebel, I pulled the entire front-end & front wheel to keep for "possible" usage on a Triumph chopper.
Unknowns:
Adaptation. Haven't tried the fit of the Rebel fork stem in a Triumph frame neck
Rebel wheels being 18" front, 15" rear/chopped Trumpet preferably 19" front, 16" rear. Not sure if the stance would look right or not.
Most importantly, if the 1st two hurdles can be overcome, is the unknown strength of the Rebel forks. This front-end is off a 1985 250 Rebel w/dry weight of approx. 310 lbs. A stock 650 Triumph can weigh around 365 lbs. (a chopped Trumpet probably weighs a bit less than stock) = Difference of approx. 55 lbs.
Theory: In spite of the bike weight differences, a Rebel owner (rider's weight) might weigh considerably more than the 55 lbs. weight difference & not have any problem being supported by the stock Rebel forks. I fully realize that if these forks even worked, one wouldn't want to be popping wheelies, blasting thru potholes or smacking into curbs, etc. as the Rebel forks "might" be more fragile to begin with.
Question: If these forks could be adapted, would you trust the 250 Rebel forks to support the weight of a 650 Triumph & rider ? (Please keep in mind that the legs are essentially the same mm)
Took some quick measurements & danged if the 250 Rebel & stock Triumph forks aren't REAL close (31mm or 33mm ? Can't remember the exact measure) Anyways, before I sold the 250 Rebel & the other 250 parts Rebel, I pulled the entire front-end & front wheel to keep for "possible" usage on a Triumph chopper.
Unknowns:
Adaptation. Haven't tried the fit of the Rebel fork stem in a Triumph frame neck
Rebel wheels being 18" front, 15" rear/chopped Trumpet preferably 19" front, 16" rear. Not sure if the stance would look right or not.
Most importantly, if the 1st two hurdles can be overcome, is the unknown strength of the Rebel forks. This front-end is off a 1985 250 Rebel w/dry weight of approx. 310 lbs. A stock 650 Triumph can weigh around 365 lbs. (a chopped Trumpet probably weighs a bit less than stock) = Difference of approx. 55 lbs.
Theory: In spite of the bike weight differences, a Rebel owner (rider's weight) might weigh considerably more than the 55 lbs. weight difference & not have any problem being supported by the stock Rebel forks. I fully realize that if these forks even worked, one wouldn't want to be popping wheelies, blasting thru potholes or smacking into curbs, etc. as the Rebel forks "might" be more fragile to begin with.
Question: If these forks could be adapted, would you trust the 250 Rebel forks to support the weight of a 650 Triumph & rider ? (Please keep in mind that the legs are essentially the same mm)