Project Super Thrill! 83 GS1100 GSXR

[Darkstang]

Got the speedo bracket and top triple clamp done today.

Bottom bracket

Basically milled the bottom flat and used the old stud bosses for the key assembly as bosses to mount the bracket.

 

[GabrielGoes]

you guys are so pro

 

[jwhelan65]

Very nice work, any chance of getting a set of the headlight brackets? for purchase of coarse.

 

[Darkstang]

Waiting now on the risers and a new brake line.

 

[Billy Ricks]

'88-'89 GSXR rear 520 conversion might work for you. JT sprockets gives dimensions for all their sprockets so you can check bolt patterns and such. You won't want to run stock gearing with the Gixxer wheels. My stock gearing was 14/45 IIRC. A 16/43 combo with the Gixxer wheels was very close to stock mph per rpm.

 

[Darkstang]

FIRST RIDE!! Got the front end done and took it for a drive. Stock rear end and GSXR front end and I am still alive!

Ok, I believe my forks are not parralel in the triples. Not side to side but for and aft. I know how to align the forks on the axles to keep the forks from pinching in or spreading out side to side. But how do I check to see of they are parallel fore and aft?

Like you had all the triple clamps loose and turn the handlebars one way while someone held the wheel....

Is there a scientific way to align this?
Ken

 

[posplayr]

FIRST RIDE!! Got the front end done and took it for a drive. Stock rear end and GSXR front end and I am still alive!

Ok, I believe my forks are not parralel in the triples. Not side to side but for and aft. I know how to align the forks on the axles to keep the forks from pinching in or spreading out side to side. But how do I check to see of they are parallel fore and aft?

Like you had all the triple clamps loose and turn the handlebars one way while someone held the wheel....

Is there a scientific way to align this?
Ken

If this does not work something is bent

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1250210&postcount=14

 

[Darkstang]

Got the front finished and aligned. Installed the rear and aligned it. just waiting on the offset front sprocket to arrive for final alignment and checks.

Used to 3 foot aluminum rulers with plumbs hung from each end. layed one across the front tire pushed up against the forks and the other layed across the top of the tripple clamp against the forks. Measured between the strings to align the forks paralell with each other.

 

[Darkstang]

I drove it with the old rear end after I aligned the front. After the alignment, it drove really well. No wobbles and tracked straight. Could ride with no hands from about 70 down to 35 and no handlebar shake on the deceleration.

New brake stay. Just need to safety wire the bolts before riding much.

 

[posplayr]

Got the front finished and aligned. Installed the rear and aligned it. just waiting on the offset front sprocket to arrive for final alignment and checks.

Used to 3 foot aluminum rulers with plumbs hung from each end. layed one across the front tire pushed up against the forks and the other layed across the top of the tripple clamp against the forks. Measured between the strings to align the forks paralell with each other.

Looking good.

A new alighnment method?

I assume you double checked to make sure that the forks move freely(with springs out)?

What are you going to do for a front fender?

Looks like you should bend the mounts on the gauges to get them more upright. I think they are at about a 20 degree angle.

Just so you remember, you need to do a front wheel to rear wheel alignment before you check the chain alignment.

 

[Darkstang]

I go the gage mounts bent to where they looked good for me setting on the bike. I used 2 eight foot dry wall straight edges on the rear tire to the front end. Got it dialed in. Also used the string method to double check. Spent all morning aligning and checking...

Got teh spacer for the rear done so it is centered in the arm. Now hope the rear sprockets align with the new countersprocket when it gets here.

Probably use the GSXR fender. Just wanting to get it running now. Will have to address headers probably next.


Springs removed? No I have not done that. Forks aligned pretty easily so I do not think they are bent. When I rode it I believe they seemed softer to a point. If that makes sense. Racetech does not list a stiffer spring than stock for the 07 GSXR 750 frontend.

What exactly would their gold valves do for me?
Ken

 

[posplayr]

Racetech does not list a stiffer spring than stock for the 07 GSXR 750 frontend.

What exactly would their gold valves do for me?
Ken

I'm not sure i would worry about revalving for such a modern fork unless you were racing of course :-\\\.

I've considered upgrades to 91 GSXR 75 forks but the 07's are probably light years ahead.

 

[Darkstang]

Yea, I probably have a big enough can of worms dialing this in. I still need to find or make a chain guard as well.

I used my angle finder to get the rake for the frontend and if my calcs are right, My trail comes out to 4.42 inches. Those were with rough numbers assuming their is no rake built into the stock GSXR triples. Best i can tell, there is none. Just a 30 mm offset. Setting the finder on the front forks and then on the top of the stem, I get the same 26 degrees. I need to pony up for one of the more accurate digital ones instead of the needle type degree finders.

I was pretty worried about the trail untill I put on the new rear tire. That helped some.

Ken

 

[Darkstang]

Got to ride it yesterday! Allthough I only got to ride it for a few miles. I

I made a rooky GS mistake when setting up the sprocket offset. The original sprocket on the front was not a factory one and I thought the 6mm spacer stayed, so I based my measurements off it for the rear sprocket spacing. Chain hit the frame and the new counter sprocket would not fit right with the spacer... :-\\\:-\\\

Removed spacer and had to remachine cush drive to take into account the 6mm. Everything fits now!! I had to grind a little off the humungus weld blob on the lower footpeg mount. Bottom chain would rub slightly. Top has plenty room.

Front brakes are PHENOMINALLY better! UNBELIEVABLE difference actually. The rear is actually a little less, not much. GSXR rotor is smaller in diameter.

Going to get teh shop cleaned this evening and go for a long drive!
ken

 

[posplayr]

Got to ride it yesterday! Allthough I only got to ride it for a few miles. I

I made a rooky GS mistake when setting up the sprocket offset. The original sprocket on the front was not a factory one and I thought the 6mm spacer stayed, so I based my measurements off it for the rear sprocket spacing. Chain hit the frame and the new counter sprocket would not fit right with the spacer... :-\\\:-\\\

Removed spacer and had to remachine cush drive to take into account the 6mm. Everything fits now!! I had to grind a little off the humungus weld blob on the lower footpeg mount. Bottom chain would rub slightly. Top has plenty room.

Front brakes are PHENOMINALLY better! UNBELIEVABLE difference actually. The rear is actually a little less, not much. GSXR rotor is smaller in diameter.

Going to get teh shop cleaned this evening and go for a long drive!
ken

Nice work, what was the length of those front forks? Having an clearance issues now? You doing the GSXR swingarm as well. Might want to setup for some more rear ride height. That really kills the rear brake as there is even less weight on the rear (mine anyway; almost no effect). But with floating rotors the front is great.

Not sure how much better (or if the even need it) radial mount v.s. traditional calipers are. Here is an explanation I found for what the RM are about.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080904203020AAoR8Wl

 

[Darkstang]

May eventually do a rear conversion to a different swingarm, but tired of working on it for awhile right now.
Fork length came out to approximately 28 inches from top of triple tree to center of axle.

Header ground clearance will be an issue. Really have to watch what I go over till I find a more suitable header. Suggestions on what to use or models that can be hacked into submission?

More rear height would decrease my trail? Not sure I want to do that yet. This evenings ride will tell...

 

[Zweihammer]

Hey Darkstang, nice work! I am working on something similar, went with the custom ground conversion bearing for my front triple off an 05 GSXR, most use them for the SV conversions. I didn't realize a mix and match from All Balls would get me there. Could you post your part numbers for the next guy? What are you using for a speedo pickup on the stock gauge set with that GSXR front? Great work, can't wait to see the rest!
Cheers, Erick

 

[Darkstang]

The second post in this thread has the size and part numbers for the bearings from All Balls. Going to gut the factory speedo unit and put in a aftermarket in the speedo hole. Their are several that use magnetic pickups and small diameter circular housings that I can adapt.
Ken

 

[posplayr]

May eventually do a rear conversion to a different swingarm, but tired of working on it for awhile right now.
Fork length came out to approximately 28 inches from top of triple tree to center of axle.

Header ground clearance will be an issue. Really have to watch what I go over till I find a more suitable header. Suggestions on what to use or models that can be hacked into submission?

More rear height would decrease my trail? Not sure I want to do that yet. This evenings ride will tell...

They are some options on headers. I have a couple I'm probably not going to use.

I'll fireup my groudn clearance spreadsheet as well; PM me you email address if you want a copy of the spreadsheet.

 

[Darkstang]

can you explain header options?

40 mile ride report:

First 20 miles were highway. Tracked straight, seems steadier in buffet winds from transfer trucks. You can tell you have a lot more rubber on the pavement. It is smoother though. radials I guess...Seemed to follow ridges more than the old setup?? Tires??

They are mixed matched for right now. Battleax BT 14 up front and Shinko Adventure in rear. Shinko is a very flat profile compared to the Battleaxe. this may be some of it...

last 20 miles were all curves... This is were I do not like it , or at least not yet. Just very different... At slower speeds the bike turns instead of leans so to speak. You have to keep it from turning in too much. You can come in pretty good and throw it over and it seems better, but at slower speeds, it is hard to be smooth through the curves.

Could this be from the different tire profiles? Now I have to figure out what tiires to buy as well.

Ken