Front fork uppers?

[AwesomeDad]

Am I missing something, it seems you can’t purchase the upper outer sleeve...

JJ

[98valk]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

The ST1300 uses the same size forks, however they are black and I don't know if the upper tube and/or the complete assy length is the same as the valkyrie.

[Mooskee]

There are some on ebay, but a set that is in seemingly good condition is $500. Try to find someone parting out a bike that was still being driven. Maybe you can get a good set.

[AwesomeDad]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

The ST1300 uses the same size forks, however they are black and I don't know if the upper tube and/or the complete assy length is the same as the valkyrie.

Well that just made it interesting, I’ll see what I can find but it may mean moving on to a different bike....

JJ

[Bagger John - #3785]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

Sounds like a chance for Redeye to fill the gap...

ETA:

Just had a look at the 'fiche for a 2001 I/S. All the rubber parts appear to be available. Which P/N was supposedly discontinued?

[98valk]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

Sounds like a chance for Redeye to fill the gap...

ETA:

Just had a look at the 'fiche for a 2001 I/S. All the rubber parts appear to be available. Which P/N was supposedly discontinued?

the o-ring I mentioned is not discontinued. It is just specific to the GL1500 engine and not used across the honda line as the other smaller cooling pipe o-rings are.  so there is a good chance eventually it could be discontinued. it is not a round in cross section o-ring. I have two spares in my spare parts bin.

[AwesomeDad]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

Sounds like a chance for Redeye to fill the gap...

ETA:


Just had a look at the 'fiche for a 2001 I/S. All the rubber parts appear to be available. Which P/N was supposedly discontinued?

It’s the outer tube assy...

JJ

[Bagger John - #3785]

It’s the outer tube assy...

JJ

IIRC, a VTX1800 upper tube is the same. The differences were in the internals and the lower fork assemblies.

A number of our members - once upon a time - swapped forks between the two so they could use a VTX wheel/fender/brake setup to get a sleeker look.

[Bagger John - #3785]

the o-ring I mentioned is not discontinued. It is just specific to the GL1500 engine and not used across the honda line as the other smaller cooling pipe o-rings are.  so there is a good chance eventually it could be discontinued. it is not a round in cross section o-ring. I have two spares in my spare parts bin.

I'll probably order a few sets as well when I put my next parts order in. Been doing this periodically for years.

[AwesomeDad]

It’s the outer tube assy...

JJ

IIRC, a VTX1800 upper tube is the same. The differences were in the internals and the lower fork assemblies.

A number of our members - once upon a time - swapped forks between the two so they could use a VTX wheel/fender/brake setup to get a sleeker look.

I’ll check that out any specific model year for the VTX?

[Bagger John - #3785]

It’s the outer tube assy...

JJ

IIRC, a VTX1800 upper tube is the same. The differences were in the internals and the lower fork assemblies.

A number of our members - once upon a time - swapped forks between the two so they could use a VTX wheel/fender/brake setup to get a sleeker look.

I’ll check that out any specific model year for the VTX?

2002 to end-of-production 1800C is what I'm familiar with but the 1800F, -N, -R and -S tubes may fit as well. Head over to the VTXOA site and put the question out to the members. I'm pretty sure someone could make measurements for you. All of these upper tubes have the same OD, by the way.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Here's another possibility:

The Kawasaki Mean Streak used the same type of inverted forks as the GL1500C and VTX1800 series. One could check the dimensions of the upper tube.

I have an acquaintance in the area who owns one. If he doesn't have the bike off in heated storage somewhere I can check with him and measure a few critical aspects.

[AwesomeDad]

Here's another possibility:

The Kawasaki Mean Streak used the same type of inverted forks as the GL1500C and VTX1800 series. One could check the dimensions of the upper tube.

I have an acquaintance in the area who owns one. If he doesn't have the bike off in heated storage somewhere I can check with him and measure a few critical aspects.

I may have found one, waiting to hear back...

[h13man]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

The ST1300 uses the same size forks, however they are black and I don't know if the upper tube and/or the complete assy length is the same as the valkyrie.

Unfortunately this part is specific to Valkyries only. VTX 1800 is similar but...

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/51500-MZ0-003?ref=ab385962bba540622005b2f0c7211128bd215cc7

[AwesomeDad]

that is correct. many, many parts are not avail new anymore.
I was trying to get a thread started of parts specific only to the valkyrie and/or not made anymore, but nobody else was posting.
like the large O-ring for the large cooling tube going into the thermo housing. Only the GL1500 engine uses that O-ring.

The ST1300 uses the same size forks, however they are black and I don't know if the upper tube and/or the complete assy length is the same as the valkyrie.

Yeh I’m not gonna chance it
Unfortunately this part is specific to Valkyries only. VTX 1800 is similar but...

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/51500-MZ0-003?ref=ab385962bba540622005b2f0c7211128bd215cc7

[Bagger John - #3785]

(snip)

Yeh I’m not gonna chance it

(snip)

Eventually, we'll have to "chance it" with some parts. Adapt them to purpose if we wish to keep our Valkyries on the road.

An example is my late friend Jack's 1915 J Harley-Davidson. Parts for the thing were unavailable shortly after Jack was born, the bike itself was found behind a barn (partially buried in dirt) and it took Jack 40 years to run down or machine enough of the components needed to get it running.

I've ridden alongside Jack while he was piloting the J, and it was definitely a hit at the various vintage events. (Some of our members who attended Mid Ohio Vintage Motorcycle Days through the late 90s and early 2000s probably remember seeing the bike and its owner).

Many of the internals weren't stock, but that didn't keep my friend down at all. Where there's a will, there's a way.

ETA:

Unfortunately this part is specific to Valkyries only. VTX 1800 is similar but...

https://www.partzilla.com/product/honda/51500-MZ0-003?ref=ab385962bba540622005b2f0c7211128bd215cc7

That tells us a part number. It tells us nothing regarding overall tube length, inner diameter, outer diameter at the clamping points, fork cap threading depth, pitch and type...

I can tell you a couple of things from experience, having owned both an -1800C and GL1500 Valkyries, as well as working with a number of members on conversion projects:

• The forks and other front-end components from a -C have been successfully fitted to more than one GL1500 Valkyrie (too bad the old Tech Archives are DOA).
  
• Parts from various VTX1800 forks will interchange with those from a 1500 Valkyrie. As an example, a set of I/S forks is sitting in my breakfast room at the moment, wearing a set of OEM chrome lower covers from (IIRC) an -R. They fit perfectly, which tells me the bottom part of the upper tube is in fact the same length. This is why I mentioned checking with the VTXOA folks and an actual bike; something that may have to be done eventually should the used market dry up.
  
• The thread starter is also a member of a Concours forum, as am I. Kawasaki loves to use multiple numbers across models for the same part and I've occasionally seen Honda do it as well.

In summary, a ruler and a caliper or set of mikes are going to be the determining factor regarding re-use.
 

[98valk]

great post Bagger John.