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vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 6:31 pm
by The prisoner
Any idea of the best way to improve a Rally front fork?
Concerning brake shoes, there is no real choice except Newfren or going the Worb 5 disc brake conversion...
But concerning spring and shock absorber, don't know what to choose between all those springs and shock absorber available

And do they value the money spent
I know, there is the PKXL2 fork way.

Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:52 pm
by Diablo
I dynoed a Rally a while ago that had the SIP spring and damper set up.
It made a massive difference especially when braking.
The rally front brake works pretty well but they seem worse because the std fork dips so quickly. With the uprated spring you get more feel so you can use the front brake better.
If you buy a disc brake you'll need to fit these any way so perhaps try them first before you go shelling out loads.
Newfren shoes are fine but its like all old drum brakes you have to spend a bit of time sanding high spots off the shoes untill they fit the drum nicely. Its a pain in the arse keep having the shoes on and off until they are better but it is worth it.
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 11:25 pm
by vegansydney
PK XL2 fork conversion + semi-hydraulic disc brake = perfect compromise between stock looks and uprated performance.

Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:05 am
by guygrrr
Diablo wrote:I dynoed a Rally a while ago that had the SIP spring and damper set up.
It made a massive difference especially when braking.
The rally front brake works pretty well but they seem worse because the std fork dips so quickly. With the uprated spring you get more feel so you can use the front brake better.
If you buy a disc brake you'll need to fit these any way so perhaps try them first before you go shelling out loads.
Newfren shoes are fine but its like all old drum brakes you have to spend a bit of time sanding high spots off the shoes untill they fit the drum nicely. Its a pain in the arse keep having the shoes on and off until they are better but it is worth it.
i think i got the idea off the lcgb site, but i use an old hub with a strip of 80 grit sand paper super glued in side. it takes some work but it beats doing the shoes by hand!
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 9:00 pm
by The prisoner
Cheers for all answers.
Diablo: you exactly wich spring and damper..?"SIP" is selling a lot of different brands.
VeganSydney: did you heavily modified your PK fork for fitting the Rally mudguard ? Did you take pictures before/while assembling?
Guygrrr: that's a very good idea!
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 10:31 pm
by cezeta
an ape spring works well
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 12:07 am
by The prisoner
cezeta wrote:an ape spring works well
For sure it must be a stronger front spring
Lenght is the same as the Rally? But who sell them?
Cheers for info anyway.
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 3:33 pm
by JINX
It was Stoffi's garage in germany that had these available way back when, it became a common name for the stiffer spring, which was either from an Ape or it was custom made.
They are still referred to as Stoffi's springs by US shops, like ASC-
http://www.americanscootercenter.com/in ... cts_id=577
Here is SIP's offering-
http://www.sip-scootershop.com/EN/Produ ... lumn+.aspx
It does help to stiffen the diving action of the rally/sprint front end, I used one for a few years, until I upgraded to a PK fork and outboard disc. That's the long and expensive route, but it is the ultimate answer.
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Tue Dec 14, 2010 9:40 pm
by The prisoner
Here is SIP's offering-
http://www.sip-scootershop.com/EN/Produ ... lumn+.aspx
It does help to stiffen the diving action of the rally/sprint front end, I used one for a few years, until I upgraded to a PK fork and outboard disc. That's the long and expensive route, but it is the ultimate answer.[/quote]
And what sort of front shock absorber did you use?
Now, there is the BGM ones or CIF's but don't know if it values the money
http://www.sip-scootershop.com/EN/Produ ... ront+.aspx
http://www.sip-scootershop.com/EN/Produ ... ront+.aspx
https://www.scooter-center.com/scoweb/p ... egory2=CAT
Re: vespa rally fork (and brake) inprovement
Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 1:54 pm
by vegansydney
The prisoner wrote: VeganSydney: did you heavily modified your PK fork for fitting the Rally mudguard ? Did you take pictures before/while assembling?
Fitting the mudguard is the
hardest part of the entire conversion. This site is your friend:
http://www.vespa-t5.org/mechanik/pk-gabel-in-oldie/ Use Google or similar to translate.
Alternatively send your forks off to Chequered Past for a Rally/PX swing arm conversion, that way you won't have to worry about trying to fit the mudguard:
http://chequeredpast.piczo.com/vintagef ... var=000044
Good luck!