Skip to main content
English French German Italian Spanish

Norton Forks on a Rickman frame?

My project is getting closer to inception, Mike is building an engine and Wasp are checking it will fit in the frame (height wise). It would be easy to throw money at it and buy a new front end, but I have a good set of long roadholders with commando dampers that I could use along with a pair of full width wheels. My problem will be (I think) getting yokes to fit, and I’d prefer Aluminium ones anyway. The Rickman frame has 52 or 54 mm OD bearing seats. I could use commando yokes as the 25mm spindle would make finding taper bearing easy but they will be 7 3/8 which I guess means my wheel will be off center if I use the long roadholder sliders, plus I’m not sure about the offset.  Also most of the after market yokes I can find don’t have bar mounts in the top, any suggestions anyone?! Are there any Ali 7”;yokes to be had with bar mounts? 

Permalink

Hi Dan

Straight fit. 30205 taper rollers. I use 7 3/8 yokes with a disc front end.

Two ways to deal with the handlebars drill the top yoke for clamps. As done in the day! Or fit swan neck coupons.

Chris

Permalink

Thanks Chris I’m guessing yours are short roadholder yokes and have a 25mm stem mine are long roadholders and have a wider stem. But I guess it does mean I could hunt out a set of those yokes. I was worried that drilling the top of the yokes might weaken them too much?

i found these http://www.motalia.net/product_info.php?products_id=4297

Yokes

 

But they say 13/16 stem which means there must be at least 3 roadholder stem sizes! Long roadholder, 13/16 and 25mm! 

cheers Dan

Permalink

Hi Dan

Did not know that the stem was larger on long roadholders!

I have these Tickle 7inch yokes if you are interested . They came of a Yamsel when people were running flat bars. Stem was butchered no handlebar clamps.

All the best Chris

 

Permalink

Hi Chris

i discovered the difference when trying to swap bits about! I’m not sure if the later (post 64)  roadholders had 25mm bearings like the commandos or if the 13/16  stems had 25mm bearing seats ..... anything is possible! I can’t see the yokes you have but may well be interested! 

Ps it will be a Scrambles bike so swan neck clip ons (or coupons!) won’t cut it! 

Cheers Dan

Permalink

Long Roadholders have imperial spec steering head bearings,  Short Roadholders as fitted to featherbed bikes have metric spec bearings, including a metric-sized steering stem.  I don't remember the size, but I fitted metric taper roller bearings to my steering head, bought from a local SKF agent.  They were a small amount wider, but it didn't cause any problems.

Paul

Permalink

 Apparently you can buy a set of imperial and a set of metric from the same supplier and swap over the inners, bit of a faff though and requires 4 bearings each time you do it! 

 


Norton Owners Club Website by White-Hot Design