Where do you guys find your GSXR front ends?!

[kichigai]

I think Ebay is your best bet to find a complete GSXR front fork assembly. If your patient, a good deal will come around! I found my frontend on ebay too for only $150.00 \\/

You can find pixs of them being installed on my GS1100esd in the link below if interested.
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=118949

 

[long_av8r]

Changed out the fork oil that winter and the next summer when I installed them the right fork seal was leaking. No big deal just changed them out. Get the longest ones you can find.

I hope I'm not too late to the party to help out with this one, but just in case I'm not, here's my $.02 on the subject...

First, regarding the above quote, that is a common problem with the USD's and a lot of people sell them and "upgrade" at just about the time the seals start to leak. Unless you do it yourself, it's around $250 or more to have somebody do it for you, and parts alone if you do it yourself are around $60 a side if I remember right. It's also beyond the scope of a lot of people's mechanical abilities and does require a fork spring compressor that you either have to buy or make (I made mine). So, not that I'm disagreeing with you, I just want to point out that replacing the seals in USD's is nowhere near as simple as doing it in a conventional setup and that is something anyone considering this should know in case they find a "good deal" that only needs to have the seals replaced. Also, the seals sometimes leak not because they are worn, but because the tubes take a beating down there and could be damaged and on the ebay photos, it's difficult to tell - especially if it's just a small nick. The seller may not know about it and even if he does it may be difficult to point out in a photos.

As for where to get them, ebay is one place, but then BB's like gixxer-forum.net (no special membership to view and place WTB or for sale ads), gixxer.com (have to pay $10 to view or place ads), Maximum-suzuki.com (no memberhip required), and oldskoolsuzuki.info (UK based for our overseas bretheren). There are others, but those are the more GSXR related sites. I can usually find 1100 front ends pretty easy myself through those resources.

But here's another thing... The USD's are good, and they are sexy, but they are overkill, and they are heavier. The RSU 43mm forks off of the 90 1100 are just as good because they are cartridge, allow the use of the bigger brakes and 17" wheel, have the same diameter tubes, and in one way they are even better because they are lighter than the USD's. If it's the look you are after and need USD's to complete it, then nothing will substitute for that, and there is nothing wrong with wanting them for that reason. But take it from a guy that lives and breathes GSXR's - the 43mm RSU cartridge setup is better than the early USD's. I have USD's on my 7/11 because of the look, but my track bike is wearing the 43mm cartridge RSU's for the reasons I already mentioned.

Also, not all USD's are created equal, however since you need the longer 1100 USD's, they might as well be. The 750 forks (Showa) were actually better than the 1100 forks (KYB), and the 94/95 forks were the best of the 750's. So, if you can run shorter forks, you want to go for those. Secondly, you can not use 750 USD clamps with 1100 USD forks because the tube diameter for the top clamp is different, so make sure you get the right clamps as I see them listed incorrectly on ebay all the time. And last, but certainly not least, make sure you upgrade the springs before you install them. Use Race Tech 1 kg/mm or heavier springs for the GS's based on a rider weight of 180 fully geared up.

JS, that is a pretty good deal for the setup you listed.

And that's all I got to say about that...

 

[Guest]

long_av8r,

Great points for the hunter/gatherers. Agree with all your saying, easier to change seals in RSUs, I made my own spring compressor for my USDs also.

My upgraded RSU 43mm (non cartridge) forks on my FZ1 are better than my 96 GSXR1100 USD in terms of handling. Showa are better than KYB. I'll also bet that RSU Suzuki forks are half the cost of USD models and taller to boot.
Not as sexy looking though. Thats where the soul searching comes into it. Why am I making these mods?

Same is true on the rear tire conversion. 180 is sexier than 160 but doesn't add any performance gain. You'll be touching down engine cases long before you run out of tire contact patch.

 

[liloaty]

I'm not going for sexy if an uglier front end will give me better performance! I guess in a way forks/front ends are comparable to one night stands! hahah

Anyways...Are the RSU forks bolt on for the GS's? Trying to find them on eBay seems just as hard as finding any other front end....

 

[motocycle shawn]

frontend swap's

frontend swap's

you can use the fron end of a 92 zx600d too.

i have a hole set front end and rear with nice tire's
rea tirer is a 180mm new. will post the set in the for sale side of gs res.

 

[Mr.Gone]

92 zx600d

92 zx600d

Is just the '92 front end off the ZX600 compatable with our bikes or is it a range of ZX600s? I've found a '93 that would be perfect for me but I'm not willing to grab it unless I know it will fit my '80 1100.

 

[tone]

Guys i'm sorry to go on a bit on this thread & its slightly off topic, but these sorts of swaps are what i do for people & for myself all the time

The quick answer to all the will it fit questions is ..... yes if you put the work in any bike front end will fit any bike, cg125 on a gsxr1000 anyone :-D

The real questions should be is it a direct swap & is it a good idea?

So if you are looking for a bolt out & bolt in swap for an 80's gs the only thing that will fit is an front end from another 80's gs :| & some of those are not as straight forward as they appear, anything else will require some or all of these .....steering stem or bearing swaps,a new stem making, lockstop mods, extended brake lines, new bar risers

Then after that you might find that the forks are too short particularly if using usd's so you might need a stepped top yoke as well ( i dont trust slugs) & to revalve/ respring your new forks for the weight of your gs

I hope that helps in your decisions on which swaps to go for & remember its a slippery slope as once your new forks are in you will want to change the back end as well & thats another story entirely :-D

 

[Junkie]

I was told that GSXF Katana front ends swap right on - you need the triples of course, but the bearings and stem work.

 

[ArttuH]

I was told that GSXF Katana front ends swap right on - you need the triples of course, but the bearings and stem work.

Yes, the bearings and stem work but you still need need to modify lockstops. And steering lock if you want to keep it. And you need to make mountings for the handlebar if you aren't going to use clip-ons. Heavier springs are also highly recommended. Quite easy swap though.

I have done this with a GSX600F front end.

 

[Guest]

I can say for sure that the 96 GSXR1100 is a one for one, easy swap. I think the late GSXR1100 forks were the same for several years like maybe 95-98, but do your own research. The bearings are a perfect match as is the tripple tree height spacing. The stops work. There could be a little more overlap on the stops but they work without modding them. Your going to get 1.5" of ride height drop.

GSXR1100 were never known for great handling. GSXR1100 forks are much better than stock GS forks but still not as nice or plentiful as modern GSXR forks with the radial brakes.

 

[twist-throttle]

long_av8r or anybody else for that matter,

I am curious about the RSU/Conventional/non-USD forks off of a 88-90 GSXR750. How does their length compare to the USD forks from the 91-95 GSXR750?

Would the front-end from a 88-90 GSXR750 make a good swap... I mean as in fitment & ground clearance?

Thanks in advance!

 

[justin caise]

http://www.oldskoolsuzuki.info/

 

[Guest]

87/88 gsxr 750, I believe, is the shortest front end they made, IF my memory serves me, and would give poor ground clearance.

 

[GER144]

I've got an '89 gsxr 750 front end on my '83 katana, and yes they are shorter than the early USD front ends, but unless you're road racing your GS, or all you do is corner carving, ground clearance is not a problem for every day riding.
My Kat does corner well with the '89 gsxr front end, no clearance issues EXCEPT that I am running a V&H sidewinder exhaust, and the exhaust will touch early if you push it at all on right turns. It doesn't bother me as I built the bike as my weekend bracket racer and daily driver. Not a corner shredder.

 

[GER144]

The last pic is a little dark and hard to see, and the front end in that pic is actually 'strapped down' as well. The pic below is 'unstrapped'. I have also upgraded the front with progressive springs, Metzeler M3 rubber, Galfer steel-braided lines, and EBC pads.
It works just fine.
But if you want a taller front end that is not USD, maybe try the early gsxr1100 fronts (1986 to 1988). They are tall, but they have 18" wheels as well. There are better tire selections for the 17" wheels, but there are still good choices available in 18".

 

[GER144]

Not sure why a 'smilie' keeps popping up when I type in '88 or 1988 ?? It should read NINETEEN-EIGHTY-EIGHT.

 

[t3rmin]

It's when you put an "eight" and a end-paren together.

 

[Billy Ricks]

The '88 750 front ends were the shortest of the bunch. I had one on my 700 for years and under hard riding conditions the header would bang against the pavement. I've since switched to a '95 GSXR750 fork in CBR954 triples. The 954 triple will give you an about 3/4" of ride heighth back. You do have to remove a little material from the inside of the upper bearing to fit the 954 triple, not a big deal with a dremel and a barrel sanding attachment.

My bike with the '88 fork.

And now.

 

[rosco15]

I was just looking at a friends bike that put a gsxr1000 front end on it. He said there was some machining involved, but it looks pretty sweet.

 

[GER144]

Nice looking 700 there Billy! What size rear wheel/tire are you running?

Rosco, I agree them new gsxr1000 (and newer 600/750) front ends do look sweet! Especially the ones with the radial-brakes.

I have also put a '98 gsxr (srad) front end on my '81 GS, it looks longer than the '89 front end, but not as long as the old desirable (for our old GS's) gsxr1100 USD front ends. Again with me, it didn't matter on length as my '81 will be mostly a track bike. The forks have been shortened internally, but before they were shortened they appeared like they would have worked fine clearance wise at normal length.