Front end question??

[VTRPiG]

Hey guys I am considering swopping my SP1 front end for an earlier blade model(96-99). Haven't got one as yet but been looking at eBay, and still not completely decided on the idea yet. Would the fireblade front rim I have on the bike fit the earlier forks? I think they are 954 rims but might be mistaken.

My thinking behind the swop is the SP1 front end is quite a chunky and bulky front end and the older fireblade looks a little less bolbuss and guessing not as heavy... or am I wrong with regards to the weight saving?
The SP forks aren't set up properly and need to be rebuilt as they are pretty spongey. I know getting them set up will help loads as well as getting a new shock at the rear too, but keen on reducing some of the weight as much as possible.

So if I go through with this then I'll have an SP1 front end up for grabs including clipons and top and bottom yokes at some stage.

[tony.mon]

If you want to pull a fork leg off and weight it I can let you have the weight on the 929 legs I have just bought four of.
Then you can see if there is a weight difference large enough to be worth the playing about.

[VTRPiG]

Thanks tony that would be great. Although as you know I have stripped the back end and rebuilt it no worries, but how in the hell would I go around stripping the front end

[tony.mon]

Remove brakes, remove wheel and mudguard, jack under sump, heavy thing on the pillion seat, undo clamps on one leg only top and bottom and leg will drop out.
Or at least, it will when you remember that you haven't undone the little bolt holding the front brake cable tidy bracket in place.

Weigh it with the oil in, and I'll do the same, for a direct comparison.

How many grams saved is worth the expense, do you think?

[mik_str]

The RSU forks used on 900RR are slightly heavier than the USDs used on he 929 and 954. I did not weiggh them but stumbled across the press kit Honda released when it launched the 929 and it highlighted the minor weight savings in the frone end from the new forks..... where there will be weight savings, however, is in the front rotors, as the 298mm (VTR and pre-98 900RR) and 310mm (98-99 900RR) are lighter than the 330mm units used on teh 929.....

[lloydie]

When I drop my front end I will weigh the forks (92 blade) and post it up as having a little data can only help the next builder

[Stephan]

no matter total weight of these, blade forks have definitely more unsprung weight, affecting handling. Just service your current SP forks, give them correct springs, and do proper setup.

[VTRPiG]

Guys thanks for the replies and info as to the forks. I'm still not completely decided yet so hearing what you all have to say and from your experiences helps. This isn't something I'm doing in the next few weeks more over the next 4/8 months.

Tony will be using the bike till November maybe longer depending on the weather, but planning on doing a partial repaint over Christmas so will attempt to get a fork off then and will weight it as will be good to know the weight differences.