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Swing arm Compatability?

  • Thread starter Thread starter phaserburn
  • Start date Start date
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phaserburn

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Hey gang,

New to posting here, but I have been lurking for a while.

I have a 1979 GS1000 EN and I hate the steel swing arm thats on it. I saw some people were able to put an aluminum one on from later years? What makes and years of swing arms could I look for that would work with my bike?

Thanks
 
I've transplanted the aluminum swingarm from a 1983 GS1100 to one of my two 1978 GS1000s. In fact, I just bought another aluminum swingarm of the same vintage for my other GS. Kawasaki Z-1 enthusiasts are also fond of this modification.

It's a straight swap, and allows, if you're up for some tinkering, the installation of a wider rear wheel with radial tires.

The aluminum swingarm is about eight pounds lighter than the steel, noticeably stiffer and looks good, in my opinion, contrasted with the black steel frame.
 
jskellington said:
It's a straight swap, and allows, if you're up for some tinkering, the installation of a wider rear wheel with radial tires.
Click to expand...

What he said. Dead easy swap. The only mod I had to do was drill a new hole in the chain guard. (I re-used my 1000 guard)
rearcmsize.jpg
 
I did this swap too. worked great...However make sure the 1100 swingarm you get has the pivot endcaps. There like little rubber sealing caps that go on the end of the swingarm pivot point. My 78 GS1000 caps DID NOT fit on the 1100 pivot point ends. I had to order some from bikebandit. But every thing else was a snap.
 
If you're up for a bit of fabrication, a 2006 GSXR 1000 swingarm will fit too. Both the GS1000 and GSXR 1000 are 225 mm at the pivot. You'll need to make bushings so that the GS pivot bolt can be used in the GSXR pivot, and either make monoshock mounts or figure out a way to dual shock the GSXR swingarm. See the pic in my signature for an example.
 
I was also considering this swap (i have a 78 GS1000) and am planing on using a gs1100 swingarm (i know 83 works, but do any other years work?). I was just wondering what "tinkering" is needed to upgrade to some wider radials. Do you use GSXR rims? and how much wider are we talking with this swing arm? If gsxr rims are used, will my stock breaks and sprockets work? I just got new pads and upgraded to a 530 set up so id hate to be out 200$ if they wouldn't work.
 
Swinger

Swinger

Did it to my Gs1000s cant beleive the differance it make to the handing
had a after market double braced thingy before and is half the wait to.
 
The amount of tinkering needed to fit a wider tire into the aluminum swingarm, is in my case, yet to be determined. I bought a 1989 GSXR750 rim with tire, rotor, sprocket carrier from a guy who suggested it was a straight swap. I don't think so.

When I mounted it on the swingarm, there was a significant offset between the countershaft sprocket and the rear sprocket, so much so that I think the next step involves serious tinkering. As you can tell, I'm out of my depth.

I decided to postpone the project until I get more information from serious tinkerers. In the meantime, I mounted the original wheel and enjoy a noticeable improvement in rear end stability.
 
An excellent question. When I get home I'll measure and post the results. My hunch is they're very similar in length.
 
I am curious how much more rigid the aluminum one is compared to the stock GS1000 steel. I swicthed over but I guess Im not pushing the handling limits to tell...It has to be better because of its box section constuction, plus the fact it was designed for a newer more powerful bike (GS1100). My main motivation for switching was reducing unsprung weight and I think it looks better. It looks similar to KTMs new Super Duke swingarm...Interesting.
 
I laid the steel swingarm side by side with the aluminum one: they're precisely the same length.

I did, however, misreport the weight difference. (Typing while drinking again) The aluminum swingarm is 4.5 pounds lighter than the steel.

As for the handling difference, it became apparent when I tried to keep up with some faster bikes on a twisty road shortly after I'd changed swingarms. The rear end felt noticeably stiffer and more stable, particularly when braking and accelerating out of turns. An unexpected downside was that the better traction made the front end feel extra flexy. Not a problem with the type of riding I normally do. This winter, I'm gonna try a 1994 GSXR1100 upside down fork and see if I can get some front to back balance.
 
Everyone says you can put a wider wheel/tire on the 1100 swingarm. I don't see it. I just bought one for my Beast project, and as far as I can tell, it is the same width and length as the standard GS1000 swingarm. So what am I missing here?
 
The 1100 arm is wider which does allow a larger tire... I looked at them both tonight. Its difficult to measure because one is mounted on the bike.
 
Someone . . . anyone . . . anybody successfully install a GSXR wheel on an early 80s 1100 swingarm?
 
Suzukfan78 said:
The 1100 arm is wider which does allow a larger tire... I looked at them both tonight. Its difficult to measure because one is mounted on the bike.
Click to expand...

I don't know about shafties but if you are running a chain you can only go so wide and then you have to start modifying the crank and or front sprocket.
 
anyone know of a longer, but not neccesarily wider, swing arm that will bolt up to my 550L?
 
so does this have to be 1100 to 1000 and 750 to 750 and 550 to 550 swap? or does the 1100 arm work on a 550? and for a wider radial tire would that require a larger rim, or could i just use a plug for the rim and ditch the tube?

thanks,

so so rat
 
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