Has Anyone tried a Maxton fork conversion.

Hello

Below is the reply i got from Maxton when enquiring about suspension modifications. Has anyone tried this and what are the results?  this is not a cheap option.

thanks

Mark

Thanks for your enquiry, we can help you out with the problem on your forks
but have no spec sheet for you to read. We convert your forks, but not by
modifying the existing internals. We throw everything inside the fork away
and start again with our internals.

The internals we supply is our own GP20 cartridge style damping system. The
cartridge system is the same type of internal as what you would find in any
modern front fork. It has been manufactured and developed by our own
engineers and has pistons and shim stacks for the rebound and compression
damping. The Cartridge also has needle valves so you can adjust the
damping. The damping adjusters are external, so you can change the damping
without having to strip the forks down, but we hide the adjusters to keep
the classic appearance. As part of the conversion we also machine new fork
tops to take the new cartridges and damping adjusters. We also fit new
springs.

Every Maxton GP20 cartridge is built to order, the reason for this is to
valve and spring the cartridges to suit the fork, the bike, the riders
weight and what they are using the bike for. Once the cartridge has been
manufactured we then fit the cartridge to the fork to make sure it works
correctly. In most conversions we have to modify the original bottom
sliders and stanchions so our cartridge will fit and work properly. The
forks are then returned to you fully serviced with new seals and the spring
preload and damping set up.

The Maxton GP20 cartridge costs between £295.00 and £495.00 + V.A.T.
Depending on how adjustable you want the cartridge to be. For £295.00 +
V.A.T the cartridge is adjustable for rebound damping. For £495.00 + V.A.T
the cartridge is adjustable for rebound and compression damping. All
adjustment can be made without having to strip the forks down.

To service the forks with new seals and install the cartridges costs £124.00
+ V.A.T. In some cases there are also charges for any extra work to get the
forks to work correctly. In Norton and Seeley conversions we machine new
bushes for both top and bottom sliders, the bushes are made from a hard
wearing frictionless plastic called Delrin. The bushes cost an extra £60.00
+ V.A.T. In some cases we also have to get the original sliders honed as
the bore of the slider is not machined very well. The cost of honing the
sliders is £80.00 + V.A.T for the pair. In some Triumph forks the seal is
held in place with friction on the outside diameter. We machine a groove in
the bottom slider, so the seal is retained with a cir-clip. This costs an
extra £50.00 + V.A.T.

The cartridge conversion fits inside most forks with stanchions that have an
outside diameter of 35mm or bigger. In some Honda forks the stanchions are
35mm outside diameter, but the internal diameter of the stanchion is too
small for the cartridge to work. For these forks we supply new Hard Chromed
stanchions with a larger internal diameter. These cost £200.00 + V.A.T a
pair.

If you need any more information about the modification we carry out you can
ring me on the telephone number above, if you cannot get through fax me your
number and I'll ring you back as our phone can be very busy.

IF YOU LIVE IN A COUNTRY WITHIN THE E.E.C THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY U.K
V.A.T, UNLESS YOU HAVE A TAX CODE FOR YOUR COUNTRY.

Regards

Richard
Maxton Engineering

You have to ask yourself what you want to improve about your forks and what sort of riding you do. If you want to improve the overall handling of a Commando It would be worth Googling "The worlds straightest Commando" It might give you some food for thought. It might horrify you when you read how inaccurate most Commando frames are from new.   If you Google "Roadholder fork Conversions" you will find an American company called Cosentino engineering making a Showa fork conversion for about $795.   I would be looking at Japanese forks from a breaker and reap the benefit of twin discs. The later Yamaha Diversions have two discs and the forks are about the right length and the bike is a similar weight to a Commando. You may even be able to fit the rear wheel and have a half decent rear brake. (No spokes to clean) A friend of mine had his VFR Honda converted by Maxton and it cost him £1000. I believe it is possible to fit the guts from CBR 600 forks to Roadholders and there are plenty of those around as the older ones fall from favour by the trackday / racing fraternity.

I have had a rear shock custom built for an modern bike by Maxton.  It was very good but...it did take a long time to make.

Lansdowne fork refurbishment kits , New ground steel sleeve and Oilon bush's .Also the fully adjustabe damper kits will be on the shelf in sept.

still availabe now..but made to order,

regards John Lansdowne Eng