Not long ago i crashed my gs and bent the left front fork tube, everything else is fine. I tried to bend the tube back into place using a 20t press but ended up squashing it a little.
(http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc215/blackbeetle1/Image011.jpg)
Ok few questions here....
1. Where could i find a left fork tube for my gs? (i've tried ebay, here, wreckers and what not. Dealer wanted $700 for new one)
2. I have the fork tube but it's very slightly bent, and it has been squashed in one section due to trying to press it out. Is there a way to fix it?
3. Is it worth swapping the front end if only the tube is bent/which bike would be best to swap?
Thanks for any help :)
Don't know about straightening fork tubes but you can try PMing Buddha, I believe he has talked about that before. There's a lot of info on the wiki page about fork swaps. From what I understand pretty much anything will swap in if you are willing to modify the triple clamps by swapping in the GS stem. Katana fronts seems to be the most popular swap. You will need the complete front end with triple clamp, brake calipers, rotors... The CBR 600 F1 front end is the only one I know that has the same size forks as the GS so you can swap directly into the GS triple clamp. Good luck!
-Jessie
you have pm
I have a GSXR FE if your interested in swapping out front ends. Best investment ever for a GS. PM me if you're interested.
The Bob!
Maybe with all these front end swaps going on, someone might have a standard tube to sell at a fair price???
Quote from: the mole on December 14, 2009, 02:14:06 AM
Maybe with all these front end swaps going on, someone might have a standard tube to sell at a fair price???
try Forks by Frank. They have been making fork tubes for long time. Made pair for my SRX600.
http://www.frankmain.qpg.com/
Hi there,
Used GS500 forks do show up here on occasion. Keep watching for them.
I'm not one of the big advocates of front end swaps here. Yes, it may make your bike's suspension better, but so do Progressive fork springs and fresh good fork oil -- with a lot less hassle and expense.
If you ride it like most people, you don't need to spend $300 or more on a front end swap. It's not a simple job for the uninitiated. :) There are always complications with such swaps.
Buyer beware, of course. :)
Hang in there.
You'll find an inner fork tube or a whole GS500 leg if you keep your eyes open.
Just be sure to ask if the tubes have any dings or imperfections, because those will cause your seals to get chewed up and need to be replaced. You want straight, undamaged, undinged inner tubes for sure.
Good luck!
I have straightened forks, but GS forks are notoriously hard, small dia and thin wall.
Forks by frank are $$$$$$$$$$$ ... and I believe they only sell a pair not 1 leg.
I have sold legs off GS'es in the past, but dont have any right now.
Kat forks ... yea but like they said its a pretty deep job. Look for a leg @ a junkyard. BTW are lefts and rights the same ? If so, you can get a pair where 1 is bent and use the good one ...
Cool.
Buddha.
Thanks for all the input, i think i'll wait it out for something to come up closer to home. And get those progressive fork springs, they sound pretty good. Thanks again :D