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Well...Ive bitten the bullet and decided to go whole hog on my suspension upgrades on my GS1100ESD. At first, I was going to try to retain as much of a "stock" look as possible, by using 88 GSXR1100 wheels, which have the same casting pattern as our beloved GS1100's but are quite abit wider (would accept a 120 front, and a 150 or some say a 160 rear) This would have been great, because I would have been able to use a STOCK swingarm, modified for an underslung brake system. I would have use 88 GSXR1100 forks and triples and what not as well. The bike would have had a decidedly stock look, unless you KNEW what to look for. But, alas, finding those components, and then figuring out all the spacers and all that proved to be a bit of a nightmare, as not many have done that particular set up, and info for it was hard for me to gather. So after talking to Katman about the set up for many hours one night, I was convinced to simply go the full boat, and do 97 GSXR1100 USD front end, wheels and brakes, with the Bandit swinger. My original stance on this and desire NOT to do this set up was simple: I didnt want to permanently alter the bikes frame in any way. But based off of a couple conversations more with Katman, and Isleoman, and a few others, it became apparent that there were a couple of ways AROUND having to weld any tabs or bosses on to the frame, mostly for the relocation of the rear master cylinder.
The options, as it stands now are to use rearsets, which im not entirely sure that I want to use, as I am pretty comfortable, given my size and hight, with the stock peg locations. Isleoman has said he had the relocation of the master worked out, but since he used rearsets he didnt ever use what he came up with. He is apparently looking at it again, and will hopefully get back to me on that. Katman even suggested he might be able to modify the Bandit arm to possibly clear the plunger interference, but that may be a last resort option, and over that, i would probably simply use rearsets.
This project will take ALL of the winter for me to gather the parts from Katman for, and will be quite an investment on his part in time, and on my part in moolah. Trust me, Im not going to say how much its going to run me, but the cost, coupled with the bikes original cost, i could probably buy a nearly NEW modern ride with. But THAT boys and girls, is not the point. The POINT is to create the perfect to me GS. I love my ES for its ergos, the power and the design. Its simply a beautiful machine. It handles well stock, but it could obviously be better. SO, what I hope to achieve from this project, is retaining those parts of the bike that I love, the ability to ride to West Virginia or Kentucky or where ever in relative comfort, and then, once i get there, be able to tear ass thru the country side on what amounts to be damn close to a modern handling bike. I have asked those who have done these mods if it was worth the cost and effort, and the answers have all been resounding "ABSOLUTELY" So i am very very excited about the proposition.
Now, for those of you, the purists, who are reading this thinking "Why mess with something that already works?" OR "You are going to ruin a perfectly good bike!" I say to you the following: I have NO intentions of doing anything to this bike that cannot be reversed! I REFUSE to alter the frame or anything else permanently. If i end up with all the parts, and it simply wont work on this somewhat rare machine, then I will set them aside and find another, less rare, GS1100E to use for this project. To be quite honest, it is my INTENT to later on purchase a second 1100E to swap these pieces to, (Ive already made plans to purchase an OEM set of pipes for the ES from the PO, Lurch, so the intent is in fact there) but untill i can afford to do that, they will be going on this ES. I have seen Kitchigai's project, and he had to do VERY VERY little to make it work. Some fairing frame tweaking, and thats about it. Yes, I will have to tweak the fairing frame, but guess what? I have a spare. No big deal there. So before you purists jump in and start ridiculing me, keep in mind that I am somewhat of a purist myself, and will not forever alter this bike.
As I said, it will take me most of the winter to gather the necessary parts for this project, so this thread will be an ongoing build thread. I have quite a few other projects to tend to this winter, so I will be taking care of those while i gather the parts.
This is my list, thus far, of what will be going on the machine
'97 GSXR1100 USD 50mm forks and tree
97 GSXR1100 17" wheels (these will allow for a 130 up front and a 180 in back i believe)
'97 GSXR1100 complete brake system, front and back, with 4 pot binders, and new rotors
Unknown year GSF1200 Bandit Swinging arm, modified for a set of Ohlins piggy back shocks
there are many little this and thats that will go on the bike, and i dont have a complete list of all that, but the above are the important details. My bike already carries a Supertrapp underbelly 4into1, so that will aid in ground clearence issues, and if need be, i will have the forks revalved and resprung to aid further. I am not a small guy, but I have been told that its very likely I WONT have to respring and i should have pleanty of clearence with the stock set up on the new forks.
So...Stay tuned boys and girls, should be one interesting winter....
TCK
The options, as it stands now are to use rearsets, which im not entirely sure that I want to use, as I am pretty comfortable, given my size and hight, with the stock peg locations. Isleoman has said he had the relocation of the master worked out, but since he used rearsets he didnt ever use what he came up with. He is apparently looking at it again, and will hopefully get back to me on that. Katman even suggested he might be able to modify the Bandit arm to possibly clear the plunger interference, but that may be a last resort option, and over that, i would probably simply use rearsets.
This project will take ALL of the winter for me to gather the parts from Katman for, and will be quite an investment on his part in time, and on my part in moolah. Trust me, Im not going to say how much its going to run me, but the cost, coupled with the bikes original cost, i could probably buy a nearly NEW modern ride with. But THAT boys and girls, is not the point. The POINT is to create the perfect to me GS. I love my ES for its ergos, the power and the design. Its simply a beautiful machine. It handles well stock, but it could obviously be better. SO, what I hope to achieve from this project, is retaining those parts of the bike that I love, the ability to ride to West Virginia or Kentucky or where ever in relative comfort, and then, once i get there, be able to tear ass thru the country side on what amounts to be damn close to a modern handling bike. I have asked those who have done these mods if it was worth the cost and effort, and the answers have all been resounding "ABSOLUTELY" So i am very very excited about the proposition.
Now, for those of you, the purists, who are reading this thinking "Why mess with something that already works?" OR "You are going to ruin a perfectly good bike!" I say to you the following: I have NO intentions of doing anything to this bike that cannot be reversed! I REFUSE to alter the frame or anything else permanently. If i end up with all the parts, and it simply wont work on this somewhat rare machine, then I will set them aside and find another, less rare, GS1100E to use for this project. To be quite honest, it is my INTENT to later on purchase a second 1100E to swap these pieces to, (Ive already made plans to purchase an OEM set of pipes for the ES from the PO, Lurch, so the intent is in fact there) but untill i can afford to do that, they will be going on this ES. I have seen Kitchigai's project, and he had to do VERY VERY little to make it work. Some fairing frame tweaking, and thats about it. Yes, I will have to tweak the fairing frame, but guess what? I have a spare. No big deal there. So before you purists jump in and start ridiculing me, keep in mind that I am somewhat of a purist myself, and will not forever alter this bike.
As I said, it will take me most of the winter to gather the necessary parts for this project, so this thread will be an ongoing build thread. I have quite a few other projects to tend to this winter, so I will be taking care of those while i gather the parts.
This is my list, thus far, of what will be going on the machine
'97 GSXR1100 USD 50mm forks and tree
97 GSXR1100 17" wheels (these will allow for a 130 up front and a 180 in back i believe)
'97 GSXR1100 complete brake system, front and back, with 4 pot binders, and new rotors
Unknown year GSF1200 Bandit Swinging arm, modified for a set of Ohlins piggy back shocks
there are many little this and thats that will go on the bike, and i dont have a complete list of all that, but the above are the important details. My bike already carries a Supertrapp underbelly 4into1, so that will aid in ground clearence issues, and if need be, i will have the forks revalved and resprung to aid further. I am not a small guy, but I have been told that its very likely I WONT have to respring and i should have pleanty of clearence with the stock set up on the new forks.
So...Stay tuned boys and girls, should be one interesting winter....
TCK
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