Reversing direction of forks

[GSster]

This might be an odd question, but I'll throw it out there - has anyone out there reversed the direction of the forks on a gs1100 with the leading axle design?

The axle would end up behind the forks and the calipers in front.

I've read somewhere that kawa Z1 owners have done this to shorten up the wheelbase and let the bike turn in a bit quicker, as well as making it look a bit more sporty. I suppose you would also have to shorten the springs slightly too.

Thoughts on this?

[tkent02]

I've read somewhere that kawa Z1 owners have done this to shorten up the wheelbase and let the bike turn in a bit quicker,

It would have the opposite effect. The leading axle fork reduces trail, which increases steering quickness.

[Agemax]

It would have the opposite effect. The leading axle fork reduces trail, which increases steering quickness.

wrong, a shorter wheelbase increases steering quickness, a longer wheelbase gives better high speed stability

[tkent02]

Try it and see.

[Agemax]

Try it and see.

no need, its a fact of motorcycling life

[tkent02]

So is reducing trail.

[Agemax]

So is reducing trail.

sorry i didnt realise you were the master of suspension geometry, dont know why you havent got a job in a moto gp team?

[tkent02]

And which teams do you design suspensions for?

Somehow it seems that if switching the forks around was the way to a better quicker handling bike, someone would have thought of it at some point in the last thirty years.

[Agemax]

And which teams do you design suspensions for?

Somehow it seems that if switching the forks around was the way to a better quicker handling bike, someone would have thought of it at some point in the last thirty years.

kawasaki have been doing it for years on their race bikes , right back to the 80's, try looking it up!

[tkent02]

Trailing axle forks? Leading axle forks on backwards?
And you thought of this idea?
Show us a picture?

[Agemax]

Trailing axle forks? Leading axle forks on backwards?
And you thought of this idea?
Show us a picture?

no i didnt think of this idea, its been going on for years reversing forks, you should know, read the thread i have going on it. leading axle, trailing axle, central axle everybody has tried it all. works for some bikes but not for others.
blimey mate you need to learn how to spell GOOGLE

[tkent02]

Sorry, not interested enough to google it. If I want a better handling bike I'll buy one.
To the OP, just put the forks on backwards and tell us how it works for you.

[Agemax]

Sorry, not interested enough to google it. If I want a better handling bike I'll buy one.
To the OP, just put the forks on backwards and tell us how it works for you.

well stop wasting all our time and go out and buy one then. then you can go and annoy other people on honda websites

[tkent02]

Maybe in a few days.
Not a Honda, another Suzuki just to make you happy.

[GSster]

The whole leading axle thing disappeared on sport bikes mid eighties, even on the GS1100 itself, so it became a moot point for most bikes. Just curious if anyone has tried it.

I'm not really sure why it was that way in the first place or what the advantage is of leading axle design. An old article on the GS1100 claims it was to leave room for that version of the damping adjustment (which was a new feature for Suzuki at the time).