Jul 18, 2010
This is the 2nd part of our series “Girders, Springers and Leaf Springs”.
If you have followed us on various builds you’ll recognize this front end as it was on the famous “Errant” which is in the 2010 Easy Riders Calendar and was featured in a number of magazines over the past 3 years. Have to admit, Errant was one of the best riding, fun and easiest handling bikes we’ve built and/or owned and we think that was due to the Durfee Girder front end we used. So, if you’ve not riden on a bike with a girder, you need to. It’s an experience you won’t forget and you’ll possibly become a champion for them.
Though not as well known as tube forks or springer forks, girder forks have been around a long time. Girder forks are similar in looks to springer forks (yet there are some substantial construction differences). Girder forks are rigid; each side being welded together at the top and at the point where the axle is mounted. The entire assembly is then fastened to integrated triple trees through the active suspension. All active movement takes place at the trees. A four bar (parallel link) mechanism provides the method for mechanical movement. The suspension components usually consist of a spring, shock, or combination of the two. Adding the spring (or in some cases shock) reduces the affects of harmonics and vibration.
Mounting points for hardware, such as brake components and fender, are usually found on the girders forks. Because the front axle is mounted on rigid forks allowances for wheel travel do not have to be factored into hardware mounting, unlike that of the springer forks. Girder forks are ideal for greater rake angles and situations where longer fork length is required. Think of those long raked choppers of the 70′s and you’ll get the idea.
he does flawless work! And a name that say’s “quality”….
Paul Durffe does incredible work. He did the girder on my white bike Funkenstein and it’s been FLAWLESS for the past three years of hard riding.