f2/f3 fork mod above incomplete?

[cfiiman]

Hey all,

I was reading the how to mod on the f2/f3 fork conversion and it just stops in mid sentence. Does anyone know where the rest of it is, or if it is even needed?

Also, how much of a difference will these forks make on the hawk? I know that I feel like mine is gonna come apart on a rough road, it beats me crazy, is this just a normal stock Hawk suspension?

Thanks,

Jason

[thepathlesstaken]

I went from the stock forks to upgrading the oil to a heavier grade to get a bit less bob in them. This helped but was no where as good as replacing the springs with progressive ones.

Then I went with the 94' F2 front and this really stiffened up the front end and gave it adjustably that the previous stock one did not. This F2 front end came from a hawk that raced with it so it was tuned for the track.

If you are just putting around town and doing normal motorcycling (nothing extreme) then progressive springs is a big positive upgrade from stock. Now I am pretty sure the springs run in the $100 range.

It all depends on what you want the bike to be able to do and feel.

[Dash]

I have stock forks and proggresive springs with thicker oil than usual. compared to stock, it helps a LOT. I can`t tell you the difference between proggresive-stock and F2 front though. I`m also still wondering wheter I should replace the entire ront or not.

[kpr1]

I too had progressive springs and heavy oil then went to a f3 fork with Hawk lowers to keep the single disc and there is absolutely no comparison!
It is no longer harsh and stays planted!

[drinmotoracer]

Hey Jason,
Could you post the thread that you were reading about the mod? I think there are a few of them... I was just wondering if you had specific questions or were just looking for an overall tutorial. It really is just a straight up fork switch using the stock brake assembly, stock wheel, and stock controls. If you also have the F2 wheel, you then need a F2 right spacer for it. That is the only difference.
So in general: take off ALL the controls or just take off the clipons and hang them, take off brake calipers, loosen axle bolt, and triple bolts (a little), jack up the bike underneath the engine block (you can use a floorjack from a car) supported with a piece of wood if you want between the jack and engine, take off the front wheel, then loosen the fork bolts all the way until the fork tubes just slide out. Reassemble in reverse...

[Dash]

wait a minute...

Can you combine the top half of a F2 Fork with the lower half of a stock hawk fork?

that would mean I can keep my stock wheel, brake, speedometer but still have F2 suspension? or am I getting too optimistic now?

[cfiiman]

I would like to know also what dash just asked. When you say just swap them, I am confused, b/c the tutorial I read at the top of the mech/tech section says you have to use parts from both. Please let me know, thanks,

Jason

[thepathlesstaken]

wait a minute...

Can you combine the top half of a F2 Fork with the lower half of a stock hawk fork?

that would mean I can keep my stock wheel, brake, speedometer but still have F2 suspension? or am I getting too optimistic now?

Actually I believe you can swap most of the internals off of a F2 fork into the lowers of a Hawk fork.

I did a quick search on google and it did not turn up anything but I have seen a site that did have the information posted to do such a mod.

[tkm433]

You Must use the 94 upper fork tube if you are planning on using the 94 cartridge forks internals. You Must also use the longer bolt that hold the 94 interalers to the lower legs.

If you want to keep the stock Hawk front wheel, brakes and fender you can mount the Hawk lowers to the 94 CBR600 uppers as long as you use all of the CBR600 interanl parts.

Both forks use the same seals and internal bushings but the innner fork legs are different and you can not install the 94 and later CBR600 cartridge in the Hawk upper fork tubes. They will not fit.

[Dash]

You Must use the 94 upper fork tube if you are planning on using the 94 cartridge forks internals. You Must also use the longer bolt that hold the 94 interalers to the lower legs.

If you want to keep the stock Hawk front wheel, brakes and fender you can mount the Hawk lowers to the 94 CBR600 uppers as long as you use all of the CBR600 interanl parts.

Both forks use the same seals and internal bushings but the innner fork legs are different and you can not install the 94 and later CBR600 cartridge in the Hawk upper fork tubes. They will not fit.

So let me get this straight:

If I can get my hands on any F2 front forks, no matter what built year, I can fit the upper half of the F2 forks in the lower stock forks of the Hawk without any trouble? it`s just a matter of popping out the stock upper forks of the hawk, and replace them with the upper half of the F2 forks?

and what about the suspension? can I transfer my WP proggresive springs to this half stock, half F2 front end?

http://www.geocities.com/alfredosauce.rm/modifications.htm#suspension

is this the site you meant, thepathlesstaken?

[cfiiman]

Can anyone clarify this for Dash and me??? I think I have read at least once somewhere that this is a straight up swap if you use the whole F3 front end...

For example:

I buy a 98 F3 front end, it is rolling let say, I am holding it by the top of the fork tubes and rolling it like a wheelbarrow, will this whole assembly bolt in the the hawk trees and linkage??? I mean that way I would have dual front brakes and stuff right???? Do I have this right???

[kip]

From what I have read f2 and f3 are both 41mm and have the same fork to fork distance as a hawk and so are "bolt on" into hawk triples if you have the rest of the front end. With f3 you lose the speedo drive though. I am no expert though. You can also mix and match parts to some extent AFAIK. There is a lot of info on this forum. Search for "fork".

Also here is a post I had seen earlier from JR with some good info in it. f3 (or 94 f2) uppers and hawk lowers.

http://www.hawkworks.net/tips/F3forks/F3forks.html

[cfiiman]

From what I have read f2 and f3 are both 41mm and have the same fork to fork distance as a hawk and so are "bolt on" into hawk triples if you have the rest of the front end. With f3 you lose the speedo drive though. I am no expert though. You can also mix and match parts to some extent AFAIK. There is a lot of info on this forum. Search for "fork".

Also here is a post I had seen earlier from JR with some good info in it. f3 (or 94 f2) uppers and hawk lowers.

http://www.hawkworks.net/tips/F3forks/F3forks.html

Kip,

Yes this is the incomplete article I was talking about in my first post in this thread, it just stops in the middle with the word "and..." and nothing else...What's up with that? Anyone no where the rest is? Why do you lose the speedo if you bolt the whole thing up, anyone? And is that all you lose?

Jason

[surferdude]

The F3 front end doesn't have the speedo housing on the fork slider needed to keep your speedo. There are alternatives for speedos and tachs, for that matter, if you choose to go with one - cool electronic gadgets discussed in other threads (search is your friend).

[cfiiman]

surfer, thanks, any chance of showing me a picture of what you are talking about, I'm sure it is simple but I'm having trouble getting my head around it, thanks,