putting 94 f2 or f3 innards in the hawk lowers?

[Soul]

I have never messed with a bikes suspension or done anything like it, How hard is the process of putting f3 innards in the hawk lowers? How hard is it to change the oil in forks? Should I find someone that can help me that has done it before, or should I just dive in?

[Hawk GT]

Forks

Dive in, ask questions later!

Seriously I recentpy saw some stuff on the list about how it lowers ride hieght.

[kennie]

Re: Forks

Seriously I recentpy saw some stuff on the list about how it lowers ride hieght.

How bad can that be? it'll increase turn in. Or why not just swap to an f3 front end completely? They're really cheap now. The brakes will also improve with the swap.

[Soul]

Well, the plan is to buy a complete set of forks, switch the innards, then when I have more funding and if I feel special, I can upgrade the rest.
Currently my bike is pretty bashed..I am looking at speedo stuff, rear cowl stuff..front fender and some other little things, as well as the forks..So I am trying to be pretty cheap at the moment.

[rclinc2]

If you wind up replacing with an F2 front, you might as well just bolt up the entire front end, the internals are very similar so you really wouldn't be gainig a whole lot in terms of suspension performance over the hawk internals, and you would save a fair amount of time. I wound up having the damping rods welded/re drilled, getting cartridge emulators, straight rate springs and preload adjustable caps before i got the F2 front, and was very happy to find how much better it was over stock, and that it all would go into the F2 forks when they were pruchased, which was some time later. in retrospect it would have made more sense just to go with all of the F2 stuff in the first place, and saved on the labor. As far as F3 forks, i've no idea what the internals are, are they cartridge? Either way going the full route is worth it for the wider rim and brake improvement.
Fluid changes are very easy, and in general the forks are pretty simple to navigate, just take your time, be very careful with the sliders, and for complete disassembly a bench vise is highly recommended, and the shop manual is key!

[kennie]

As far as F3 forks, i've no idea what the internals are, are they cartridge?

Hell yeah! F3's (and I believe the last year of F2's ~ 94 or 95) were cartridge. HOWEVER, you'll lose your speedo. But who cares 'cause your probably moving faster than traffic anyways.

[Soul]

well, the forks that im 6 hours away from winning on ebay are 94 f2, the good uns. I am buying em and swapping internals because I dont want to lose my front tire, breaks, or speedo, but since I have to buy new forks it might as well be an upgrade.(current are bent from the wreck) I am buying the whole fork though, so i can switch over later when I have cash to buy the brakes and such.
So, really its just funding thats stopping me from doing the whole shibang..But I will be keeping my parts for the future.
I have been told I can swap the innards out and put them in the hawk lowers for a great suspension upgrade, that also allows me to keep my stock wheel brakes and speedo.
If that makes any sense?
I still need to buy a fender of some sort, rear cowl, and hopefully maybe just a speedo casing..and for some reason my battery has been sucking. If i charge it the bike starts right away..But you wait a night and its back to not having enough juice. Just looking at getting her back i primo shape before upgrading other stuff...Maybe I will be able to ride again this season!