I've been having a clearout. Where I've rebuilt a load of forks for myself and other people, and have been buying up cheap sets to use as spare parts for the hybrid forks I've been building, I've ended up with a pair of Showa adjustable forks that I can't identify. They have 43mm Stanchions, and fit 50/54mm yokes, the same as SSs, and Monsters with this type bottom casting and 65mm caliper Bolt spacing. But I was under the impression that there were two lengths: Monster - Outer length 450mm, spindle centre to top of Outer 695mm SS - Outer length 500mm, spindle centre to top of Outer 735mm (Note earlier Showa adjustable forks with 40mm caliper bolt spacing are a shorter length again) These fall in the middle - Outer length 485mm, spindle centre to top of Outer 720mm As can be seen they have the same (65mm) bottom castings as the standard ones I took from my M1000 and 1000SS, and have the same shape and style Outers, just a different length. Does anyone know if there is a Ducati they fit with a length between the Monster and SS range? Until now I'd just assumed they were Ducati, but I believe Honda used them as well, so perhaps they are a Honda length.
I've also ended up with some really good condition early shorter Outers, 435mm: Anyone know what model the odd steel grey colour one is from? It's Marzocchi not Showa as it had an adjustable end cap with the little blue plastic adjuster. Also the much more Red Gold one, which I think is Showa.
Its just a guess, as I don’t have any to measure, but I would go for ST2 / 3. The monster had short forks, and traditional handlebars. The SS has clip-ons but as standard positioned above the yoke, so forks needed to be long. ST2 or 3 had the touring “clip-ons” which bolted to the yoke, so for a similar geometry, monster would be too short and SS too long.
