A little crazy

[ohgoodtimes]

I was thinking about trying to fit a single swing arm from a gsxr onto my 750e, i know the weight may be a big deal and fitting it alone will be a trick, but has anyone else heard of this being done or seen it or anything? Any tips would be great as well.
Cheers

[n1elkyfan]

That would be pretty cool. I have thought about doing something like this my self just wouldn't even know where to start

[ohgoodtimes]

Yeah, i am hoping it wont be a completely custom thing, that could get pricey. I am hoping it would allow for a wider tire, and just a completely unique look. The bike is long enough i am sure it could handle it just fine. But like you said i dont know where to start.

[doctorgonzo]

Darn you guys and your swing arm mods. I'm jealous. I have a shaftie so no go. I have actually seen an extra wide aluminum swing arm made to fit a chain drive gs1000.

[QuaiChangKane]

I was thinking about trying to fit a single swing arm from a gsxr onto my 750e, i know the weight may be a big deal and fitting it alone will be a trick, but has anyone else heard of this being done or seen it or anything? Any tips would be great as well.
Cheers

No GSXR came stock with an OEM single-sided swingarm, unless you're talking about buying one from a "bling-bike" dealer like those in the Super StreetBike rag, and those things are ridiculously expensive. Heck, you could buy another GS750E for the cost of one of those kit-bike single-swinger setups with an obscenely large tire, yet still need to buy a brake setup.

Your cheapest solution would be to find a used Honda part from a '90-up VFR ('90-'93 had the best looking wheels, IMO, and the widest of the 750 wheels at 5.5" for a 180mm tire), or a Honda NT650 Hawk - this should actually be cheaper than nearly any of the kits they sell for Hayabusas, Gixxers, or ZX-14's.

I've heard custom fittment of Ducati swingers can be a pain, but many folks use Honda SSSA's on a bunch of different bikes. It may just be cheaper to buy a salvaged/wrecked VFR750 and take what you want, to make sure you got the wheel and brake at a good price to go along with the swingarm. You could likely use the front end, too - the forks are pretty long since it's an S/T and not a SuperSport, so I don't think ground clearance would be an issue. The 41mm forks would be a definite upgrade from your stockers, as would the 17" wheel, larger rotors, and Nissin calipers. If you go with a 3rd-gen VFR (1990-1993), look for a '92-'93 model as they come with preload adjustable fork caps, where the earlier ones were non-adjustable. IIRC, the 4th-gen forks are no more adjustable than the late 3rd-gen, but overal the 3rd- and 4th-gen 750's are remarkably similiar, with minor body, engine tuning, and brake improvements.

But I'm rambling (gotta download this info while it's still fresh - I just sold a 3rd-gen VFR and spent a bunch of time collecting info and "obsessing", like I do about every bike I own...)

The 1994-1997 VFR750 has the same brake calipers as the 3rd-gen, but the rotors are semi-floating as opposed to the 3rd-gen fixed rotors. As for upgrading rotors (to wave rotors, for example), or looking for abundant or cross-compatable replacement rotors, this is the way to go. 3rd-gen rotors are hard to come by, expensive if bought new, and are only cross-compatable with other dinosaurs like the PC800 Pacific Coast, ST1100, or CBR1000F Hurricane, so there is a lot of competition for scarce parts.

The 3rd-gen VFR had the most attractive wheels, though - HRC (Honda Racing) look-alike 7-spokes in gold or white. The 3rd-gen wheel was also wider than the 4th - 5.5" for the 3rd-gen, 5.0" for the 4th-gen. Both bikes came with 170mm rear tires stock, but a 5.5" rim is recommended as the proper width for a 180.

Neither the 3rd-gen nor 4th-gen had top-end forks, but both performed well with the factory spring and damping rates. The later 3rd-gen and all 4th-gen 750's came with preload-adjuster caps on the forks (as mentioned above), and RaceTech sells springs and cartridge-emulator kits for both generations. I was more than happy with Progressive springs and 15wt oil in my 3rd-gen (1991) forks - especially when compared to my GS750ES (go figure!), and even more so when I got some used 1992-model adjustable fork caps. As for parts, the entire front end from either model will swap to the other, if you're looking to source individual parts. The only issue is that the 4th-gen had larger rotors, so the brake caliper mounting location is different on the fork lowers, so make sure to use a 4th-gen wheel with 4th-gen forks, and vice-versa.

Ideally, I'd recommend looking for a dogged-out, salvaged 4th-gen VFR750. Use the complete front end and complete rear end on your GS, sell all the remaining parts, and then buy another rear wheel from a 3rd-gen VFR750. Best of both worlds - wider and more attractive tire for showing off in that single-sided swingarm. Make sure to use a high-mount, undertail, or left-exit exhaust as well - there's no point in going through the trouble to mount a single-swinger if you hide it with your exhaust can!

VFR's run FOR EVER. That's why I'm even recommending buying a whole bike just to get the parts. Many VFR owners would travel around the world for the parts to keep their beloved "Viffer" on the road. Without a doubt, you'll be able to sell your leftovers and recover your expenses, just don't make the mistake that many folks make when they're parting out a bike - laziness. If you completely dismantle the bike, bag, tag, and take excessive numbers of photos, you'll sell the parts quickly and effortlessly. Too often, folks just try to sell the bike in a couple of large peices and either have trouble finding buyers, or can't recover their expenses because nobody wants to pay shipping on an engine when all they needed was a stator and a clutch basket.

Again, I'm rambling, and I do apologize if you read through the whole thing and it wasn't on-track with what you had in mind - but this is a mod I've been toying around with in my head since I bought my VFR. From what I've read online about VFR-to-GSXR swingarm conversions, I don't think it would be very difficult - definitely worth the trouble, and with dead-sexy results.

I just need the time - I want to keep my main 750ES as stock as possible in appearance, but if everything works out, I'd like to go whole-hog on the parts bike, with an inverted front end and single-swinger. Gotta have dreams, right? \\/


Cheers!


-Q!

[QuaiChangKane]

Darn you guys and your swing arm mods. I'm jealous. I have a shaftie so no go. I have actually seen an extra wide aluminum swing arm made to fit a chain drive gs1000.

MOTOR SWAP!!!! \\/


-Q!

[ohgoodtimes]

No GSXR came stock with an OEM single-sided swingarm, unless you're talking about buying one from a "bling-bike" dealer like those in the Super StreetBike rag, and those things are ridiculously expensive...-Q!

yeah i have few friends ho have done this to their gsxr's and it wasnt cheap at all, i have a couple places i could possibly get one, i was thinking about trying to by one from a wrecked mv agusta my buddy has sitty in his garage that he is going to "fix and get back on the road". I have to check the fit. If not maybe i will just buy it off him for 4000 I would have no problem with that bike. lol. But other wise i am going to search for a used part, or i like the idea of the vfr rear end, i will definately look into that as well. As for the engine swap Quai just remember the newer engines way less and will effect handeling. Though i would love to do that myself. I love the frame and style of the gs, just want to update you know.

[tone]

By far the easiest single sider to use id the vfr 750 & most times its better for chain alignment to use the 800 wheel the problems arise with with keeping our bendy steel frames straight due to the shock being ofsett slightly. much bracing required

not 100% sure on this bit but i think the arms are a little too wide for gs etc frames at the pivot point so machining to fit may be needed