cost differences between fork springs and katana frontend swap

[joshr08]

Im going to be doing some work this winter to the bike and i was just wondering the cost differences from the race tech springs and fork oil swap to the complete katana frontend swap out.  I know my springs would be 109.00 plus oil what is involved in the complete front end swap work and cost? Any tips on yrs of katana parts needed would be great.  thanks guys.  Hoping to get a list of parts so i can get wife to get me some of the stuff for my birthday next month.

[tulebox]

For the price I cannot believe the difference my progressive springs made,  http://www.cyclepages.com/ProductDetails.aspx?ProductID=4049134   Sale going on now. I weigh 210, I cut a 1.250" spacer with mine and it transformed the bike. Just my .02

[bikejunkie223]

I think the main advantage of the Katana front end would be dual disc brakes in front, which means you likely need a different brake lever/master cyclinder and lines and such- springs and oil much cheaper and easier. Maybe the Katana Forks would be worth it, hard to see it to me.

[The Buddha]

OK this is down to a precise science at this point ...
Kat FE 89-95 600 is the best, I dont actually see it costing anything less than 400 bucks.
You need upper and lower triples, the 2 legs, the brake disks, calipers, lines, M/c and the axle.
You use GS spacers and speedo drive, GS wheel, GS fork brace, gs lock mechanism, the gs mirror mount, and in case of 89-02 modify the headlight ears and use the GS headlight, T/S'es, guages etc etc in case of 01-02 you also need banana handle tubes ... made only by the buddha, and 04+ you need just those banana handles tubes.
The stem needs to be shortened and you need a basic machine shop ... and my guy ahs a jig and some specs to do the job for me ... and he charges 50, the guage ears are getting made and those have so far been $50 with aluminum welding ... I chop up a GS top triple for the job too ... the headlight ears have to be modded to go on the 41 of the kat.
Biggest gain ... yea handling, and brake life ... try dual opposed piston calipers .... 4 per side, 8 in the whole bike compared to 2 total on the GS ... and the brake pads wear so evenly on a Kat, and the disc almost never gets wore to nothing ...
The only way it will be cost effective to do this over a simple spring job ...
Your brakes are shot ... disk and pads and your fork seals need done and worse, they have rust on them, and you want clip on's ... The brakes on a GS will be over 150, seals also 150 and will leak almost immediately after, and clip on's 100. Throw in neck bearings needing a check or other general work ... and you can sweep the cost of the kat FE into your repair cost. Else its gonna stick out like a sore thumb ...
Anyway, SS brake lines, thicker fork braces etc etc can work on the GS along with the springs ... I am about put both of those in the site in the next 1-2 days. ... and they will swap over onto a kat FE ... if you ever swap out later ...
If you crash and damage your FE, no Q, kat swap may be cheaper ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[joshr08]

thanks for the info buddha I was waiting to see what you had to say on the situation.  I guess for now ill just do the spring and oil change.  seals are still in good shape and brakes are fine as well. 

[Mdow]

i got my kat swap done for less then 250.  and i still have parts to sell.

[joshr08]

how did you do that cuz if i could do it arond that i would consider it.  thats only 150 more then upgrading to race tech springs in the gs forks

[Mdow]

found a kat front end for 150 and kat lower tripple with GS stem from a member for 60 welded ears from budda for 50 or so.  and rotors for 30 on ebay it was a good deal.

so it was just alot of luck

[The Buddha]

Mdow ... all the cheap crap is gone off ebay ...
Cool.
Buddha.

[Mdow]

Mdow ... all the cheap crap is gone off ebay ...
Cool.
Buddha.

i bought it all a month ago just wait around it and hunt for a good deal

[The Buddha]

I think the gstwinners have together cleared the cheap kat stuff off ebay ... the same old $89 for a 750 stem and bottom plate has been listed for over a year ... get a hint peckerhead ... that sheite is worthless ... and someone needs 750 stuff, there is 10 of them cheaper.
Anyway ... to top the cost of the stuff off fleabay ... add in stem machining, guage ears welding, headlight ears modding or handle tube bending or both if you have an 01-02 ...
If I were to do just that, you supply all the parts, it be 125 for 89-00 or 04+ and 150 for 01-02. Add shipping to it ... about 15 bucks in lower 48.
Cool.
Buddha.

[Mdow]

stock KAT 600 handle bars clear on my bike no problems

[The Buddha]

Brake master cylinder banjo hitting the dash is the biggest problem with the 89-00 swap.
Now if you move them outward to clear, your grips will be hanging out in mid air 1/2 way ...
Anyway, for the 89-00 ones, I was saying headlight ear mod was needed, not bent bars.
Cool.
Buddha.