Why disc fork links? Innocenti tech historians, apply here

[scootRS.com]

Can anyone explain exactly why Innocenti changed the fork links to the disc type with the S2 TV175 (using a drum), and why they used them on later disc brake models but not other S3 models?

[Soulpunk]

maybe:

innocenti wanted a safer backplate for their "higher speed models".
they used the system on the series 1 tv and also on the series 2.
on the li 125s and 150s , they changed the backplate design from the series 1 type to the series 2 type (changed during series 2 production), due to cracking backplates.
the newer backplate had a stronger support for the forklink pin, which couldn´t crack.
they found out after tests, that this change was sufficient for safety and there was no need for the tv-design on a slower (and cheaper) li.

[rakki]

Those other series III models didn't have shock absorbers as standard so there was no need for lower fixing brackets in the fork link for those.

[scootRS.com]

the newer backplate had a stronger support for the forklink pin, which couldn´t crack.
they found out after tests, that this change was sufficient for safety and there was no need for the tv-design on a slower (and cheaper) li.

I forgot the s1 tv used them. But it came out before the s1 LI, right? So they didn't know yet about the cracking of the thinner backplate with drum links on the LI. (And why go back to them on the S3 sx/tv when they knew the stronger backplate was OK with drum links?)

You can have pins for dampers on the drum links type, so the design wasn't needed just for dampers. But seeing as they started with the S1 and it had dampers, maybe they did it just for that reason, then always used that type on models with dampers and the others for no dampers. They should really be called "damper" links rather than "disc" links then.

But why didn't they just remove the damper studs from them and and use the same links on the S1 LI and others with no dampers? Hmm... Eliminating one backplate bolt was cheap enough to warrant it?

I'm just wondering if any reason beyond dampers.

[Soulpunk]

in a mass production, 1 bolt and one nut is enough of a cost-argument.
another reason is the "must of a specification".
the models AND parts "need" to differentiate (li vs. tv).
the most significant difference between the li and the tv is the engine front end and the steering lay-out. beyond any technical reasons, innocenti went for a special conrod and piston, a special backplate and forklinks, just to differ from the li conception, or the way round, the li-design was changed from the tv-design.

[jonny snatchsniffer]

your all wrong, they done it cos they had too much wine and pasta at lunch and thought it would be good fun to do peoples heads in