10 miles on an FZR front end...

[makenzie71]

Ok, so 10 miles isn't much, but I'm fighting off a nasty sinus infection and cold so having gone 10 miles, though making my heart and soul feel alive and free, probably set my physical recovery back two days.

Anyway...

1981 GS750 with 1991 Yamaha FZR600 forks, triples, wheel, brakes, and clip-ons...ignition, too, since my GS piece was buggered.

Changes from my previous setup:

Turn-in is a bit sharper, but not shockingly so.

Braking is actually a little weaker, but I'm now running smaller rotors (298mm vs 310mm) with slightly smaller calipers.  I'll be putting braided lines on soon and that may make up some of the difference, but I'm actually pleased with it.  A little more forgiveness is good while I still acquaint myself to the new suspension.

You can definitely tell the bike wasn't meant to have clip-ons.  I'll have to be doing some modifications to the tank for clearance, but I don't mind...the tank is already beat up pretty good so this isn't a concern at all.

Riding position, with the clip-ons and stock pegs, is pretty tame by my reckoning, but my point of view is a bit skewed since all of my first streetbikes were ex-racebikes.  For reference, I'll post my "showoff" folder at the bottom and you guys can see how low the bars were on my CX and I thought they were tolerable.

It's so nice to have forks that work really well.  My old showa forks were nice by 1979 standards, but these?  It's amazing what a difference 12 years made.

Biggest concern with going to dedicated sportbike suspension is ride height...the FZR forks are no different.  Clearance went from 5.10" to 4.08".  It's not too bad...If my math is right my suspension bottoms out before I see that, but not by far.  I'm going to give it a shot.  My header is already a bit dinged on the bottom, so I'll see if I hit anything new.  If so, then I'm going to...well...change something.  I may stab the FZR swingarm in there and weld new tabs for the shocks closer to the pivot to add some height, but I don't know yet.  I'd at least be able to stab in my YZF600 wheel later and run a 160.

The short version, though, is I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT!

Dirty pics...I'm too sick to wash the bike...bite me...













http://www.kaleesphotography.com/photoartclub/showoff/

Now, to recap for anyone interested:

The FZR front wasn't exactly a direct bolt on to the GS750.  You have to have the whole assembly, triples and clip-ons.  I had to to remove the bottom bearing and add a 5mm spacer beneath it.  Then it's a bolt-on mod.  The FZR uses the same bearings as the GS750.  I was kind of hoping it would be a bolt on thing for the GS500 as well, but bearing differences abound...

GS750/FZR600 = 17X42X13 and 15X42X13
GS500 = 30X55X17 and 25X47X15

Of course if you could find bearings that measure 17X55X17 and 15X47X15 respectively it would work fine...anyway...

Have fun.

Next projects:  Gettign rid of the tail plastic and doing something a bit more simplistic in the back, doing something about that battery though it is nice to be able to ride 100 miles if your stator ****s, and clean the girl up.

[ineedanap]

Nice, that bike looks TOUGH   

[Mdow]

that does look good

[cafeboy]

Good job mak.
Yea, I was going to ask what you wher going to do to the tail.

[ohgood]

sweet. did you ever post a video of her revving ? love the look. frankenbikes rock

[werase643]

if you want longer forks.....bandit 1200 and other late model big standards have longer tubes

the R-6 calipers should be about the best you can get

[makenzie71]

I'll make up my ride height with some MDI shocks later.  The problem with running the B12 front end is cost...front wheels with rotors gets retarded...it's like people like to run bikes into stationary objects and really need parts.

I'm going to snag some r6 calipers and ditch the blue dots...I like the blue dots but I can paint blue dots on the R6 pieces haha.  Either that or I'm going to adapt Tokico 6-pots to the forks.  Those 6-piston Tokicos are the best.

[wladziu]

That bike is so b!tchin with those clip-ons.  Just get a Biltwell metallic flake and pretend you're not in Texas. 

[makenzie71]

I'm not going to put much effort into paint...I'm actually about to take a hammer and really beat the hell out of the tank so I can get a bit more clearance for my clip-ons.

Thanks for the compliments!

[bill14224]

Don't beat the hell out of your tank!  Get it customized or replace the tank with one that'll give you more clearance.  I like your adventurous nature and the minimalist look of your bike, but a smashed up tank will make it look like a beater! 

[makenzie71]

haha maybe you just can't see the tank as it really is in those pics, but I can't do anything to it but favors.