harleyKmodel

The 1954 KR Parts Book lists a 45515-52RA fork assembly that is " 2" shorter than the K or KH fork".
45953-54R fork tube
46057-54R fork spring
46223-54R fork piston rod assembly

The 1954, 56, 57 KR Parts Books list a 45515-52A fork assembly for the 1952-3 KR and a 45515-52RA fork assembly for the 1954 - that is " 2" shorter than the K or KH fork".
45720-52R fork stem assembly
45953-54R fork tube
46057-54R fork spring
46095-54R front fork shock absorber assembly
46223-54R fork piston rod assembly
46769-52R Steering damper Knob

More info:
From the 1959 book:
45701-52R fork stem and bracket
45738-52R fork upper bracket
45738-58RA aluminum upper bracket (available only as parts)
45942-54R fork slider tube assembly (right)
45943-54R fork slider tube assembly (left)

45940-52 and 45941-52 fork slider tube assemblies recommended for road race.

When I stumbled on my "mis- matched" fork legs that was the first time the length really became important to me. The parts books can generally be used for part identification but sometimes they only show the latest version of a part and you need to go back through the books to work out what you really have.

In the case of competition parts there aren't even line drawings to go on. And a description of "Long" or Short" is as useless as tits on a bull when you don't have anything else to go by.
So it would be nice if we could compile a set of pictures with descriptions for these parts in the technical section.

It took me months of scratching my head before I finally realized I had the wrong part in my hand. When everyone kept telling me (includingthe FSM) to just "compress the spring" and I couldn't do it I started to think I was just getting to old for this.

Hi.
I am trying to determine if the lower fork sliders were ever supplied from the factory without the fender brackets.
After a quick perusal of the parts catalogue's, 52-65 and the 58-68, I found no evidence of the KR, or XLR, lower fork slider supplied with an R part number?
Can anyone concur or slap down this information.
Steve

Std 52K is 18" spring and 19" after 54 and XLCH. Judging from my spring stash 12 sets and experience.

KRs came out with Fender Tabs and Cowbells. All bosses on trees. XLR used KR chassis. All iron trees until about 62. Stock H-D.

52KR front & 59XLR Resweber bike all with Fender Tabs. Fenders doubled as fork braces for long or high speed events such as Daytona 200. As any race machine, shaving later was always an option. Nothing much lighter than air Marsh says! Erik K

Hi Eric. Thanks for the information.
I was looking at these bikes and uncertainty crept in. I prefer to use original pictures instead of restored bikes.