The how and why of steering head swaps

[BTF/PTM]

Hi everyone,

I read through a few searches, and I understand the symptoms that folks want to correct by changing steering geometry and steering input points.  But I still have a question for the group.

1) Why, specifically, is a superbike steering head desired for a monster?  As already stated, the rake, wheel base and strength of steering input can be varied within a small extent by changing front, rear or front/rear ride height, or by using longer/shorter bars (or clip-ons).  What is the appeal of using the steering head from another bike?  Is the answer to this question simply that the superbike steering head offers a significantly larger change to the rake or wheelbase than can be had by tweeking the stock equipment?

I ask this because, in my search for a monster of my own, I've found a few bikes here in Germany that also advertise a superbike steering head swap, and I can almost certainly get a more honest answer here than from a dealer or someone who just wants to sell a bike. 

Thanks, everyone  =)

[Howie]

Many reasons and many answers, but one common reason is to accommodate super bike forks without shimming or machining.

[Moronic]

What is the appeal of using the steering head from another bike? 

Thanks, everyone  =)

Just in general, one thing to think about it how much offset the steering clamps have. Distance from the centre of the steering axis to a line running through the centre of the fork clamps. Or in cruder terms, how far forward of the steering head the fork legs are held. Not all bikes are the same. Changing the offset affects a number of things, perhaps most importantly the trail measurement.

Not saying this is the reason in the cases you raise. Just something to think about.

Another possible difference - unrelated - is clamping area. The trend in recent years has been to increase the area over which the lower clamp grips the fork leg. Supposed to improve resistance to torsional flexing, I believe.

[brad black]

the superbike forks are different od to the non sbk forks.  the sbk use the same steering head bearings as the 2002 an on st based monster frames, so the sbk triple clamps go straight in so to speak and make fitting sbk forks easy.  pre 2002 monsters won't have the sbk triples as they don't go in easily.

sbk forks are better internally.

[jerryz]

after I fittrd 996 superbike forks to my S4 with .75nm springs  and a revalve the  bike handled 100% better than before and was more stable and comfortable

[BTF/PTM]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the great feedback!  It sounds like, simply put, the superbike head opens a lot of options for a lot of different retrofits to optimize a monster.  Sounds like fun   

Thanks again!