Putting Dual Front Discs on a spoke wheel GS1000

[850 Combat]

Are the hubs set up to do this?

Are the calipers and master cycinders the same on an E as on a GS1000?


I like the look of spokes and an alloy rim, but like brakes too.

[tkent02]

The wheels are made for a disc on either side, you will need both fork legs to do it right as the caliper mounts are located slightly higher on the single brake fork to allow for the bigger disc.
Find calipers from a later bike with rectangular pads, they work better.
You can keep the same master cylinder.

[850 Combat]

Thanks. Can the fork leg and later calipers come from the same donor, or are the square pad brakes only on bikes with the larger fork?

I'm assuming that a spoker has the same rear set up as an "E"

The wheels are made for a disc on either side, you will need both fork legs to do it right as the caliper mounts are located slightly higher on the single brake fork to allow for the bigger disc.
Find calipers from a later bike with rectangular pads, they work better.
You can keep the same master cylinder.

[tkent02]

Thanks. Can the fork leg and later calipers come from the same donor, or are the square pad brakes only on bikes with the larger fork?

I'm assuming that a spoker has the same rear set up as an "E"

You will want 37mm forks from a GS1000 E, twin brake model, 850 should be the same, the 750s have thinner 35mm tubes, they won't work. You could use any later 37mm fork from an 1100 or whatever, you might get a better riding bike out of it, but do your research first to make sure it will all fit. The discs can be from the early bikes or the later discs with slots, they are the same in all dimensions except they are thinner.

The calipers I used on my 1000 are from an 1100G I think, make sure the mounting bolt holes are spaced the same, my 1981 1100E uses a different spacing from the other GSes.
I think maybe all the bikes with leading axle forks have the different caliper bolt spacing.

If you want the best brakes possible talk to Salty Monk on this site, he has worked out a mod using Kawasaki twin cylinder calipers and bigger discs from a newer Honda or something. Search Kawasaki Twin Pot Mod.

Here it is:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?p=1005976#post1005976

[salty_monk]

I think any calipers before about 82 will fit. The later ones & L model ones have a different bolt spacing I think.

Dan

[Griffin]

Make sure whatever calipers you get come off of a center axle fork. The mounting hole spacing is different for the caliper mounts on a center axle vs. leading axle GS. So caliper mounts from an '80 GS750E (leading axle) won't work, but those from an '82 GS750E (center axle) will.

I found this out the hard way, so thought I'd pass it along to save someone else the trouble....