katana front end and wheel swap.

[bobo]

o.k. guys, if i swap out my 81 750e front end for a 93 katana front, am i limited to using 16 inch wheels? could i use 17 inchers ? thanks for any help...b.b.

[oldschoolGS]

absolutely, the '93 Katana should have 17in wheels- 3.0x17 front and 3.5x17 rear. i have already put a 93 kat 750 front on my '83 GS750ED, I had a 16in front originally- the ground clearance lost by going to the shorter Kat forks was made up by using the 17in front. This size is also where the best rubber selection lies. It was an easy swap- you gain 41mm tubes with floating discs and dual piston calipers.

My bike is not finished yet, but I plan to also use a 2001 Kat 750 rear rim- it is 17x4.5 and easily fits in the stock GS swingarm. Good Luck, Ed
1983 GS750ED

[bobo]

the thing is 'oldschool', according to the 'specs' the 1100 kat came with 16 inch wheels. :? i want to make sure i can fit 17's in there . thx...b.b.

[oldschoolGS]

I was thinking 600/750, I believe you are right the 1100 had 16's front and rear. I would not bother with them-17's is where the rubber selection is now. Besides you stand to lose a lot of ground clearance by reducing to a 16in wheel. All the 90's Kat 600/750's had decent 17in wheels- 3.0 front and 3.5 rear until 1998 when they went to 3.5 front and 4.5 rear. Good Luck, Ed.
1983 GS750ED

[bobo]

thanks ed...b.b.