I know about the GSXR one but looking for something a bit less expensive and easier to do.

So I was thinking the Katana front wheel is the same as ours and I heard mention of the forks being the sameish? So what about taking the whole front end from a Katana (like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2434591102&category=35601 ) and putting it on the GS? Clipons etc all the way to the wheel (prob use my GS one cause it has a better tire and not that purple color) Dual front discs, clipons, all the levers etc. Only problem I might have is making a mount for my guages but it wont be too hard. Also are the fork tubes the same diameter as the GS because I'll have to reuse the GS headlight mount or one that will fit the Katana forks.

Work or no? Too much trouble?

It will work and be fairly easy.  The Katana tubes are 41mm (which is a good thing) so you will need to aquire either an SV650 or naked Bandit 600's headlight bracketry, or the whole thing.

Katana uses Electric Speedo and tach or mechanical? Might be able to use the Katana dash instead of the GS.

SV headlight brackets should be easy to find for a decent price.

Not sure, but I think electronic, depends on the vintage.  But I don't think you will be able to use it because the Kats had the instruments attached to the fairing bracket, not the forks... I think.

is there steering stem issues with the kat front end or is it a direct swap?

Quote from: pantablois there steering stem issues with the kat front end or is it a direct swap?

That was my main concern I want a direct swap and none of the pressing of bearings or bushings etc. The headlight brackets isnt a big thing to me.

And I took a look and yes the cluster is attached to the fairing so just a minor bracket fab to attach the GS stuff. But that will let me make sure everything fits with the brake lines and tach and speedo stuff!

JamesG:

I have an '89 Kat GSX750F and a 2000 GS500E.  They were both designed roughly at the same time so they seem to have some parts in common.  If you have a specific question, I may be able to get you an answer.  I was looking at the same thing ... Katana front end on the GS500.  The Katana has dual front disks which would be cool on the GS.  you would of course then need all the brake components from the Kat as well.

I think the forks would bolt right on but you would have to modifiy the handle bar bracket to mount the GS guages.  The handle bars are not really clip-ons but look similar at a glance.

Rob

Quote from: JasonBI know about the GSXR one but looking for something a bit less expensive and easier to do.

So I was thinking the Katana front wheel is the same as ours and I heard mention of the forks being the sameish? So what about taking the whole front end from a Katana (like this one http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2434591102&category=35601 ) and putting it on the GS? Clipons etc all the way to the wheel (prob use my GS one cause it has a better tire and not that purple color) Dual front discs, clipons, all the levers etc. Only problem I might have is making a mount for my guages but it wont be too hard. Also are the fork tubes the same diameter as the GS because I'll have to reuse the GS headlight mount or one that will fit the Katana forks.

Work or no? Too much trouble?

The seller is in Indian Trail...That 10 mins from my office...20 from home. I can check it out and pick it up after you win the auction...If you not bidding I'll dib on it...but I wont bit till the last 10 seconds so dont look for my name on it.
Cool.
Srinath.

He wont ship...so I guess you have no other choice...but that also means you dont have to bid too high...the out of staters are sorta eliminated anyway.
Cool.
Srinath.

I know that the first two generations of Katana bolts right on, My old (and now dgyver's) bike had a GSX front end and it was unmodified.  Donno about the newest version, but I'd think it was similar, it has the same frame as the old version.

IMHO- The GS should come with the Kat's front end from the factory. It is very solid and stable mid-corner not like the wobbly stock 37mms.  
The dual, double piston brakes though are a bit much for a little GS though,  my first crash on that GS was from locking up and washing out the front   . I was considering dropping the left side rotor and binder when I sold it.  

The new bike will only have a single disk and a 6 pot caliper.

I dont plan on grabbing the front brakes in a turn...  :nana:

I also was looking at it for the clipon (looks just like the 89 clipons) aspect of it. 97 is the last year before the bubble body style so it should have all of the best things.

I was gonna ask you about the forks and shipping them to me Seshadri but I asked him to give me a price on all the stuff instead of going thru 8 different auctions. The forks he has $20 shipping then he puts in that its local only so dunno. I'm waiting for a reply via email.

Quote from: JamesGIMHO- The GS should come with the Kat's front end from the factory. It is very solid and stable mid-corner not like the wobbly stock 37mms.  
The dual, double piston brakes though are a bit much for a little GS though,  my first crash on that GS was from locking up and washing out the front   . I was considering dropping the left side rotor and binder when I sold it.  

The new bike will only have a single disk and a 6 pot caliper.

I really like the dual front rotors. Very progressive. Plenty of front end feel and I trail brake into turns. They may be a little over powering, but they never will be under powered.

yeah, that 89-96 will bolt right on, no problems,  I use a universal headlight mount for my headlight so it will cope with 41mm tubes, the only thing im using my 89 clipon top clamps for is to hold the gages. i spose i could have another plate made with 41mm holes for tubes. anyone lookin to buy 89 clipons and topclamp? as to the kat 6 gauges, the speedo is cable drive and you can remove it from kat cluster and bolt it into GS houseing, the tach is electric. you can use electric tach, but they must be from other twins with septorate coils.

89 triple me please...
Thanks.
Srinath.

the electric tach will work from the kanatuna on a GS....
I have a 89 GSXR tach on my race bike

3 or 4 wires to hook up
still need to fab a cover for the tach drive....3 years later.....keep some of the crud out...i know it is sealed with o-rings...

The steering stem is the same lenght?

Yup.