SD Forks

Hey,

so after a lot of mulling over getting an SD I am finding it a bit of a hard sell to the Mrs (I want to keep my Blade and a KTM 450 EXC but its apparently 2 bikes only...)

I am therefore considering building a SD type bike possibly using an Aprilia RSV4 Factory motor - something a bit wild and different and strangely 'er indoors doesn't mind that idea. I was wondering how long SD forks are from top to center spindle? I have some GSXR 1000 forks but having done a by-eye measurement when I popped to Devils Bridge over the weekend I think they are much too short. I want to start some basic draughts as I will have some free time shortly, I popped to some local bike shops but they had no SD's in for a close inspection.

I stuck some pics on a blog of previous builds if you care to look (and potentially dampen any "are you crazy" comments)

http://boxfreshclassics.blogspot.com/

ignore the name of the blog, my first choice was taken, as was the second so I gave up coming up with anything original for the time being. The Ducati may get road registered (and by 'may' I mean its an idea we thought might be good in summer - nothing more) - at the moment its being built for the thundersport series.

Cheers,
Mark

Isn't an SD type bike with an RSV4 motor in it called a Tuono V4R?

Yeah but anyone can just buy one of those plus having sat on one they are a bit cramped and small

Possibly some here will not take lightly to the tuono ...

But in my book anyone who build something different is A OK. We are supposed a bit different here on the forum otherwise we would be on the IL4 forums...

Personnaly I would find a good V-twin to start with, from the SD point of view it could do with a bit more grunt but a V-twin is a good concept.

I have considered a v-twin. I looked at the vtr, tl but both of those are surprisingly heavy lumps and a bit uninspiring. A Ducati motor would be ok but would need to be at least the 999 engine. They are expensive for what you get stat wise. That left the Aprilia v twin from an RSV Mille. Good motor and you can get them cheap, I had settled on this before seeing a v4 aprilia engine on a bench, tiny thing and they sound nice. Unfortunately the lc8 engine seems to be a little lacking, many on here have said as much and they are also quite scarce which makes them an expensive option

Saying that I could build the whole bike using a v twin Mille engine for the cost of the v4 motor alone so I might end up using a twin yet. At the moment I like the idea of the v4

Dude..just sell the Blade and get an S.D..!!!

You WON'T regret it..!!!!

AND..you won't piss off the good humor men here
talking about other bikes and builds other than Superdukes or at LEAST KTM's

As it is your 450 belongs in the "other KTM" posts

IF you are that unhappy with the S.D.
(you won't be)
Then you can always get another Blade...
There are plenty of them out there to be had...
Again...you WON'T regret it..

Lol I don't mean to piss them off. Are they that sensitive!

Thing is, I decide to sell the blade. Mind made up. Yep, she is going.

Problem is I always revert back to not wanting to sell it... I wouldn't mind but it's the original round headlight version that I lusted after when I was at school..