Hey everyone.

I've been looking for a set of 89' clip ons and I was hoping to upgrade to progressive springs in the near future.

As it turns out I'm having a tough time getting my hands on a set of 89's so I was wondering, is it possible for me to swap out for a Katana FE?

My bike is an 02' and I'm wondering if any of the Katana FE will work.

Might as well try to kill two birds with one stone if I can.

Thanks

Check the gstwins wiki pages as they have a page in there on how to do the Kat FE swap

Kat FE 89-96 works on all GS years.
02 - You may have to bend the bar to clear the tank ... or it may clear just barely, and smash your fingers on tight turns.
Cool.
Buddha.

Well smashed fingers sounds like no fun.

I guess it's stock bars and progressives until I find some 89'.

Thanks again

Quote from: Courtice_GS500 on August 07, 2013, 08:51:02 PM
Well smashed fingers sounds like no fun.

I guess it's stock bars and progressives until I find some 89'.

Thanks again

Dude ... bend the tubes and you clear it just fine ...
I believe 89 also needs that done. 89 you can put a washer in the outer bolt of the mounting post and get it to go outward that way ...
Either way ... needs to be done ...
However if you're balking @ that, you dont have the means to machine a kat stem for use in the GS. So forget that.
Cool.
Buddha.

Quote from: The Buddha on August 08, 2013, 07:08:59 AM

Quote from: Courtice_GS500 on August 07, 2013, 08:51:02 PM
Well smashed fingers sounds like no fun.

I guess it's stock bars and progressives until I find some 89'.

Thanks again

Dude ... bend the tubes and you clear it just fine ...
I believe 89 also needs that done. 89 you can put a washer in the outer bolt of the mounting post and get it to go outward that way ...
Either way ... needs to be done ...
However if you're balking @ that, you dont have the means to machine a kat stem for use in the GS. So forget that.
Cool.
Buddha.

If you have to machine the stem, why bother with early '90s Katana forks? How much more work can it be to fit a decent, modern front end that probably weighs less, flexes less, has better damping, takes a lighter wheel and accepts better calipers?

Am I missing something???

the GS stem is kinda short compaired to most all other front ends, the machining thats getting done is extending the threads down to be able to put the nut on the top clamps.   IIRC some of the GS stems can be pressed out and pressed into the newer trees, some need a sleeve as the stem diameter is narrower then other trees.  penny for penny, the kat 600 FE is cheaper and less hassle to mod and fit, and still takes the stock wheel/tire.  other newer more convensional FE's tend to need more finessing or cost more to obtain. it all depends on your skill, desire,and how deep your pockets are as to your choices. 

I was balking at the idea of the smashed fingers not the work.

If I can track down some 89's then I will whip up a spacer instead of bending the bars or using washers.

In regards to turning the stem its a matter of the time and effort required to have a usable set of forks.