CT70 Fork Ears

kawahonda

kawahonda

Active Member
If they need to be wider at the bottom, one could easily lap weld a larger piece (that has the same features as the OEM piece).

None of this would be seriously hard stuff. If it's aluminum, then I'd have to have my friends at work do the welding.

I will get some measurements from TB today on their ears to further design this out. There has to be another answer besides "wait 2-3 years for a pair to show up, then spend $400, then be afraid to ride your bike" route.

IMG_4784_zpsy1y5gy7m.jpg
 
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
It'll all become clear, once you have the trim rings & top tree; without them, it's clear as mud(!). This all seems easier than it truly is...in theory. Reality isn't so cheerfully cooperative. The tapers allow proper fitment at both ends. K1 rings go above the lower tree, K2-`79 below. Both types have narrow grooves, that match the HL ear tubes.

If you have the wherewithal, you could have new tubes & solid, one-piece, ears machined to spec. T304 stainless would be ideal, lifetime too; 6061 would be a lot easier to machine. OD is ~31mm at the top, 43mm bottom, you'd need to start with really thick-walled tubing, or rod stock. The ears themselves are ~15mm thick (overall), excluding the welded flanges...which measure ~40mm edge-to-edge. The edge detailing (the visible portions) could even be replicated. Leave the tube walls at least 5mm thick and you'd have some stout pieces. With enough time, money and talent just about anything is possible.

All of which having been said, stock-width, CT70, turn signals will always be problematic. They stick out too far. Unless they're narrowed-down to a reasonable width, they will snag on damned-near everything.
 
kirrbby

kirrbby

Well-Known Member
CHP does a pretty good job with these kinda parts. I'll bet whatever they come up with will be pretty nice. Probably a good time for Adam to unload his...before the price drop ;)
 
kawahonda

kawahonda

Active Member
I can definitely attest their awesome handlebars. Had no problem selling my bent stockers for those!

NICE is NICE!

I'll be glad to sell my ears when I replace them. The left one is crap. The right one is amazing except for a dent on the backside. It's straight as an arrow though and looks perfect from most angles!

Even when CHP's parts are not perfect, they have no problem mentioning it in the ad. That's super helpful. For example, their CT70 front fender. Yes, it's clean, nice, dent and rust free, and serves as a fine front fender, even could get away using it for a resto, but it just don't have them rolled edges like the OEM one does...but you knew that upfront. I like honest sellers. And the price still makes it an easy buy!

BTW, I am about to order their exhaust guard for my K3. Their add pretty much says "Honda, I dare you to compete with ours". I'll expect perfection, and I'm sure that's what I'll get!
 
Last edited:
scooter

scooter

Well-Known Member
CNC is computer numerical control and goes back to the first of large machining tools that no longer needed a person to control what happened. The machine moves were programmed in. No connection to the material being manufactured on the CNC machine.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
With a CMM (coordinate measuring machine) and five-axis CNC you could recreate just about anything. The big upside of CNC machining is the low-cost/high-precision repeatability. The downside is the huge up-front cost. That second, and every subsequent, part might only cost a few bucks...after paying thousands for the first one. For someone with access to this technology and the wherewithal to use it, the possibilities are a test of one's creative imagination:39:
 
kawahonda

kawahonda

Active Member
FYI, update from CHP. They are past the testing phase. They have released a few more necessary tweaks to the supplier. They will be sold in sets only. My guess is we should start to see them roll in by next year.
 
cjpayne

cjpayne

Well-Known Member
Be fantastic, if they are accurate.
I remember when they came out with the bolt sets. They looked great and accurate, but the little 10mm head bolts had a demple around the 8 pattern. I asked them about it and they said it was accurate from the example they had. I've never seen one like that anywhere. I was a little bummed.
 
Last edited:
6

69ST

Well-Known Member
cjpayne said:
Be fantastic, if they are accurate.
I remember when they came out with the bolt sets. They looked great and accurate, but the little 10mm head bolts had a demple around the 8 pattern. I asked them about it and they said it was accurate from the example they had. I've never seen one like that anywhere. I was a little bummed.
Click to expand...

Reasonably close will be good enough. Honda, as the OEM, had it a lot easier...what they created became "concours correct". And a lot has changed in 43 years. Circa 2017, I doubt that they'd make them exactly as they did...including all of the 1973-era manufacturing artifacts. Lacking an OEM-sized budget, recreating every minuscule OEM detail is an impossible task with any stamped & welded part. I expect that they will be a little different, maybe even a little more nicely finished and that this will be quite acceptable, considering the alternatives. And the owners of NOS & perfect originals have nothing to fear, either...they'll be just as unobtainium rare and sought-after, by hardcore purists, as ever. IMO, it'll be a win-win. There just aren't enough good originals extant and a lot of K3-`79 bikes are being held back because of this.
 
kawahonda

kawahonda

Active Member
Precisely. And CHP has a damn good track record of making excellant, quality parts.

Racerx is right. 1974-1975 Fork ears, in great shape, are about as hen's tooth as it gets. I've yet to see a single good set sell on eBay in over 6 months now. Ouch.
 
Top