Yamaha TRX850 Enthusiasts Forum

With suspension and dogbone mods on the list next, what advantage do I get from utilising thundercat forks apart from easy fitting into std fork yokes.
Spacers for std trx front wheel in forks???
Do I gain dampening,preload and rebound adjustment???
or if just like std forks just preload and dampening, is it a mechanical advantage through the hydraulic dampening system used to give me more options when tuning???

cobbadiggabuddyblooo wrote:With suspension and dogbone mods on the list next, what advantage do I get from utilising thundercat forks apart from easy fitting into std fork yokes.
Spacers for std trx front wheel in forks???
Do I gain dampening,preload and rebound adjustment???
or if just like std forks just preload and dampening, is it a mechanical advantage through the hydraulic dampening system used to give me more options when tuning???

Hiya,

Sorry I didn't get a chance to reply to your PM, we were away for the Manchester bike show this weekend.

Thundercat forks are cartridge type forks and are adjustable for preload, compression and rebound in multiple steps. TRX forks are damper rod type and are only adjustable for preload and rebound in four steps. The Thundercat forks are 'better'. I'm hopefully going to get mine fitted and measured up for the spacers this week so I'll post the measurements up when I get a chance.

Thanks for the reply there maaaate...
Well looks like they may be on the wish list then.. Now just have to track some down in the land of Aus...
Click my heels three times... Theres no forks like thundercats

One question tho .. Do they give you seperate dampening and rebound adjustment?? as obviously the dampening and rebound on the std trx forks work as same rate of damp. same rate of rebound....yes???

cobbadiggabuddyblooo wrote:One question tho .. Do they give you seperate dampening and rebound adjustment?? as obviously the dampening and rebound on the std trx forks work as same rate of damp. same rate of rebound....yes???

Yes, separate compression and rebound, AFAIK. Plus I _believe_ they are much more "tunable" than the OEM forks - e.g. racetech internals, that sort of thing.

Should also come with a more appropriate spring rate - stock TRX is apparently .500 kg/mm, which is shocking considering the weight of the bike, and goes some way to explaining the "special" waterbed feeling you get with the stock forks if you set the damping to 1 or 2 clicks. Certainly I remember my own 'cat as having a much better front end than the stock TRX.

Excuse my ignorance but the thundercat forks where standard for what sort of model/models yamaha and where they popular cycles as such for many years???

cobbadiggabuddyblooo wrote:Excuse my ignorance but the thundercat forks where standard for what sort of model/models yamaha and where they popular cycles as such for many years???

Thundercat forks were fitted to the YZF600 Thundercat (not just a clever name ).

The cat was in production from approx 96 - 2006 and AFAIK was in Yamaha's line up through out the world

Thanks all for your valued input.. So wouldnt be suprised if I got more of a chance of tracking t/cat forks down instead of std TRX jobbies from the wreckers by the sounds.(even tho std forks fitted at present are working fine just want better. )

There's nothing wrong with wanting better I don't know if my forks have UK or Japanese springs in them but I'm looking forward to swapping them for something a little more refined

MMMM after surfing the tec specs n mods for some technical input on the fitting of the T/cat forks I've found plenty of folks who recommend them but no real info on the actual modification and stuff.
So next questions are....

Can I use the std trx front wheel and axle?
Are they compatable with the std trx front wheel spacers or do I need to get others manufactured to align discs?
Mounting of std/bluespot brake calipers,do they just bolt on?
Oh not to mention
speedo drive and front guard???
OH ALSO DO YOU GET WAFERS WITH EM????

No need to ask what flavour they are.. Obviously feline @#cking flavour %^ckhead...

So next questions are....

Can I use the std trx front wheel and axle? Yes

Are they compatable with the std trx front wheel spacers or do I need to get others manufactured to align discs? Use the whole lot, it lines right up.

Mounting of std/bluespot brake calipers,do they just bolt on? Yes. Blue spots were standard on the Thundercat too.

Oh not to mention speedo drive and front guard??? Speedo drive, yes, front guard, maybe with a bit of bodging or get a Thundercat one

The only bugger about is the measuring up and waiting for spacers to be made (I hope )

Sorry Kayla the last part got me a little confused
which spacers are you talking about that your waiting to get made as such??? are they extra spacers between the forks and front wheel that live on the axle???
Or did I just pick the wrong sorta mushrooms and put on my steak I had for lunch..
OH I USE THUNDERCATS AND THERE OK ... DAMPEN ALLRIGHT AND REBOUND OK....

The Thundercat forks are narrower at the bottom where the spindle goes through so you need a spacer between the speedo drive and fork leg and a new, slightly longer spacer making up for the other side. Other than that, you use all of the TRX bits. I believe there's only a few mm that needs to be taken up but I'll let you know when I get mine fitted and measured.

Onya there mate Much appreciated..
can you post it on this tread please to compose all info needed for future reference...Just have to track some forks down here in oz now....