Bantam fork upgrade

[Matt McGuigan]

Due to enforced boredom, I am finally putting together a D7 frame and engine I've got. I would like to build it as road going trail type bike but as originality is not an issue and as I also have access to some fine off road riding here in Devon, I want to fit beefier forks. Have any of you guys done this in the past and if so what was involved. Any guidance appreciated. Matt.

[Allan G]

I'm kind of in the process of building a trials bantam, I say kind of because I'm collecting parts but yet to start building it.

You will want to look at the parts manual for the D14 sportsman. This used the same heavyweight forks as on the A/B series. The top yoke is identical to a military WDB40, I managed to find a bottom bantam yoke but again it's the same as the WDB40, however you'd need to cut the threads longer and then take the top off. You'd also need to put a steering lock stop further down the down tube. The sliders whilst identical in almost every way should have a smaller cutout for the wheel spindle, these are impossible to find! So with mine I'll be making some split tube spacers (the triumph mountain cub used something similar) you will also need to find or make a longer wheel spindle, there were 3 types for the D7 on Bantam's. the one for the lightweight forks commonly used, the one used in the B175 forks which is about 1/2" longer and the one for the D14 sports. I think that's half an inch longer again.

You could stick a B175 front end in it, but I don't think it would hold up for very long. Not for proper off road work anyway.

[Matt McGuigan]

Thanks Alan, but one of my mates wanted the Bantam to restore it to standard spec and as I had 90% of the original parts lying around I let him have it. I meantime, have now reverted to making a trail/trial bike out of my C15 for which I have most parts except the engine. At least I'm not short of time to do it in