Camel Forks

[Steve Brown]

Prompted by another post in the forum somewhere-I'm on the lookout for a set of front forks for a Camel please. Could be disc or drum type, and if you're interested I have other stuff to trade.
Stuff to trade includes various Morini bits such as, 501 Camel frame with Spanish papers, 501 Camel fuel tank, 350 crankcases, various 350 engine internals, etc.

[jb666]

I've got a pair of forks from a Kanguro if they are any good. A bit of corrosion between the top and bottom yokes but nothing where the sliders run.

Have the yokes as well if you are interested. I got a better condition set from Italy for a very good price which are now on my X3.

Let me know.

John.

[hombre]

Hi Steve, I have a 501 X2-fork complete in good condition. I also have some lower legs of a 1st series Camel but they need welding (cracks at the part where the axle is blocked (or was). Also some inner legs (how do you say this in decent English?), rusty, maybe even some Excalbur legs which have the same dimensions.

['It must be a .....']

Hi Steve, do you need everything including yokes a matching wheel, brake etc?
As Hombre says the 501 Excalibur 38mm forks and yokes are the same geometry but you would need a single disc wire wheel grimeca hub from another bike eg NVT Rambler.
KLR 600/650 38mm forks, wheel etc also fit straight in the Camel yokes with no mods.
Armstrong MT500?
The 40mm X2 forks are a good option (better than X3/Coguaro versions) if a wee bit longer.
Even New York forks/yokes give the same geometry but like the Excalibur would be more street scrambler in function.
As usual lots of options?

Have fun, Ian

['It must be a .....']

PS
500 (38mm) and 501 (40mm) Camel fork yokes have the same offset/geometry
The Coguaro frame geometry and yokes are different

[Steve Brown]

Thanks Ian- I knew I could rely on you for the definitive answer! I have the Mk1 yokes and front wheel for this bike but don't like the much longer (Japanese??) forks that came with it as a box of bits. So the simplest way would be standard Mk1 forks but I'm open to other ideas here and 100% original spec isn't important to me.
I hadn't memorised that the 501 were 40mm either, and the X2 as well? I'd assumed they were 35mm!

[hombre]

Isn't the Coguaro the same as the latest 501, the X3? I can imagine the frame being different because of the starter motor in front of the engine, like on the Excaliburs. The 501 X2 fork is way longer than the 500 Camels and the X3 version.

[Steve Brown]

I've got a pair of forks from a Kanguro if they are any good. A bit of corrosion between the top and bottom yokes but nothing where the sliders run.

Have the yokes as well if you are interested. I got a better condition set from Italy for a very good price which are now on my X3.

Let me know.

John.

Thanks John, I'm assuming yours are 35mm diameter? I have a Kanguro front end here that is destined for another project and would ideally prefer to stick with the 38mm forks. Mind you I have no idea whether a 35mm set would mean a lighter front end with all the advantages that brings! Especially if the advantage can only be used by a fitter, better rider..

[Steve Brown]

Hi Steve, I have a 501 X2-fork complete in good condition. I also have some lower legs of a 1st series Camel but they need welding (cracks at the part where the axle is blocked (or was). Also some inner legs (how do you say this in decent English?), rusty, maybe even some Excalbur legs which have the same dimensions.

Thanks Hans, I'll keep them in mind. For the English words for inner legs we say stanchion, and for the outer part it's slider. I know the German version for stanchion is gabelrohr but can't remember what slider is! Absolute geen idee hoe in Nederlandse taal is het?

[hombre]

Vorkpoten, binnenpoten en onderpoten

['It must be a .....']

Hi all, Hombre you're right about 501 fork lengths etc and they are also heavier than the 500 forks

So Steve your quest is for 38mm 500 Camel Mk1 or slightly shorter Mk2/3 drum brake type forks?

Lots of bikes used these Marzocchi forks but length and spindle diameters differ, yet smaller spindle holes can always be bored out

Good luck with the quest, meanwhile I'll do some measuring in the garage and get back to you, Ian

[Steve Brown]

Yes, I'd prefer 38mm especially as you confirm the 40mm are heavier. Mind you, I can be easily persuaded by a bargain we'll see what comes up. It still isn't anything like urgent so I can afford to keep an eye on what comes up. I might offer the Kanguro forks I have here soon and see how they work out.

[Steve Brown]

Vorkpoten, binnenpoten en onderpoten

Perfekt! Bedankt!

[acemorini]

Hello Steve, I am sure that I have a set, full front end from a 501 coguaro lying around somewhere, and a front end of a 350 kangaro, from memory { not to good nowadays } the forks on the coguaro are thicker than the kangaro.
Regards Pete.

[3potjohn]

I think the Coguaro stanchions are 40 mm, at least that is what my notes say.