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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 03:04:55 PM

Title: the kat wheel swap
Post by: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 03:04:55 PM
seen here
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=25426.0

why did you run the 110/70r17 front ?

ground clearnce (spell) did it change and if so how much?

i am now looking for a kat wheel but am thingking of, and if this is even possable

kat front end swap,

wheel, forks,

so that i can get better brakes up front. will the forks (entire setup) fit into the fram of the gs.
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: hmmmnz on June 14, 2006, 03:41:57 PM
you can pritty much interchange any suzuki front end, the kat and most others have a slightly longer stem so you either have to make up a spacer for the bottom or press out the original and put in the gs one. ive only heard of one guy doing that most people just put in the spacer.
nice easy mod.
you also have to refix your clocks and head light(if you have an unfaired version)
good luck with it, its the best way of getting twin discs
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: werase643 on June 14, 2006, 04:45:39 PM
i'm guessing ....for turd.

that the 110 is the proper tire for the 3 inch front rim.
the 120 will fit....but starts pinchin
the 120 is heavier and does have a larger gyroscopic effect...this is a bad thing.....by the way :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 05:30:38 PM
well i was more worryed about the size aspect ratio and fall in and turn out difrences (spell) if this makes any sence.


what i am saying is i still want a good fast turn in but beable to get to full tilt with out upseting the bike in such a way that it becomes unstable mid turn and on exit of the turn and seting up for the next. and right now the bike seems really stable  so stable in fact i was a lot smoother this time at deals gap, ut i really need a set of better tires but want to keep the same stibliaty... boy this seems way off the wall of expction too much of the gs.  but the gs is in good place at the gap, i mean really,

i just spoke with jarden about the 04-06 race exhust- will be done by the end of this month.
the front end really need to be changed, way to much travel up there
racetech seems the way to go for some progressve springs and then thicker oil if needed.
the rear i chaged to 5 up from 4 and the bike didn't stand up as much out of the cornner, i may got to 6.

what else can i do. i dont see the gs gooing any were any time soon now that i know how good it really is.
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: dgyver on June 14, 2006, 06:07:12 PM
Quote from: hmmmnz on June 14, 2006, 03:41:57 PM
you can pritty much interchange any suzuki front end, the kat and most others have a slightly longer stem so you either have to make up a spacer for the bottom or press out the original and put in the gs one. ive only heard of one guy doing that most people just put in the spacer.
nice easy mod.
you also have to refix your clocks and head light(if you have an unfaired version)
good luck with it, its the best way of getting twin discs

I have done the Kat f/e swap both ways, added spacers to the top and pressed in a GS stem. All the Kat triples I have gotten have had the stem welded in. I ground out the weld and milled the surface flat. Pressed in a GS stem (which has a retention ring) and it bolts up perfectly. The bottom of the stem is not recessed the way it was on the GS but this not noticable. Since this is on a street bike, I wanted to be able to use the steering lock without moddifing anything else. I have seen GS stems both welded and pressed.
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: rangerbrown on June 14, 2006, 07:03:52 PM
did it handle any better, i am sure the brakes were better
Title: Re: the kat wheel swap
Post by: dgyver on June 14, 2006, 08:15:01 PM
It is tough for me to be completely objective since the only time I have ridden a completely stock GS was in a parking lot and never got out of second gear. For me, the GS is way under sprung, as are most bikes (even my old TLR). Any properly setup up suspension will handle better. 

btw...I have only worked with 89-97 Kat f/e's. The main reason...they have dual 4-piston calipers where the 98-02 use dual 2-piston calipers. One finger braking is normal for me. From what I have seen, the 98-02 should require the same work to fit a GS. The spacing is a little different at the wheel (I do not recall what it was exactly) but they do use the same length axle as the 89-97.