Are there other Forks that would fit this bobber?

Hey guys. I have a Custom 1982 Yamaha xj650 RJ bobber. It took me a while just to even come to that conclusion (it being the "RJ" model). The previous owner put it down as a Maxim but the Maxim rear brakes and the upper steering clamp did not fit. That's when I realized something was off. Anyhow!

I had a terrible accident. Someone did a hit and run on me in Toronto in 2013. My spine is still recovering from it. I'm trying to get my bobber back on the road. I just discovered why my steering clamp hadn't been going back on since I took it off (to replace it since it was broken). After taking it off, I realized why. The Triple Tree Stem is bent forwards (towards the headlight direction). The forks are straight. I'm thinking of using this as an excuse to completely change the front fork assembly to an aftermarket or off another bike. Something beefier perhaps. Is that possible? Or should I just stick to getting a 1982 replacement Triple Tree Stem? (If so, then are the stems the same from 1981-1983 xj650's?) Attached is a picture.

 

R1 and R6 front end swaps have been done but they are a little short(requires using your XJ stem though). Dirt bike front end could work, but you'll still need your stem.

 

I've seen the R1/ R6 front end swamps but even for those there were small adjustments that needed to be made along the lines of fabrication. I don't want to get into any fabrication at all. Just sort of a "plug n play" deal. An easy swap. I want to replace the stem. Is there another stem that fits an 82 xj650 is what I want to know.

 

Anyone with suggestions?

 

Why would you want to change the stem for a fork swap? Normally you'd use the stem that matches the headstock, and swap it onto the lower tree of the new forks, and have the upper tree machined to suit the new forks, or machine the new upper to suit the old stem (fitting a bushing if needed).

 

That's what I was talking about, swapping the XJ stem to the tree of the other forks.

 

The 700 Max/Virago has a slightly longer front end that will fit your 82 and give a raked appearance, but not much. Other than that, your SOL on a "plug n play" front end swap.

 

Somebody on Thechopperunderground.com put a DNA Springer front end on a XS650. The XS has the same stem as the XJ, so it could also work on yours. They were able to accomplish the swap by just changing out the bearings, but then that leads to modding the front brakes(a headache) or going without front brakes(which most people, myself included, wouldn't recommend).

 

I didn't even know the stem could be taken out. Kept thinking the stem and lower tree was one part!

Yeah I wouldn't want to go without front brakes. I want as many brakes as I can get on two wheels. Toronto drivers in the summer time are half mental from too much sun already. Way too many close calls in this city. I guess I'll have to stick with the original stem and keep the forks. My forks are solid. Just the stem is bent. Need new upper and lower bearings again too cause they were dry and in really really bad shape.

SO. Does anyone at all here have all three things? Need a 1982 Triple Tree Stem, Upper and lower bearings with the necessary casings required to have full functionality.

 

Check with XJ4Ever at the top right for what you need. If he doesn't have a stem, someone around here will.

 

http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion good link ay. Also front wheel options all these use 15mm front axles so should not be a major issue to fit depending on width.

Honda CR125 R 79-84, XL200 R 83-84, XR200 81-91 & 93-97, CR250
R 78-84, NX250 88-90, XL250 R 82-87, CL250 S 78-81, XR250
79-80, XR250 L 91-96, XR250 R 81-82 & 84-97, CR450 81, CR480 R
82-83, CR500 R 84, XL500 R 82, XL500 S 79-81, XR500 79-80,
XR500 R 81-84, XL600 R 83-87, XR600 R 85-92, Honda CB125 TT
90, XL175 73-78, CM185 Twinstar 78-79, CM200 T 80-82, TR200 G
86, CB250 Nighthawk 91-92, CM250 82-84, CMX250 Rebel 85-86,
CMX250 Rebel 96-97, CR250 M 73-76, VTR250 90, XL250 72-76,
CB360 74-76, CB400 75-81, CM400 A/B/E 79-81, NS400 RG 96-97,
CB450 65-74, CB450 SC Nighthawk 82-85, CB450 Tc 82, CM450
A/C/E 82-84, CMX450 C Rebel 86, Kawasaki KDX250 80-81, KL250
78-79, KX250 75-81, KZ305 B2/B3 87-88, KX400 A1/A2 75-76,
KZ400 A/D/S 74-78, KZ400 C1/H1 78-79, KDX420 80-81, KX420
80-81, KZ440 80-83, K440 D6 84, EN450 85-90, Suzuki GS250 T
80-81, GT250 73-77, GT380 73-77, GN400 80-82, GS400, GSF400
Bandit 91-93, GS425 79, GS450 82-83, GS500 89-97, GT500 76-77,
RE5 75-76, RG500 86, GS550 All, GSX600 F Katana 89-97, GR650
D/XD/E/F Tempter 83-85, GS650 G/GL 81-83, GS650 EX/EZ 81-82,
GS650 M 83, LS650 P 96-97, LS650 Savage 86-88, XN85 Turbo
86-88, GV700 85, GS750 77-86, GSX750 F Katana 89-97, GSX-R750
85-86, GT750 73-77, VS750 Intruder 85-91, VS800 92-97, VX800
90-93, GS850 79-83, GS1000 78-81, GS1100 Chain & Shaft 80-84,
GSX-R1100 86, GS1150 84-86, GV1200 Madura 85-86, GV1400
Cavalcade 86-88, XS1400 GL 84-87 & 96-97, Yamaha RD250 73-74,
XV250 88-90, XS360 76-77, FZR400 88-89, RD400 79, XS400 77-81,
XS400 Maxim/Seca 82-83, XS400 S 80-82, XJ550 R 81-83, XZ550
Vision 82-83, FJ600 84-85 & 89, FZ600 86-88, FZR600 R 89-95,
SRX600 C 86, YX600 Radian 86-90, XJ650 80-83, FJ700 Maxim X
85-86, FZ750 85-88, FZR750 87-88, FZX750 Fazer 86-87, XJ750
81-84, XV750 Virago 81-87, XV750 90-98, XS850 80-81, XJ900 R
Seca 83, XV920 Virago 81, FZ1000 87-88, XV1000 84-85, FJ1100
84-85, XV1100 86-98, FJ1200 86-93, Kawasaki KX125 B1/B2 82-83
(right), KX125 C1 84, KDX200 A 83-85, KDX200 C 86-88, KDX200 E
89-94, KDX200 95-97, KZ200 A1/A2 78-79, KDX220 H 97, EL250
88-94, EX250 Ninja 86-90 & 92-97, KDX250 82-84, KXD250 D
91-94, KLX250 R 94-96, KL250 D KLR 85-97 (right), KX250 82-84
(right), KZ250 G LTD 80-81, KZ250 82-83 & 85, KLX300 97, EX305
B1-B3 83-85, KZ400 C2 81, EX500 A1-A7 87-93, EX500 D1-D4
94-97, KX500 A 83-84 (right), ZL600 B2/B3 96-97, KLX650 C1-C4
93-96, KLX650 A1-A3 93-96, KL650 87-97 (right), Suzuki RM125
81-86, PE175 82-84, TS200 R 91-93, RM250 81-86, TS250 71-76,
DR350 90-96, DR350 S 90-97, TS400 72-77 (left), RM500 83-84,
DR600 85-89, DR650 S 90-95, DR750 S 88-89 (left), DR800 S 90
(left), Yamaha YZ125 81-91, IT175 77-83, RT180 91-93 & 95-97,
DT200 85-86, DT200 R 89-90 & 95, IT200 84-87, TW200 87-98,
WR200 92, TT225 86-87, XT225 92-96, DT250 74-79, IT250 77-83,
MX250 73-75, SR250 80-82, TDR250 89-90, TT250 80-83, WR250 Z
91, XT250 80-84, XV250 94-96, YZ250 77-91, YZ250 WR 89-90,
TT350 85, TY350 85-86, XT350 85-87 & 92/94/96, DT360 74, MX360
73-74, YZ360 74-75, DT400 75-78, IT400 77-79, MX400 75, YZ400
76-79, IT425 80, IT465 81-82, YZ465 80-81, IT490 83-84, YZ490
82-90, SC500 73, TT500 77-78, XT500 76-81, XV500 Virago 83-85,
XT550 82-83, TT600 83-86, Honda CB500 71-76, CX500 78-82,
CX500 Tc Turbo 82, FT500 Ascot 82, GL500 81-82, VF500 C Magna
V30 84-85, VF500 F Interceptor 84-86, VT500 C Shadow 83-84,
VT500 FT 83-84, CB550 F 75-77, CB550 K, CB500 SC Nighthawk
83-84, CBX550 FD 83, CB650 C 79-82, CB650 SC Nighthawk 82-85,
CX650 T/E 83-84, GL650 I 83, CB750 A 76-78, CB750 C 80-82,
CB750 F 75-78, CB750 F/K/L 79, CB750 K 69-78, CB750 SC 80-85,
VF750 C Magna 82-88, VF750 F Interceptor 83-85, VF750 S Sabre
82-85, VT750 C 83-86, VT800 88, CB900 C 80-82, CB900 F 81-82,
GL1000 Goldwing L 75-79, VF1000 F 84-85, VF1000 R 84-85,
CBX1050 79-82, CB1100 F 83, GL1100 A/I 80-83, VF1100 C, 83-86,
VF1100 S 84-85, VT1100 C 85-86, GL1200 A/I/K/SE 84-87,
Kawasaki EN500 Vulcan 90-96, EN500 C 96-97, KZ550 A 80-83,
KZ550 C 80-83, KZ550 D 81, KZ550 F1/F2 83-84, KZ550 H1/H2
82-83, KZ550 M1 83, ZR550 B1-B4 90-93, ZX550 A 84-86, ZL600
A1/A2 Eliminator 86-87, ZX600 Ninja A1-A3 85-87, ZX600 C1-C4
88-91, ZX600 C8-C10 95-97, KZ650 H1-H3 81-83, KZ750 F1 83,
KZ750 H1/H4 80-83, KZ750 K1/K2 83-84, KZ750 L Supersport
83-84, KZ750 N Spectre, KZ750 R 82, KZ750 S1 82, VN750 Vulcan
86-97, ZX750 A1-A3, ZX750 E1/E2 Turbo 84-85, VN800 95-97,
ZL900 A1/A2 85-86, ZX900 A1-A3 84-86, KZ1000 J1-J3 81-83,
KZ1000 K 81-82, KZ1000 M1 81, KZ1000 P 82-97, KZ1000 R 83,
ZG1000 Concours 86-93, ZL1000 A1 87, ZX1000 Ninja 86-87,
KZ1100 A1-A3 81-83, KZ1100 B1/B2 81-82, KZ1100 L1/R1 83,
KZ1100 R1 84, ZN1100 B1/B2 84-85, ZX1100 A1/A2 83-84, ZG1200
Voyager 86-97, VN1500 Vulcan 87-97, VN1500 B 87-90

 

Did you read my lengthy reply to your stem question in your other forum on the same topic?

FWIW, I would not mix lower and upper clamps from different models, to play it safe. I'd stay with matched components.

PERSONALLY, I'd want to have the correct triple tree assembly for the frame. That's why we asked you to check the number so we can verify what the frame really is to begin with. THAT way, if you're gonna change things, you have a better idea in advance what will happen with rake and trail.

THAT all being said, can you please keep all questions and discussion on this bike in one forum? It's easier to read back through one thread than to skip around.

 

Thanks man.

Whoaa. That's a lot. Thanks!

Yes I did. I read everyone's reply whether they tag me in it or not. I replied to you there. Thanks again for that. I'm new I guess. For the next posts I'll try and keep it all in one.

 

I'm just curious, did you end up putting that DNA Springer on your bike, and how did you do it?