VTX-Treme fork extenders?

[OldNick]

Hi guys.Been lent a pair of extenders on approval. I am not quite happy with them.

I assumed that FE's were a tube, that screwed into the place where the cap used to go, then either replaced the fork caps or provided a thread for the caps. Then I assumed that either there was an inner that reached down to the fork spring top, or a threaded rod etc.

With these, I have two Al rods maybe 30mm diam, threaded both ends. At one end is a threaded SS rod, 45mm long, that fits into the fork cap. At the other is a threaded hole that takes the spring top thread, to go down to the locknut, where the cap used to go.

Is something missing? If I install one of these, the cap sits 50mm above the top of the fork, fully extended. In order to install it, I would have to _force_ the cap down, compressing ghe spring...all I would get was harder springs.

Feels like I need a couple of tubes, threaded to take the cap at one end (or having their own cap) and to thread into the fork where the cap used to go.

I questioned the guy who is selling them and he checked the web, citing

https://www.vtx-treme.com/forkex.htm. Where they are USD$33.00. (sewcond from the top?). They seem a bit different in that they have no threaded rod but just an Al stud.

Anyone tell me how these work, please?

 

[Papa Zook]

Hi guys.Been lent a pair of extenders on approval. I am not quite happy with them.

I assumed that FE's were a tube, that screwed into the place where the cap used to go, then either replaced the fork caps or provided a thread for the caps. Then I assumed that either there was an inner that reached down to the fork spring top, or a threaded rod etc.

With these, I have two Al rods maybe 30mm diam, threaded both ends. At one end is a threaded SS rod, 45mm long, that fits into the fork cap. At the other is a threaded hole that takes the spring top thread, to go down to the locknut, where the cap used to go.

Is something missing? If I install one of these, the cap sits 50mm above the top of the fork, fully extended. In order to install it, I would have to _force_ the cap down, compressing ghe spring...all I would get was harder springs.

Feels like I need a couple of tubes, threaded to take the cap at one end (or having their own cap) and to thread into the fork where the cap used to go.

I questioned the guy who is selling them and he checked the web, citing

https://www.vtx-treme.com/forkex.htm. Where they are USD$33.00. (sewcond from the top?). They seem a bit different in that they have no threaded rod but just an Al stud.

Anyone tell me how these work, please?

These extensions are made to work only with the VTX-TREME rake kit, as seen below, which has a completely different top triple tree design than the stock one, their's is enclosed. They are not made to work with the stock trees.

 

[OldNick]

Thanks for the reply

Sorry. "Secind from top meqnt ther actual second ones for sale. See attached.

Although I have to say, the 8 Deg Tripple Trees I am going to install are the blank topped VTX-Treme ones and I was concerned that only a special-topped cap or extension would work.

However, my question still remains. Does anyone know the ones I have arrowed in my attachment and if so, should there be more to what I have? How do those arrowed ones work? They have no way of screwing into the fork top, or actually extending the fork.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

Nick,

The Valkyrie and the VTX1800 have inverted forks. The extensions are installed internally on the top. They push the tube out further and hopefully you won't acquire a fork leak afterwards. I hope they included instructions.

 

[OldNick]

Thanks for the reply. I think I will up for the tube type ones (the ones Papa Zook was referring to) which as I say was what I was imagining!

Can the tube be _pushed_ out further than with front wheel off the ground? I never did them up, just put one on an saw that something weird was about to happen AFAICS. Closed cap. Asked.

There are no instructions, but if you say the push out the fork even further then I think I have it right and I do not want them.

HAH! Leaks! I am just taking my forks in to get looked at. One of them leaked so badly when I just raised the front wheel and then tested my new tyre, that I reckon the dust seal was all that was stopping it. When I stopped I had fork oil on my footpegs! Smoke coming off the headers!

 

[OldNick]

I guess my question is:

IS there another option to extend forks for the Valk, other than the ones that push out the forks? I will need the flat top to suit the VTX-treme 8 deg rake TT.

Thanks

 

[Lee H. Mann]

I guess my question is:

IS there another option to extend forks for the Valk, other than the ones that push out the forks? I will need the flat top to suit the VTX-treme 8 deg rake TT.

Thanks

You might want to be careful, maybe think about a larger diameter wheel and relocate the fender. The fork bodies are designed to fit into the triple tree clamps in a certain position. There are two different diameters on the fork body. While doing a search I saw an awful lot of Valkyries with bent lower tubes. I don't know if they were caused by lengthening the tube or not. The VTX1800 has a similar setup.

 

[OldNick]

hmmm...that's not bent that's broken. It looks to me as if the sort of extension that I have on approval shoves the fork out to its extreme and it disconnects. That is joint failure not bending.

Thanks.

I'm def going to hand back the inner style ones I have.

Don't get how VTX-treme are still selling. As soon as I saw the ones on offer I was what????

Now. Do thse fury extenders at VTX-treme fit the Valk?

Or any others?

 

[Lee H. Mann]

hmmm...that's not bent that's broken. It looks to me as if the sort of extension that I have on approval shoves the fork out to its extreme and it disconnects. That is joint failure not bending.

Thanks.

I'm def going to hand back the inner style ones I have.

Don't get how VTX-treme are still selling. As soon as I saw the ones on offer I was what????

Now. Do thse fury extenders at VTX-treme fit the Valk?

Or any others?

Negative !!!!

 

[3W-lonerider]

hmmm...that's not bent that's broken. It looks to me as if the sort of extension that I have on approval shoves the fork out to its extreme and it disconnects. That is joint failure not bending.

Thanks.

I'm def going to hand back the inner style ones I have.

Don't get how VTX-treme are still selling. As soon as I saw the ones on offer I was what????

Now. Do thse fury extenders at VTX-treme fit the Valk?

Or any others?

I have had the vtx-extreme 6 degree tree and the threaded fork extenders in my valk for 100,000 miles, in that time my forks hav'nt broken and in that mileage I have yet to have a leak on the forks. before that with stock tree and no extenders I was having to reseal my forks every 20,000 miles.

 

[OldNick]

Negative !!!!

So while you seem pretty certain:laugh:, are you saying there are no extenders, for the Valk 1500, by anyone except those in-fork style? Is there a reason for that?

Thanks again

 

[OldNick]

You might want to be careful, maybe think about a larger diameter wheel and relocate the fender. The fork bodies are designed to fit into the triple tree clamps in a certain position. There are two different diameters on the fork body. While doing a search I saw an awful lot of Valkyries with bent lower tubes. I don't know if they were caused by lengthening the tube or not. The VTX1800 has a similar setup.

View attachment 50958

hmmm...I can see the trouble if I actually THINK. The lower clamp, deals with a thicker fork...my immediate response is to shim the lower clamp to allow the fork to be lowered...but then the weak point in the fork is at the lower clamp, where all the force is...why on earth did Honda do this?

Is shoving the fork out to its max extent worae than weakening it at the lower clamp? Those photos of failed forks scared me. A trike will only make that worse....rake ans twist when turning.

DAMN! I bought a lower profile tyre, with the thought of using extensions to overcome this and my 8 Deg TTs, and now it looks as if it just will not work.

 

[Lee H. Mann]

So while you seem pretty certain:laugh:, are you saying there are no extenders, for the Valk 1500, by anyone except those in-fork style? Is there a reason for that?

Thanks again

My answer was to your question about the Fury extenders fitting the Valkyrie.

I am sure there are custom fork assemblies that have longer tubes, but I only searched fork tube extenders.

If you are a machinist there are multiple possibilities.

I would answer your last question, NO DEMAND .... NO SUPPLY.:Shrug:

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/

 

[OldNick]

I appreciate all your efforts even if the result is not what I wanted to hear.

I think the crux here is the fact you mentioned, about the different fork thicknesses. I wondered about shimming inside the lower triple tree arm's fork holders, but I assume Honda made the fork thicker from there down for a reason: that's where the real stress is going to be, right at that lower mount point.

A trike is only going to make that worse. As I said my trike's right fork dropped all its oil.The shop offered to take it apart for free, as they serviced it before. They could find nothing wrong except mild wear on the bushes, but maybe the trike, and my somewhat agressive cornering :blush:, is just tough on forks.

That bent fork you posted HAS to be a prang, surely! But yeah there are a lot of bent ones for sale.

 

[grumpy]

I have had the vtx-extreme 6 degree tree and the threaded fork extenders in my valk for 100,000 miles, in that time my forks hav'nt broken and in that mileage I have yet to have a leak on the forks. before that with stock tree and no extenders I was having to reseal my forks every 20,000 miles.

This^^^ I responded to your post on VRCC forum. Don't send anything back just yet. Daryl knows his stuff when it comes to this subject. I know him personally & have his phone numbers. If you want, you can PM me & I will see if we can figure out a way for you to talk with Daryl directly, or maybe I can act as middle man for you. Bottom line: his internal fork extenders WILL work with HIS trees! I have installed three sets in all, two for other folks, & no issues with any of them. Stan

 

[Lee H. Mann]

I have had the vtx-extreme 6 degree tree and the threaded fork extenders in my valk for 100,000 miles, in that time my forks hav'nt broken and in that mileage I have yet to have a leak on the forks. before that with stock tree and no extenders I was having to reseal my forks every 20,000 miles.

This^^^ I responded to your post on VRCC forum. Don't send anything back just yet. Daryl knows his stuff when it comes to this subject. I know him personally & have his phone numbers. If you want, you can PM me & I will see if we can figure out a way for you to talk with Daryl directly, or maybe I can act as middle man for you. Bottom line: his internal fork extenders WILL work with HIS trees! I have installed three sets in all, two for other folks, & no issues with any of them. Stan

OLD NICK was asking if the Fury extenders would work on the VTX1800 because he thought they would install on the outside like conventional telescopic forks. He now knows he has inverted forks and they require both internal spacers at top and bottom. While searching for fork extenders I stumbled upon pictures of Valkyries with bent and broken fork tubes. I have bought several VTX-TREME raked trees and also installed them without a problem or a concern from a customer that the front of the trike was sitting too low so I wasn't familiar with Daryl's extensions.

I am sure the pictures of bent forks were not a result of an extension being installed, but it makes one wonder what the riders were doing to cause that in the first place and are inverted forks weaker than conventional telescopic ones.

 

[OldNick]

OLD NICK was asking if the Fury extenders would work on the VTX1800 because he thought they would install on the outside like conventional telescopic forks. He now knows he has inverted forks and they require both internal spacers at top and bottom.

\

Sorry for the long pause....did not see these replies.

Errk! top and bottom? Just when I thought I had it worked out. What I bought is two 2" Al rods that screw in at the top. I do not have another set to put below.

I guess I need to contact Daryl. It will have to be email, being as I am Oz.

Nick

 

[OldNick]

What happened to VTX-treme? Domain expired, email bounced.....

 

[grumpy]

I will call him today & get back to you.

 

[grumpy]

Nick--He is working on the website. Direct e-mail is: vtwinxtreme@gmail.com Stan