Swapping Inverted Forks On My Cafe Racer (Grom Forks On a Yamaha RD350)

In this video I go over how I went about swapping Honda Grom forks onto the RD350. In my mind this was the perfect set of forks aesthetically for the bike, and they happen to have similar dimensions to the original forks. With some spring and damper upgrades these are miles better than the original suspension and I'm very happy with how they turned out!
Check out Enginered on Instagram: @Enginderded_
Music:
27:11-27:53 - Negm Sasha by MC CVNCER, prod. Seiba
• [FREE] Jazz/Sax Type B...

[@LS-uv9gg]

This is so cool! I did the opposite of this back in 1984, swapping in an '82 RD350LC front end onto my '82 CB450T Honda Hawk. I cut the Yamaha and Honda's steering stems in half, sleeved and welded the RD's top to the Honda's bottom stem, and then pressed the new Frankenstem into the RD's lower triple clamp, which just happened to fit perfectly, lower head race bearings were even the same size. This gave me twin discs and an 18" front rim versus the CB's single disc on a 19" rim. I was even running the same Clubman bars as you are, but in black.

[@Enginerded]

Very nice! Always interesting to see how some motorcycle parts just bolt on between chassis' while others need some "massaging". Either way, that's what makes the hobby fun!

[@chadqueen5055]

This is an awesome build!!! Truly a seamless combination of old school and new technology. Congratulations on a great looking bike.

[@Enginerded]

Thank you! Glad to see some recognition. A lot of older RD guys are die hard for keeping them 100% stock and original, but that really doesn't interest me for this bike. Shooting for a suepr fun street 2 stroke that i can take to the track here and there eventually!

[@haroonm.2973]

Thats a super cool build from the looks to the sound to the Cafe conversion. Props to you

[@Enginerded]

Thanks!

[@unclequack5445]

One of the best 2-stroke bikes ever I let a few "Keeper" bikes slip through my hands.

[@takeawaykitty.]

Hell yeah man just the video I was hoping for from you!

[@Enginerded]

Glad to hear, hope you like it!

[@patrickdonovan909]

Dude...this is SICK. Going to mention this to my brother who has an RD200 and is looking for inspiration. Stay safe🤙

[@Enginerded]

Thank you and hope this gives him some ideas!

[@joshuaibrao7446]

Right on I've been wondering how this was done. I'll watch later. When I'm not at work 🤣🤫

[@turbo280z]

Great video thanks! Keep the rd videos coming

[@Enginerded]

Thank you!

[@oswaldjh]

When you install a fender you might want to use the type that has a bracket from one fork to the other. The added rigidity of the forks under load will keep the shiny side up. In the past I've removed the fender bracket and it effected cornering stability.

[@htothejay]

Very nice. That front end does look very good on the rd, never seen it before.

[@Enginerded]

Thank you!

[@aklopf2004]

Nice build man! Lots of cool parts on there for sure! I just finished an R5 resto build so I know its never as easy as it seems lol

[@Enginerded]

Thanks! And man that's an understatement. Everything seems so simple and then you actually get to doing the work and it snowballs very quickly.

[@aklopf2004]

@@Enginerded If your ever in lower Michigan Hit me up well have to ride!

[@thomashansen3450]

even small alterations cause a lot of work, but you´re on an interesting way. Would be very intersting, where your projekt will end up.

[@user-my3oe8mj4o]

This is an awesome build ! Are you willing to let go of the CAD for the parts you had to machine ? I am very interested in doing the same. What's your rear suspension setup ?

[@ZSharkPH]

Man, you really put some work in to make those forks fit. They look great.. Is that headlight from the Grom also.. and would it fit on the oem RD forks??

[@Enginerded]

Thanks! Its just a generic amazon led headlight with the turn signals integrated. It comes as a whole housing and fits the stock forks! I ran it before i did my fork conversion. Little bit larger than stock at 7" instead of 6.75" or whatever the original size was.

[@robertwoodroffe123]

Hay that’s a nice bike ! ( T1000 )

[@JJ-jv2lr]

Front end looks awesome! My 350 tank is just about done getting painted, then I will be back on the road again. Curious what shocks are you running and do you have opinion performance wise better or worse than stock ones?

[@Enginerded]

The shocks are just some cheap ebay RFY shocks honestly. The original shocks rode like crap so I figured any shock would be a better than that, and these do the job fine. Surprisingly they ride very well compared to the originals. Youd be better off buying some proper shocks for a few hundred but I was just looking for an external reservoir style shock for the time being. I'd like to get some ohlin external reservoir shocks in the future.

[@yoshiyusof853]

hello there, can I know, what your inverted for you use like fork length and diameter size of the fork... feel like I want to change fork and seems fit for my Keeway 152 cafe racer...

[@vicracing3377]

🤩🤩

[@wildcat6669]

Would have never guessed those were Honda Grom Forks if it wasn't in the title

[@dakshsingh1097]

I need a rd350 speedometer

[@ORigINal550]

Hey, love your videos man building a 350 myself, what size rims are you running ?

[@Enginerded]

Really appreciate it! I've got a 18x1.85 front and 18x2.15 rear

[@MarkSmith-er4gd]

Hi. Great job on the bike. Looks awesome!! Would you sell a triple clamp and wheel spacers that you make to do this conversion? I’d be interested in buying. Thanks and have a great day

[@Enginerded]

Thank you! Right now i don't have intentions of having more built and selling them. But i have been getting some amount of interest in these. I would need to organize some sort of group buy to make it financially feasible. Maybe some day down the road.

[@kiltedmoto]

Great video. Love your bike and all of your custom work. My buddy sent me this link today and I’m very impressed. Actually there’s 3 of us up here who have RD400’s and would love to work with you to make some triple clamps for our own bikes and others if interested. We have access to a machine shop. Send me a message if you’re interested.

[@brianyoung9892]

Your bike looks great. Who makes those rims? I've seen some out of Thailand that look similar.

[@Enginerded]

Thank you! I took apart the original wheels and spent about 40 hours sanding and polishing the original hubs. Picked up new polished aluminum Excel rims and stainless steel spokes/nipples from Buchanan's Spokes. Used shine seal on everything to preserve the polished finish and built them up myself.

[@lizshawnrichard8147]

Did you make a video of you making the seat section?

[@Enginerded]

Not yet, unfortunately the RD has been on the backburner for far too long. Will be trying to get the seat done before this winter!

[@MINESINCLINED]

today at the auction I bought a 1975 rd350 with a ypvs motor, did these ever come from factory with that style engine?

[@Enginerded]

That sounds incredible! No these mid 70's did not come with a YPVS motor, but i would love to get an RZ350 (built in the 80's with the YPVS motor) one day!

[@Thats_X_]

The honda from front forks don’t fit with stock triple tree without modification?

[@Enginerded]

Unfortunately not. Larger diameter than the stock forks/triple clamps.

[@bluestripes1]

will you sell the upper clmp or provide cad file? i want to do this to my RD

[@Enginerded]

I haven't sold any kits yet as they're very expensive to machine 1 off, and to make them affordable, i need to buy 15-20 sets. I've been getting more and more questions about them however and may consider trying to organize a group buy or pre order as it's a significant chunk of change to put down to have that many parts made. You can follow me on @enginerded_ on instagram or email me at [e-mail] to be in touch. I'll see what i can come up with to organize a group buy.

[@robertwoodroffe123]

This bike modified my body vs car 🚗

[@skeeettzzzz]

Do you by chance have a build list for the bike? I'm about to start building my 73 RD350 and I'm inlove with yours.

[@Enginerded]

Appreciate the kind words! Unfortunately no build list or anything like that but I'll probably do a full walk around eventually when the bike is more complete.

[@skeeettzzzz]

Looking forward to it!

[@codywoods2979]

Looks great. I just found a rd350 and was wanting to build a Cafe racer. If I get it maybe I can sweet talk you into getting another triple tree/speedo set up together with caliper mounts and rotor spacer and I'll pay you for them and your time?? I can find the ebay parts used but the machined parts I know no one 😔.

[@Enginerded]

Unfortunately i dont have a connection necessarily to get parts machined. I got quotes from local machine shops and it was really expensive to do the parts one off. Tried to get a group buy if i had some people commit and have like 10+ of each part made to make them affordable, but wasn't able to get interest. I pulled in some favors to get these made. Maybe down the road if this video gets enough interest i could get a batch of everything made since i have all the files and drawings.

[@mufazilkm09mfazil67]

Is it available rd there used how much will be the cost if it’s buying

[@Enginerded]

Not for sale, sorry

[@grantking7833]

Are any of your parts for sale? Im trying to do the grom front end swap but I dont know of any machinest in my area. Is there a way to get in touch with you? Thanks

[@Enginerded]

Unfortunately i tried to get a group buy for these parts to make them affordable without much luck. I do have the files and drawings of course so maybe if there was enough interest from this video i could have a batch made and sell them, but not something i could take on at the moment. I do have a spare set of those axle adapters if you'd want to buy those. Feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@Codyhumburg]

I’ve watched this too many times. Where are the clubman bars from?

[@Enginerded]

I dont recall the exact brand/model but i know i ordered them from mikesxs.net. Lots of goodies on that site

[@Codyhumburg]

@@Enginerded thanks I just mounted up grom forks to a cl160 frame. Replaced the back end of the frame with a cb125t

[@Enginerded]

That's awesome! Got an instagram or anything showing the build?

[@Codyhumburg]

@@Enginerded I should start one for my projects. I mostly post to KZbin

[@Enginerded]

Gotcha. Gave you a sub! Lookin forward to seeing the build on the channel

[@ampassionstruck9138]

....USD forks dont go well with a classic cafe racer , stock telescopic ones would look better !! Moreover !! USD forks are more expensive and they require more maintenance as when the suspension seal gets damaged , fork oil gets out of the shocks very fast !!!!!😥

[@wildcat6669]

Wt Hell you mean that RD looks SO much better with the new forks, almost like a modern day rendition of the 350

[@desmo1078]

Hi I´m Claudio from Hamburg Germany, I like your RD 350 café Built and your BMW Z3 M Power. Whats the the reason why I write U is it possible that You could send me the Solid Works Part from your Custom Built to Upside Down Forks Iove the look and I have some Uoside Down Fork for my RD 250, too.

[@hassanalbasir794]

Looks funny...why not use a proper fork setup from wrecked r6 or gsxr bikes?

[@Enginerded]

R6 and GSXR forks look funny to me on these smaller 70's bikes. The frame tubing and the size of the bike in general is small. Combined with the skinny wheels/tires the sport bike forks just look too beefy and out of place to me. All personal preference 👍

[@hassanalbasir794]

@@Enginerded does the larger wheels affect the functionality of the forks in absorbing shocks? Groms wheels are much smaller and allow for bigger travel I think...nice job anyways and please ride safe.

[@Enginerded]

Nope, not as far as I can tell. The grom forks only have maybe 3 or 4 inches of travel. Wheel diameter doesn't change that

[@Royalivyacademy]

Dude... Go into production... I'm in.. how much... Make all the piece sell them as a set! I'm in I have a 75 Rd 350 as well!

[@Enginerded]

Appreciate it! The only thing holding me back from making these is a lack of a platform to organize a group buy. CNC'ing one off parts is super pricey, i'd have to make 10-20 sets for them to be affordable for people to buy, but it'd be a pretty big investment on my end to front the funds. Maybe i'll try to get in touch with the shop that helped make the parts and get some quotes!

[@SEEtheREPLAY]

Subbed. Amazing bike. Any chance you want to finish my build :) (name your price)

[@robertwoodroffe123]

RD = rapid death

[@robertwoodroffe123]

U people hav to much money! I owned three such bikes in the day !

[@robertwoodroffe123]

Get a new bike! Stop wasting money