GS550E Brake Swap tutorial with Photos

[8trackmind]

So yall wanted pictures right?

Thanks. :-D I'm glad you woke this up. Those front brakes have saved my @ss more than once.
The problem is, I got used to them. Enter the GS1000 I bought from Hoomgar. Great bike, but the stock brakes are downright scary compared to My 550. Soooo.

I've worked up a new mod to mount a pair of early model dual piston Kawasaki Ninja calipers to a stock GS1000 front end.
(or any GS, really)
It will also use two of the larger single disk rotors, instead of the smaller dual disk rotors. :twisted:
I've mocked it up in the garage, and so far it looks really good.
I'll start a new thread on it after I get pictures.
Maybe there will be some interest in that one. Stay tuned.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=98098

[humhead]

At the risk of being accused of being "obsessed" with unsprung weight again, I have to ask why you would use those big heavy rotors?

[Nerobro]

The tradeoffs one is willing to make to be faster in int he straights. All I want is enough brake to lockup that front tire. I have it now. Brake fade is scary.

[Ninja_Lancer]

At the risk of being accused of being "obsessed" with unsprung weight again, I have to ask why you would use those big heavy rotors?

Cuz your more likely to die for lack of stop rather then go.

JMO.


N_L

[8trackmind]

At the risk of being accused of being "obsessed" with unsprung weight again, I have to ask why you would use those big heavy rotors?

The rotors will me modified. My plan is to at least have them drilled. I know it won't save much weight though.
Those Ninja calipers are a little lighter than the GS units as well.

However, the mighty GS1000 is on a diet even as we speak.
I've removed the centerstand, case guards, and put a RC 4 into 1 one on it.
The RC muffler is at least a foot shorter than the Kerker that was on it.
I'm also installing an aluminum 82 GS1100 swing arm this fall.

As heavy as I am, it'll kinda be like throwing a deck chair off the Titanic...It won't matter much.

[humhead]

8track: Glad to hear you'll be drilling the rotors. Unsprung weight is an important factor in Ride quality & handling.
Ninja Lancer: You're just as likely to get in trouble if your bike doesn't respond quickly to rider input or changing road conditions.

[8trackmind]

8track: Glad to hear you'll be drilling the rotors. Unsprung weight is an important factor in Ride quality & handling.

I agree.
I'm sticking with the spoked rims for that very reason. I know they're a liabilty, but they are a good deal lighter. Not sure how stable they are above 100 MPH, but I don't spend much time at that speed anyway.

Using a GSXR front end would solve all the problems, but it sure would kill the retro look of the old GS. Looks great on the 82 up GS's though.

[Ninja_Lancer]

Ninja Lancer: You're just as likely to get in trouble if your bike doesn't respond quickly to rider input or changing road conditions.

Thanks for the reply. I thought you were talking about weight simply in terms of acceleration. As far as making a bike more nimble I agree. My primary ride is 343 lbs. But I'm not sure how an extra pound or two that far down the forks would hurt much? Some other iron parts have already been removed from the beast....... (Like the centerstand)

[Hoomgar]

I agree.
I'm sticking with the spoked rims for that very reason. I know they're a liabilty, but they are a good deal lighter. Not sure how stable they are above 100 MPH, but I don't spend much time at that speed anyway.

Using a GSXR front end would solve all the problems, but it sure would kill the retro look of the old GS. Looks great on the 82 up GS's though.

Correct thinking. And just so you know, those rims are good and very stable for speeds up to and beyond what the 1000 can do. Keep them true. I had tuned them just before you got them. Both were severely warped so it may be advisable to look them over again in a few hundred miles. Someone had chewed up a few of the spoke keeps so watch those when you get to them. You'll see them. They are still serviceable but you want to be gentle with them when tuning.

Sounds like some great mods coming up.

[Hoomgar]

Thanks for the reply. I thought you were talking about weight simply in terms of acceleration. As far as making a bike more nimble I agree. My primary ride is 343 lbs. But I'm not sure how an extra pound or two that far down the forks would hurt much? Some other iron parts have already been removed from the beast....... (Like the centerstand)

Unsprung is the worst place for it. I think that is what Terry was trying to tell you. A pound or two on the frame is not near as much of a deal as it is on the unsprung parts of the bike. I can tell you that on a heavy bike like the 1000 your don't want you wheels sliding, chattering or doing any other funky stuff when at speed.

[Nerobro]

I thoguht I should mention I just got a GSX600 set of front brakes and master cylinder today. :-)

[8trackmind]

I thought I should mention I just got a GSX600 set of front brakes and master cylinder today. :-)

Great! I want to see how thats going to work out.

[Hoomgar]

I thoguht I should mention I just got a GSX600 set of front brakes and master cylinder today. :-)

Now if only you had the rest of the bike that goes with them huh?

[8trackmind]

Now if only you had the rest of the bike that goes with them huh?

Be nice... [-X :-P

[Hoomgar]

Be nice... [-X :-P

LOL! It is a seriously nice upgrade for the 550.

For you, I was told that the aluminum 1100 swingarms (from I forget which years though?) are a direct bolt on for the 1000. Also, to get duels up front all you need is the skunk forks ar even just the lowers. It gives you a chance to pull the forks apart and replaces seals and springs and what not anyway then. After that then you can just use the skunk calipers unless your looking for even more.