It won't look like this for long.....

[HiSPL]

Were there any issues while fitting the Bandit fork?

Also how much ground clearance did you lose?

I want a conventional style fork on my 750 too, but the one I really want is hard to get and expensive.

[pan]

Were there any issues while fitting the Bandit fork?

Also how much ground clearance did you lose?

I want a conventional style fork on my 750 too, but the one I really want is hard to get and expensive.

The forks are from a GSX600F, although I believe they are very similar to Bandit items. They pretty well fall right into the gs frame as use the same bearings, the lock stops on the frame are the only thing that needed any reworking. I have not measured the change in clearance but the forks are almost identical in length so its really only the wheel & tyre that drops it.
I may fit some new billet yokes that I have over the winter as they have a stepped top yoke and this will give me a little height back. I only used these forks as they came along at the right price ( but did need new seals and stiffer springs ). I am not a big fan of USD forks on older bikes so these fitted the bill although I would have like fully adjustable legs. They are only adjustable for compression damping) what forks would you like to use? SV650's may be a good choice or 43mm fully adjustable ZRX Kawasaki but the yokes may be a problem.

Here is the new yokes,

[katanarama]

man that looks sweet!

[Billyboy]

Awesome looking bike!:-D

[HiSPL]

I'm looking for V-strom forks. They are plenty long and use a 19" front wheel. The 1000 is a cartridge design and the 650 is damper rod, but both can be tweaked to be fine road forks.



Forks from an SV 1000 would work too. Fully adjustable and will fit the Strom's front wheel with minor mods.

Basically the 19" front wheel is the key for me. It just looks "right" on these bikes. Plus there are plenty of good street tires available for the Stroms and BMW GS's now.


Nice looking project you've got there!

[pan]

I know what you are saying HiSPL, sometimes they just don't look right on smaller wheels. I think it should be OK when finished but if I don't like the way it looks or rides I will revert to plan B. The one thing I don't like is the front mudguard or should that be fender?? two counties divided by a common language ;-) . I may have an alloy item made but the wait time is 12 weeks for one made to my own spec and by the time it gets here I will probably be up to my ears in snow!

Mark...

[pan]

Some progress today but not a lot to show with pictures, I traded the head and bottom end from this engine & a good set of re bored barrels with pistons ( and some cash ) for a 1233cc motor complete with z1000J carbs, oil cooler, dyna coils and dyna S ignition :-) It came with a bill for a full rebuild including crank @ a cost of just under £1500 :-o . This is for "another day", so after a late afternoon barbeque I fitted my rebuilt 1085cc motor on my own! backs a little stiff now but as they say "no pain no gain".


Someone remind me of that tomorrow when I can't bend down to put my socks on ;-)

Mark...

[pan]

First snag :-(

Well it was all going so well. I have now taken the front end off again after some clearance issues between the calipers and spokes. My options were 1) machine a little from the caliper mounts to move the caliper outwards and shim the disc out from the hub by the same amount or 2) use my billet yokes as they are slightly wider and shim the disc's. Option 2) looked best but I want to use standard bars not clip-ons :-( so I went with................ option 2.5) a set of cast alloy yokes with the same dimensions as the billet items but made from cast alloy with a hollow steel stem ) more than one way to skin a cat as they say!! The only down side is that I will have to now wait for some new riser spacers to be made with an angled bottom side & have some disc spacers made. No one ever said it would be easy and I do like a challenge.

Mark...

[Hoomgar]

I know what you are saying HiSPL, sometimes they just don't look right on smaller wheels. I think it should be OK when finished but if I don't like the way it looks or rides I will revert to plan B. The one thing I don't like is the front mudguard or should that be fender?? two counties divided by a common language ;-) . I may have an alloy item made but the wait time is 12 weeks for one made to my own spec and by the time it gets here I will probably be up to my ears in snow!

Mark...

I agree with you on that. I was thinking the same thing. The front end went on well but that front fender is for a different style bike and looks out of place of the 78 GS. I was thinking maybe painting it to match the bike may help though?

I don't know if you saw this one or not but we have a member from Canada that won our BOM last year and he used a 92 GSXR front end on his 1000. It came out pretty awesome looking and may give you some ideas too.

Here it is:

http://www.thegsresources.com/halloffame/2005/gs_photo_jun05.htm

[Hoomgar]

Someone remind me of that tomorrow when I can't bend down to put my socks on ;-)

Mark...

I feel your pain my GS brother, trust me

[Blastatiion]

quick qestion would i be able to put the same size tire on my 86 GS550ES cause that is the look of the tires i want. does anyone know the size of those tires, or did the guy put a totally different rim from a GSX-R if so more info out what he did would be cool.