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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Jay_wolf on April 19, 2007, 04:41:19 PM

Title: Fork Questions
Post by: Jay_wolf on April 19, 2007, 04:41:19 PM
Hey , i Just removed my forks to get my mudguard out for paint , and learnt alot as it was my first time , also , is there any USD forks that happen to be the same Thickness on the stem , like , i dont see how if there the same size , why u cant just squeeze sum really decent forks in there , i mean there must be a bike , that has the same Fork Spec , Im Tempted to measure a load of bikes at sum dealerships around my area , to see if there is a pair that will just slot in , would be alot cheaper and easyer than having custom Yokes made for it , Probs sounds really stupid , but there must be a decent set of forks for minamal effort

Jay
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: finmac on April 19, 2007, 05:04:37 PM
I've heard about replacing the front end with a thicker 41-43mm conventional fork...or redoing the whole front with a gixxer USD or suzuki RGV front if you are lucky enough to find one.

Have you tried progressive springs or a thicker fork brace? You could try sticking two stock fork braces together with longer bolts.

-Fin
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: werase643 on April 19, 2007, 06:14:02 PM
many older yamaha and suzuki use a 25mm top brg and a 30mm lower brg
thickness ain't the problem....length between the races....height is the problem,  the gs is shorter than most
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: MikeNW on April 19, 2007, 06:15:45 PM
From my experience with my pig Concours, most suspension maladies are curable with a fork brace.  A longer spacer helps too.  Final cure for Concours was Sonic 1.1 springs and heavier fork oil.  I don't know how I made it 21,000 miles with the stock fork assembly.  Oh that's right, I crashed.....

When I finally find GS500 and buy it, I will tear down the forks and cure its stock suspension too. 
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: dgyver on April 19, 2007, 06:23:43 PM
When installing a different front end, you will need most everything from the donor bike...forks, triple, axle, wheel, rotor, calipers, brake lines, fender, clip-ons, headlight mounts (if going nakid). There are a few exceptions like using a 89-97 Kat f/e, the wheel is the same and the fenders fit.

Most of the time you just need to address the differences in the stem. The GS has a short stem compaired to most bikes. So every donor will need to have either the stem modified....or shims....or swapped with the GS. The problem with swapping stem is that, from my experience, aluminum stems are a little larger in diameter at the lower triple so the GS stem is not a press fit.

Not impossible. I have swapped 5 so far.... 2 GSXR USD and 3 Kats.
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: hmmmnz on April 21, 2007, 02:09:36 AM
Quote from: dgyver on April 19, 2007, 06:23:43 PM
When installing a different front end, you will need most everything from the donor bike...forks, triple, axle, wheel, rotor, calipers, brake lines, fender, clip-ons, headlight mounts (if going nakid). There are a few exceptions like using a 89-97 Kat f/e, the wheel is the same and the fenders fit.

Most of the time you just need to address the differences in the stem. The GS has a short stem compaired to most bikes. So every donor will need to have either the stem modified....or shims....or swapped with the GS. The problem with swapping stem is that, from my experience, aluminum stems are a little larger in diameter at the lower triple so the GS stem is not a press fit.

Not impossible. I have swapped 5 so far.... 2 GSXR USD and 3 Kats.

when i did mine, i used the gs stem, but to counter the gs stem being a tiny bit smaller, i knurled the base of the stem where it goes into the bottom yoke.. it worked a  treat, had to use 6 tonnes (metric) on the press to get it in :D
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: dgyver on April 21, 2007, 04:45:17 AM
Knurling...that is a good idea.
Title: Re: Fork Questions
Post by: ducati_nolan on April 21, 2007, 10:15:17 AM
I'm rebuilding (i gues just re-sealing and cleaning) some 87 CBR shocks that are supposed to slide right into the GS tripples. Should be straightforward if it works. Who knows how much better it'll be though.