front end

[nastynate6695]

Ok i just won a semi complete katana front end off of ebay (yeay for me)  but i need some reasurance on some things.  And since i just got off of work and dealt with drunk people all night i dont feel like searching for it. 

97 katana 600 front end.
(kinda)

1. I know i can use my gs front wheel and axle on the front end.(right....?)
2. I need brake calipers...what works with this year besided the year itself.  Ie  gsxr 600  2000 brake calipers ...ect ect..
3. front fender will transfer no problems...(right)
4. Do i need spacers for this or will it just slide in...saw the one on the wikki but still having trouble understanding a little bit (one of those hands on learners i guess.)

[werase643]

1  better to use the kat axle
2  see above
3  correct as long as you have the fork brace from the kat
4  the kat stem is about 3/4 inch longer between the brgs   going to have to mod the stem a little and add spacers

[Jay_wolf]

The Gs And The Pre 98 katana both share the same Wheel , so i dont see why you would need A Kat Axle , Its The Same 3 Inch Isnt it
have no idea about the Calipers , i Used The Ones i Got With it
for number 3 , The Katana One looks sooo much better, you should look to it

The stem , needs to be measured , 131mm From the Bottom Race Bearing , Thats where the Bearing Must now sit, from  just under the threads , its about 28mm , you file that down so the bearing can sit correct
it took me quite a while to do the filing , and i for some stupid reason didnt think that i could take it From the Forks . and not try and do a Funny Angle, Just Keep Test Fitting and it soon lines up , then you get a pair of spacers made up  , and it bolts on fine , 

[dgyver]

The Kat axle is longer than the GS axle since the Kat forks are wider. The inside width is the same. You can also use a 98+ Kat axle, it is the same as the 89-97 but IIRC the spacers are different.

I would use Kat brakes....but....anything can be made to work if adapter plates are made. I do not know what other bikes share the same mounting point AND the same rotor diameter to be able to have a direct caliper swap....a guess would be none.

The GS fender will fit, eventhough personally the GS fender looks like crap. The Kat and GS share the same fender mount.

From what I have seen of the Kat, 97 is the only year that has a pressed-in stem. Swapping a pressed in GS stem is a breeze. But if it is welded, adding spacers is the next easiest. Grinding the weld and pressing out the stem to install a pressed-in GS stem is another option. Srinath did another way of grinding the weld and pressing the stem out just enough to match the GS stem length, ground the bottom and welded it back. I may try this on my next swap but I had bent a stem removing it so I have no idea of practical this method is.