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earls fork on /5
Posted: Wed 25. Feb 2004, 21:53
by Mike Baker
I have a 73 R75/5 with a velorex sidecar.
I do not like the cost or the Unit forks from
England. My question can the earls forks
for the BMW's fit on the steering neck on the
/5's. Thankyou.
Re: earls fork on /5
Posted: Sat 28. Feb 2004, 23:05
by Allan Atherton
I have both US (/5) fork and Earles fork bikes. I have also purchased the tapered roller bearings for both forks. The bearings are the same, but when the bearings are installed in the US (/5) fork, a spacer or adapter ring must be added to fill the space between the bearing and the US (/5) fork. I think this indicates that the US (/5) steering head is too small to accept the shaft of an Earles fork.
Here are further considerations:
If it did fit, a complete Earles fork restored to good condition, with hub and wheel, will probably cost almost $1,500 USD.
The Velorex is not such a valuable sidecar that it is worth any extensive, expensive modification of an otherwise good /5 bike.
The /5 is not a natural sidecar puller. BMW considered that both the forks and the frame were unacceptable for sidecar hauling. In the 1970s and 1980s, the aftermarket offered steel plate subframes that bolted to the lower frame tube of the /5.