Emil Schwarz stuff

Emil Schwarz chassis stuff

Emil Schwarz is a motorcycle chassis specialist in Germany. He offers chassis kits for various motorcycles, among others for the TA. I recently talked to him, he's very kind (even hard to understand for me because of his "schwäbisch" dialect ;-) ). He has a unique knowledge of motorcycle chassis, and it's a real fun to talk to him. His products are not cheap, but I guess they are worth their price.

Seat height reduction kit: modified ProLink lever. With this lever mounted, the seat height of the Transalp is reduced by 15-20 mm. A short test performed by the Enduro Magazine proved a non-different handling towards the original ProLink. Only the rear suspension was said to be distinctly stiffer, because the softer part of the progression rate is "cut off". Since short people normally are no "heavy weights", I consider this effect as not very suitable.
Additionally a reduction of the front height by setting the fork holders a little deeper is recommended . Schwarz recommends a value of 20 mm, while Enduro Magazine's tests proved a value of 8 mm as the best, resulting in a seat height reduction by 15 mm.
The price of the kit is DEM 500.- (US$ 295.-).
BTW, this kit is suitable only for model years '89 or newer, i.e. for bikes equipped with stock ProLink lever with needle bearings (without greasing nipples).
Steering head bearings: E.S. steering head bearings are high precision parts (as all of Emil) and will make the bike hold the road better. There are two versions:
- Glewed in: the ultimative stuff for good road holding. Compensating the effects of a previously badly mounted bearing (this may even happen when assembling the new bike) by a 1/10 mm smaller diameter than normal. BTW, a badly mounted stearing head bearing could possibly be one of the reasons for highspeed wobbling. The price for this kit is DEM 217.- (US$ 128.-)
- Pressed in: the budget variant, should be good enough for daily use: DEM 177.- (US$ 105.-)
Prolink reconstruction: needle bearings instead of bronze bushes incl. two additional greasing nipples (model years '87 - '88 and all US models): DEM 500.- (US$ 295.-)
I'm using this, experiences I'll report soon...
Swingarm axle bearings: Play in swingarm axle bearing can be another reason for highspeed wobbling. Emil fixes it for DEM 275.- (US$ 160.-)

For further questions contact:
Emil Schwarz

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