TOPIC:

Re-chroming can be pretty costly these days - I got a shock when I looked at getting a set done recently...or maybe I'm out of touch with that sort of thing.

Oh I know. I had to have one WP leg done on the 350SXF and that was a 2011 bike!

Well the fork legs are back from Revs. Fortunately Nick found that the bushes were OK. Apparently the chroming place had to do quite an intricate job to get the inner tubes ready to be re-chromed. Did a lovely job though which Nick showed me before he reassembled with the new seals and covers/scrapers. I also decided to get the bases powder coated whilst I was at it.

Don't ask how much for the whole job. I'm seriously considering swapping them for the pair on GFR#2 (the low mileage one) because apart from some marking on the sliders from the brake line, they are now like new. At least I can now drop them back in and be able to wheel GFR#1 around again to make more room to swing a spanner in the garage.

Hmm. Forks put back in and I have a slight clunk on 'lunging' them up and down. Pretty sure it's not the head bearings (new top one also fitted) as I can't feel any fore and aft movement. Thought it might be slight play in the semi-floating disc mountings but perhaps not. I might nip the head bearings up a tiny bit tighter and try again just in case it is that but it sounds like its coming from the forks.

I need to get the lad to help me by getting them moving with the front wheel up against a wall (so eliminating brake caliper/disc effects) while I crouch down and listen carefully. Otherwise, I can see me having to drop them out again and check them as best I can off the bike. It seems to be right at the end of the travel though, so tricky.

Didn't seem to be a problem with the bushes on inspection by Revs and no suggestion of play in them once assembled as far as I could tell. I've tried loosening the spindle clamps off and lunging on them to make sure everything is lined up OK.

To be honest, it doesn't bother me that much but the MoT tester may not be impressed.