slightly easier katana rear wheel swap

[gsJack]

I took my oem brake bar off after letting it rub a 150 tire for about 1k miles, laid it across a piece of 2x4, and hit it with a BFH right on the rub mark.  Bar only flattened a wee bit but both ends raised up putting a nice bend in it giving enough clearance for any 150 tire.  Can't think of any reason I would change it back regardless of tire size, it's been that way for years and tens of thousands of miles now.  150/60 tire on stock 3.5" wheel:

[MARider]

I understand completely. If you know some one with a wielder and is half way decent with it I would say cut out a half circle where the tire rubs on the stock gs brake arm and then have them wield in a piece that fallows the curve of what you just cut out..At least that is what I think I will try. I took the plunge and ordered a 01 katana 750 rear wheel as it was 35 free shipping. no axle or brake disk though

[0Bw4n]

OK, good to know. I may try that this weekend. Kind of bummed I couldn't just make this a bolt on swap. Oh well, I like to mess around with gear and grease and tools, so no harm. 

[MARider]

and like gsJack said..A BFH is always good tool.

[0Bw4n]

No need for the axle, as long as your GS one is in good shape - use it (I did). Just make sure you get a GSXF/Katana rear rotor (240mm) and not a GSXR rotor (220mm), the GSXR is slightly smaller (will work, but check your pads/wear pattern on disc/rotor). But hey, if you are already buying a rear disc, just go ahead and get the correct 240mm disc.

[MARider]

Awesome thanks for the info Obw4n the force is strong with you..

[BockinBboy]

I recall weedahoe using a bandit 1000 brake arm for a larger rear tire... I would expect that it would work for this application as well.  Direct swap from what I remember, already has a nice bend for you.

- Bboy

[0Bw4n]

Hmmm... I don't see any Bandit 1000 arms on ebay, but I do see a Bandit 1200 arm. If it doesn't go above $20, i may bite and order it. I'm still chasing that simple bolt-on swap pipe-dream. 

[BockinBboy]

Sorry, yes bandit 1200.

- Bboy

[MARider]

If only things where that simple..I wil tell you hitting something with a BFH is fun though

[BockinBboy]

I'm having trouble locating his thread on it, but I know weedahoe had Katana wheels on his bike (had been chromed), and used a bandit 1200 brake arm without modification to it (other than paint).



- Bboy

[EdChen]

I wanted to update this thread with my experience with the Katana rear wheel.

I bought a rear Katana wheel about 3 years ago, along with a GXSR rear brake torque arm. I was able to get it all installed and working with no issue, with the GSXR torque arm, I didn't need to do any bending. Also, the GSXR torque arm felt significantly lighter than the original GS500 arm (I think it was aluminum vs steel).

I went with Bridgestone Battlax T30 front and rear tires (110/70, 150/70). I didn't use any washers to move the sprocket and it's very close, but not touching and isn't an issue as far as I can tell (technically, it's only been 2,000mi).

I've been using the stock brake bracket this whole time, with the uneven rotor engagement.  I missed the braking ability of the rear, so based on this thread, a few weeks ago, I found a 2004-2006 Kat mounting bracket which pulled the caliper down the few millimeters for full brake pad engagement. I feel that it still doesn't brake as well as it did with the original wheel, but that might be the smaller diameter combined with the larger tire (I've flushed and bled the brakes recently too).


1997-2003 GSX600 Katana Rear Wheel with Rotor ($75 shipped)
2001-2003 GSXR600 750 Brake Torque Arm ($15.30 shipped)
2004-2006 Katana 600 Rear Brake Caliper Mounting Bracket ($6.24 shipped)
110/70 and 150/70 T30 Tires ($213.80 shipped)

Anyhow, the above is my combination of parts that worked with no metal bending. Parts were all from eBay except the tires from Revzilla.

Thanks Turd and 0Bw4n for the original posts!!

[ShowBizWolf]

Cool summary and update!!

Do you have any pictures to share? That'd be sweet 

[EdChen]

I do! And I'm glad you asked, I took a look at how I had the brake torque arm attached and apparently I couldn't get it to fit around the existing bracket, so I had to put it through the bracket, as shown in the picture.

Also I took a picture of how the stock caliper bracket works with the smaller kat brake rotor. I expect the inner ring to slowly wear off now that I have a kat bracket.

Hmm, I tried to make an attachment and it says the upload folder is full, I'll put it up on Tinypic for now.
............................................................Brake Torque Arm..........................................Brake Rotor
      

[Big Rich]

Feel bad for the poor biker that tried to steal your plate.....

Kidding Ed - looks great! Thankfully Suzuki made so many parts interchange throughout the years, huh?