Interchangeability of forks and wheels

[surfales]

My 2004 GS500F needs a new front wheel and forks.  What other year models fork and wheel would fit?  Any salvage dealers anyone would recommend for the forks?

[ben2go]

Any year GS.Wheel can be used off of a Katana600/750.90-97 I think.Just remember to put the dust cap on a katana.It's the plastic cap on the other side of the wheel without the brake disc.The Katana wheels with twisted spokes are the same as the gs.

[surfales]

Thanks, good info.  Any info on the forks?

[Jay_wolf]

Its been sed a cbr Hurricane , the forks slide into the gs triples , just having dual breaks , and better forks , the gs forks are 37mm ,

i went for a kat front end , for mine , but it involved a little modification , looks top tho 

[ben2go]

The cbr forks have to use the wheel,the calipers,and disc.The wheel won't even come close to matching the rear.
I got the Katana front end but it's on my custom build project.
As far as forks,any year GS will work.Nothing else will interchange.The GS forks are thin and 37mm like Jay said.

[Jay_wolf]

In fairness , there is probs quite a few that would . but have either yet to be tested , or what not ,
your from the us , Katana parts are easy to find , over here for some reason there really hard to find , i bought a whole bike 2 get the front end , now i have a engine and frame sitting in my garden lol , but i will ebay it

But yea , any year gs will fit , but i would say upgrade , its a good excuse

[makenzie71]

Actually, Ben2go, you can get a F1 CBR600 rear wheel as well.  All you need is the CBR caliper hanger and caliper and a handful of 17mm shims.

[surfales]

There's a 1984 GS500 fork set on ebay.  So you're saying it will fit on my 2004 GS500F?

[makenzie71]

No.  the 1984 GS500 was a 4 cylinder.  It'll probably work but you'd need the whole front end.  Then you'd have some sexy spokies...

[surfales]

The assembly on ebay is the entire assembly (forks and triple tree)...minus the wheel.  I guess the question is will the steering head fit? The GS500F wheel should be the same size...no? 

[makenzie71]

I don't think so...the old school GS front ends had smaller steering heads. either way, though, you'll be taking a step back from an already poor suspension.  You should go for a stock GS500 (twin) setup or something better.

[ben2go]

Actually, Ben2go, you can get a F1 CBR600 rear wheel as well.  All you need is the CBR caliper hanger and caliper and a handful of 17mm shims.

Learn some thing new every day.Thanks for sharing that.  To bad the hurricane wheels are ugly.

[makenzie71]

Yeah it's one of those things that it's not that no one knew it...it's that no one cared.

you could get clever with a 20mm drill bit and run F2 wheels on both ends.

[frankieG]

last week i swaped my 89 front end onto a 04 and it was much easier than i thought.  only took a few hours and i was taking my time...and had a suzuk mechanic helping 

[Jay_wolf]

i did my kat front end swop in ,, well , if u dont count i was taking loads of breaks as filing is not alot of fun , maybe a hour for filing , then fitting and hooking up the rest 30 mins , my brother lifted the gs , i put  the front in , sorted

the filing was about over4 hours , but i went and played forza 2 , and had dinner lol

[ben2go]

last week i swaped my 89 front end onto a 04 and it was much easier than i thought.  only took a few hours and i was taking my time...and had a suzuk mechanic helping 

Frankie,do you still have the lower triple with the stem still on it?If so can I get it sent with the header?Let me know how much 1st please.Thanks.

[surfales]

ok, let  me get this straight...1990-1997 Katana 600/750 and any GS500 TWIN forks will work on my 2004 GS500F without any problems...just slap um on.  Other's may fit CBR, F1, etc. but need to do some mods (shims, drilling,etc).  Ideally I would like to get forks that came off of a 04 GS500F then I'll know it will positively fit.  But it's getting to the point where I need to figure out some alternative ideas.

[ben2go]

correct 

[Jay_wolf]

The Katana Forks Need spacers , and the stem to be modified , and i can tell u it will fit , and any other forks for the GS Series 89+ etc will defo fit ,

You should have twin discs , looks better and makes breaking work

[surfales]

There's a bunch of Katana forks on ebay guess I'll bid on one of them.  Thanks.