GStwin.com GS500 Message Forum

Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Kurlon on February 13, 2009, 02:18:57 PM

Title: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Kurlon on February 13, 2009, 02:18:57 PM
Has anyone dealt with MEI for suspension work?

http://www.mei-inc.com/machine/suspension.htm

He offers a cartridge conversion for damping rod forks, and deals with vintage machines, so I'm thinking he might have something that'd fit our spindly lil boingers...

If I have him rework my forks I'll have a set of Race Tech emulators, .875kg springs, and drilled damping rods available... would some one want to buy those to offset my fork rework costs?  :)
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Kurlon on February 13, 2009, 03:20:20 PM
$1400 for the whole conversion... crud... $600 I was willing to splurge, over twice that, I'll save the cash for the stroker theory...
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Bluesmudge on February 13, 2009, 04:03:17 PM
Too bad  :cry:, I would have been happy to buy some used emulators.
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Bob Broussard on February 13, 2009, 11:54:53 PM
Search ebay for a gsxr frontend. The steering stem from the GS can be mounted in the gsxr triple and it will bolt on.
There's a couple little mods needed to do it, but it's not that big a deal.
And you can have a new frontend at a fraction of the cost.
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Kurlon on February 14, 2009, 07:07:15 AM
Doing that puts me right smack into SuperBike and GP classes...
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: joshr08 on February 14, 2009, 07:15:56 AM
Not trying to hijack the thread but what year gsxr front end would that be to press out the gs stem and press it into the gsxr triple?
Title: Re: Fork conversion - Damping rod to Cartridge operation
Post by: Bob Broussard on February 14, 2009, 11:17:35 PM
Any year frontend. The newer the better though.
After you press out the gsxr stem, you need to make a spacer for the GS stem so it will press into the gsxr triple clamp. With the newer frontend the spacer thickness is very small. So I add some small strips of weld in the area at the base of the GS stem. Then grind it down enough to get a tight fit into the triple clamp (pressed in).
Then I make a spacer/washer to fit on the top of the stem and the gsxr top triple clamp.
Then you use the stock bearings and parts for the GS to bolt it on. 

As for going with the overpriced fork mod. I'd stick with the setup you have now. Maybe try some 30wt oil for better damping. If you do the mod, I'd get another set of stock GS forks and sell your forks as is.
Just a thought :dunno_black:

In the AFM, 500 twins is a formula twins class. Only rule is the size limit 500 + 1mm overbore = 513cc
All other mods are legal :icon_twisted: