Front Fork Replacement Options?

[WookinPaNub]

Bike: 2013 Super Tenere

Background: Put the bike down, have scored both inner tubes on the front forks enough that a new seal replacement isn't stopping the leaking.

Bike Shop: They are recommending replacing both inner tubes, races, seals, etc. Pretty expensive estimate. Complete fork replacement is even more.

Intent: Not looking to upgrade my suspension over stock (unless the price and effort are directly comparable). This recession (if we're now allowed to call it that after 6+ months of it) has tightened my budget considerably.

Questions / thoughts:

• Thought: I believe I have the mechanical aptitude to perform the rebuild the Shop is estimating after watching this Fork Rebuild Tutorial, but I'm not sure I want to and the total cost per fork after getting the materials and tools required seems comparable to just getting the entire fork.
• Thought: The entire fork are part numbers 23P-23102-11-00 (left) and 23P-23103-11-00 (right) I believe. And with a cost of about $900 per fork I'm guaranteed the integrity of the entire unit and with the above video I'm definitely confident I can complete this repair.
• Question: Is there a significant benefit to the rebuild (assuming retaining stock components) over the full fork replacement that I am not seeing?
• Question: I've seen a number of aftermarket suspension component options (Ohlins, Stoltec, etc) but not an aftermarket complete fork assembly for drop in replacement - are there any?
• Question: Are there cheaper options / sources for the entire fork assembly I'm not considering?

Thanks
Darin

 

[WJBertrand]

Maybe check these guys out?

Frank's Maintenance and Engineering, Inc.

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[WookinPaNub]

Maybe check these guys out?

Frank's Maintenance and Engineering, Inc.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Their contact (Send Message) page doesn't work, I'll try calling on Monday, thanks.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Help me understand. You need new L & R inner tubes, yes?

From on-line parts houses (Partzilla for example) these are available to order for ~$570-ish for both. You'll need oil, metal slides, a seal kit plus an hour or so of labor for R&R each leg. Unless I'm missing something, off the bike, you're at less than $1000 for both forks. With current supply chain issues, parts availability is a whole other discussion. Even though PartsZilla says ships in 2-3 days, it all depends if Yamaha has these parts (or even complete forks) in a warehouse.

Good luck!

~G

 

[WookinPaNub]

Help me understand. You need new L & R inner tubes, yes?

Thanks for the reply.

That's one of the options, yes, to rebuild the forks.

So from rough understanding it's about 1k in parts (maybe more for some specific tools) and some elbow grease to rebuild the forks vs about $1800 for full replacement forks and relatively quick swap.

Once I get the estimate from the shop with the full parts breakdown I can post up the expected actual costs for the parts they indicate, but I appreciate the general comparison as that helps.

 

[SkunkWorks]

I'm in Denver, and have all the Tools that would be needed to rebuild them.
If you brought the Forks over, we could have both done in a couple hours tops.

 

[WookinPaNub]

I'm in Denver, and have all the Tools that would be needed to rebuild them.
If you brought the Forks over, we could have both done in a couple hours tops.

That's a great offer and much appreciated. I'm gathering a parts list / costs to compare against full fork options so I should have a decent idea shortly - I may take you up on that. I am about 3 - 3.5 hours from Denver.

 

[WookinPaNub]

Maybe check these guys out?

Frank's Maintenance and Engineering, Inc.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Called, unfortunately they do not do inverted tubes because of the greater complexities. But thanks for the idea.

 

[Panman]

Called, unfortunately they do not do inverted tubes because of the greater complexities. But thanks for the idea.

Must not be much of a shop! I have done mine twice once with a smarter friend then once by my self. You do need a couple of tools but they aren't that exspensive. They aren't much harder than doin g my FJR.

 

[tntmo]

Must not be much of a shop! I have done mine twice once with a smarter friend then once by my self. You do need a couple of tools but they aren't that exspensive. They aren't much harder than doin g my FJR.

The shop referred to makes fork tubes, not so much about rebuilding a set of forks.

 

[WookinPaNub]

I finally got back the estimate from the shop, and for comparisons (both forks):

1. Shop Rebuild
   1. Parts: Oil, Dust seals, Metal Slides, Inner Tubes, Fork Seals, Fork Pistons
   2. Parts Total (includes 20% discount): ~$900
   3. Labor Total: ~$800
   4. Rebuild Total: ~$1700
2. Personal Rebuild
   1. Parts & Tools Total: ~$900 to $1000
   2. Effort: Moderate
3. Personal Replacement (full):
   1. Parts Total: ~$1800
   2. Effort: Low

So realistically I can do a full replacement of the forks myself for the same price as a rebuild at the shop, so that's a no brainer for those two options. However a personal rebuild cuts that cost roughly in half.

 

[WookinPaNub]

I'm in Denver, and have all the Tools that would be needed to rebuild them.
If you brought the Forks over, we could have both done in a couple hours tops.

This may be a dumb question as I've not seen this mentioned anywhere else, but if the inners are only lightly scored and not bent, why wouldn't a polishing to remove the scoring be an alternative? Or is it that even the minimal removal of material would still prevent a good seal?

 

[SkunkWorks]

This may be a dumb question as I've not seen this mentioned anywhere else, but if the inners are only lightly scored and not bent, why wouldn't a polishing to remove the scoring be an alternative? Or is it that even the minimal removal of material would still prevent a good seal?

It is my understanding that these are "Plated", not polished.
If they are scored badly, then you have probably gone through the plating material.
I honestly don't know anything about the process involved to fix and/or have them re-plated?
Could it be done? Maybe.................

Any way you could post up some pictures of the damage?

 

[bimota]

isn,t a cheaper option as well if you can get somebody to do it, i,ve seen videos on youtube on how to take the black lower foot section off the chrome tube and just buy the chrome leg, tube and put the lower foot section back on

JMP Single Replacement Fork Tube for Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere 10-16 4043981209570 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for JMP Single Replacement Fork Tube for Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere 10-16 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

rob

 

[WookinPaNub]

It is my understanding that these are "Plated", not polished.
If they are scored badly, then you have probably gone through the plating material.
I honestly don't know anything about the process involved to fix and/or have them re-plated?
Could it be done? Maybe.................

Any way you could post up some pictures of the damage?

Understood, thanks for the clarification. I'll attempt to get pics posted up in the next couple days. The scratches aren't significant, but my nail does catch when sliding across the tube.

 

[WookinPaNub]

isn,t a cheaper option as well if you can get somebody to do it, i,ve seen videos on youtube on how to take the black lower foot section off the chrome tube and just buy the chrome leg, tube and put the lower foot section back on

JMP Single Replacement Fork Tube for Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere 10-16 4043981209570 | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for JMP Single Replacement Fork Tube for Yamaha XT 1200 Z Super Tenere 10-16 at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products.

www.ebay.co.uk

rob

Just so I'm clear, it sounds like these are effectively just beefier versions of the inner tubes (23P-23110-00-00 and 23P-23120-00-00)?

And it mentions that it *may* be different part numbers for each side depending on the bike - "If there is only one stanchion listed they will be the same for both sides ". Any idea what that means and how to verify outside of contacting the seller?

And have you used these? I'm not finding many reviews?

 

[bimota]

Just so I'm clear, it sounds like these are effectively just beefier versions of the inner tubes (23P-23110-00-00 and 23P-23120-00-00)?

And it mentions that it *may* be different part numbers for each side depending on the bike - "If there is only one stanchion listed they will be the same for both sides ". Any idea what that means and how to verify outside of contacting the seller?

And have you used these? I'm not finding many reviews?

no,

not used these but i know yoy can buy the chrome tube only for the xt1200, it means you have to take the black lower legs off both your forks and put them on the new chrome legs,
but no i put those up as a example

rob

 

[MXTZS10]

An alternative for parts is https://japan.webike.net this direct from Japan the prices can vary due to the exchange rate.

I recently ordered an abs Unit with shipping and the fee PayPal charged the cost was just over 1000 substantially less than I could buy in the us.

I used PayPal in case there was an issue with the transaction. I have since ordered paying with a credit card with no issues.

There is a learning curve to using the site. It is easier on a computer than trying to navigate the site using a cell phone.

It’s best to look the part up on a U S site to get the part number so you can confirm you have the correct part.


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[WookinPaNub]

An alternative for parts is https://japan.webike.net this direct from Japan the prices can vary due to the exchange rate.

I recently ordered an abs Unit with shipping and the fee PayPal charged the cost was just over 1000 substantially less than I could buy in the us.

I used PayPal in case there was an issue with the transaction. I have since ordered paying with a credit card with no issues.

There is a learning curve to using the site. It is easier on a computer than trying to navigate the site using a cell phone.

It’s best to look the part up on a U S site to get the part number so you can confirm you have the correct part.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the tip and recommendation. I tried navigating the site for direct part numbers (like 23P-23102-11-00 for the whole fork, or 23P-23120-00-00 for an inner tube) and it could not find the part number. I then tried going by model (2013 Super Tenere) and again could not find the parts - ultimately ending on a 'Parts Quote' Form to then have to submit. Any ideas / thoughts? I would have thought that going by part number would have been a slam dunk?

 

[WookinPaNub]

Understood, thanks for the clarification. I'll attempt to get pics posted up in the next couple days. The scratches aren't significant, but my nail does catch when sliding across the tube.

Pics attached, please advise of any thoughts...