Trial Build of the Front End

So, I have now offered everything (well, maybe not everything) up at the front end, with no major disasters. Let's start off with fitting the GuzziTech steering adapters, that let you use tapered roller bearings inside of ball-bearings. Installation is straightforward. Install the Guzzitech cups into the frame, and then tap the bearing races into the cups. The bottom bearing slides down the steering stem, which is then pushed up through the frame. You then add the top bearing and the cover plate like so:

(remember to click to see the photo enlarged)

Then screw the top bolt down. I don't have a torque setting, but you shouldn't overdo it. Nice and tight by hand with a spanner is all it needs:

Then  tighten the pinch bolt to hold the top yoke in place. Actually, don't tighten it quite yet. Slide the forks through the yokes (a rubber mallet is your friend) and het the yokes lines up first:

Note the Tarozzi fork brace. I really like it. Combined with the Guzzitech bearing adaptors, the front end feels way more solid by hand than the original setup ever did.

Although the center piece isn't in place in this photo. Note I also slid on the Tarozzi clip-ons, which are cool. Nice and high for real riding:

Drop 'em low for a show:

Here's just some more pics showing details:

Next step is to mount the tank. I'm planning on making up some kind of strap arrangement with bicycle inner tube to make a rubber mounting arrangement. More just as soon as I do it!