Advantages and Disadvantages of Girder Front Ends! This is still a problem with these types of forks today. But the problem with them is they nose dive and bind as well as they create problems with trail. But many bikes were using telescopic front ends at the time which where not very expensive, and they light. In addition they absorbed bumps well and could be adjusted to the riders needs. Ironically, the more modern girder front ends (alloy blades, better hydraulics, adjustable suspension) were considered to be a good option for racing because they didn't nose dive and the geometry of the bike was stable.
#Girder front end design mods#
You will have to buy special mods to adjust the trail, otherwise it’s not possible. What goes against girder forks is its harmonic and vibration prone design. The shock and spring used in girder forks plays a key role in giving you a smoother ride. Girder forks take the lead because they give you an option to mount hardware. Similar to Springer forks, Girders are also good for longer lengths. What’s more, you will have to make an allowance for mounting hardware. Harmonic and vibration prone designs, along with a lack of trail adjustment are major shortcomings for Springer forks. Go for Springer forks if you prefer longer length forks. Lightweight, old school chopper styling and low maintenance are some of the highlights of Springer forks. It is argued that they are not well suited for raked bikes, but I see them all the time and they are very popular. Its weight puts a lot of pressure on the tires and wheels. When it comes to downsides, it’s heavy weight design is a big letdown. Whether you are a hydraulic fork fan or not, you will have to admit that it is quite popular. One aspect that makes hydraulic forks stand out from Springers and Girders forks is its covered suspension. The biggest advantage of hydraulic forks is its flexibility in design. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of different motorcycle suspension options: Some of the factors that distinguish Girder from Springer forks include:Īdvantages and Disadvantages of The Different Front Ends: Some of the similarities between Girder forks and Springer forks include: Here are some of the major differences and similarities between Girder and Springer Forks. Similarities and Differences Between Girder and Springer Front Ends! Girder forks evolved from there and managed to reach the heights of popularity. Next came the Girdraulic fork, which replaced welded tubes with alloy blades. It was a big step up from a Druid because it added a damper, tapered coil springs and was controlled by a large central spring. It allowed the liberty to move forward and backward during compression, which was a novel concept at that time.īritish Motorcycles was very popular during World War 2, which used a Webb Fork front end, which also belongs to parallelogram family. It was a major breakthrough because it altered the steering geometry used in those days in other bikes. The older variants of girder front ends were fitted on Triumph’s mid 1920’s motorcycles models. It had a slider at the top and hinged lower link. Some also contain a rebound spring but there was no concept of damping at the time. You can easily distinguish Druid forks from others, thanks to its solid front brace at the front and coil springs at the rear end. The Druid fork belonged to a parallelogram family of forks. It was fitted on an Ariel motorcycle in 1913. It is argued that the Druid springer fork was the first real set created. It all began when the first girder fork assembly was created.