1980 YZ250G 43mm fork conversion

If not mistaken I think on the 82 and up forks, the brake backing plate lug is positioned differently (horizontal/flat instead of angled back at 45 degrees )which would require a backing plate from the 82 and up bike also. I think the hub is the same. Found this out digging through the salvage yard looking for a dual actuated backing plate for my 81 YZ250. Whatever you end up with, go for the dual act. backing plate. Good stuff for drums!

Oh, some of those 82 models had the one piece "Z" spokes that weaved through the hub from one side of the wheel to the other. Avoid those!

Good point. One of Yamaha's worst ideas ever.

Using a set up from the 1981 YZ250/465 might be the cleanest way to go. I'm not sure if you would have any issues with the steering stem though. You could pick up a set of triple clamps cheap on Ebay to experiment with just in case. With the '81 set up you could use your existing front wheel and pick up a dual cam backing plate from a 1980 YZ465, 1981 250/465 or 1984 YZ125. The correct backing plate has 3R5 and later versions had 3R51 embossed in the casting. As Newmann mentioned, the brake tab was rotated closer to horizontal on the '82 model fork legs so stay away from backing plates for '82 and later models (unless you decided to use those forks).

I see salvage yards passing off IT front forks for YZ forks quite often. IT forks have the four bolt clamp for the front axle on the right fork leg. Just something to be aware of.

The top triple clamp from the 1981 YZ465 has rubber mounted bar clamps for a little extra cushion if you're interested.

1982 YZ250/495 front forks do appear to have an external adjustment screw on the bottom of the fork tube for either comp or rebound. I doubt if the adjustment makes much of a difference compared to modern fork adjustment.

And 1983 was the year Yamaha unleashed the Z spoke on unsuspecting riders. Definitely stay away.

Someone was selling a complete 43mm suzuki front end for only $50 on Mark's vintage swapmeet. All you would need to put them on a YZ would be YZ 43mm tripleclamps.