What makes GSXR forks better?

[Anonymous]

Why does adding the GSXR front-end make the bike so much better than, say, just adding radial tires, etc.? I know you get bigger brakes, but aside from that...what is better WRT the stability and suspension.

[Billy Ricks]

The GSXR front ends were made to work with radials for starters. They have less travel because the radials soak up alot of road irregularities all on their own. From '88 on the 750 front ends were cartridge type which keeps the air in the fork seperated from the oil. This keeps the oil from picking up air bubbles which leads to inconsistent fork action under hard riding. They are also adjustable for everything, preload, compression, and rebound damping. Because they need less travel they are shorter. They are larger diameter and much stiffer than the older stuff. When you go hard through a corner the front end is completely stable and predictable. Combine that with a radial in the rear and they stick like glue.

[Anonymous]

Kind of like the difference between an 8-track player and a CD.

And what he said pretty much sums it up......

[katman]

nicely put boys,

[Anonymous]

From '88 on the 750 front ends were cartridge type which keeps the air in the fork seperated from the oil. This keeps the oil from picking up air bubbles which leads to inconsistent fork action under hard riding

This is a common misconception about the cartridge forks. The cartridge referred to does NOT keep the oil and air separated. It is really a shim stack damping system that is contained in a single "cartridge" - hence the name. Forks still foam up their oil and lose damping as they stroke during riding. This is what led to the development of gas charged forks as used on some MX bikes and factory level superbikes. They are gas charged the same as shocks are, with a piston that keeps the nitrogen and oil separated and provide more consistent damping over the course of a race.

For the rest of us, the conventional cartridge forks are fine. The shim stack damping is such an improvement over damping rods that any other problems are pretty much nit-picking.

What Billy said for everything else. Basically, the difference between newer forks and the old damping rod forks is the difference between 1960's technology and 1990's technology.

Mark

[Anonymous]

When converting to GSXR forks, do you need to replace the triple clamps as well?

Harrison

[Billy Ricks]

You have to use whatever triples are stock for the front end you are using.

[RifRafRacing]

I have seen the early style 86-88 gsxr forks on many dragbikes with the stock triples,my 83 1100e has a 2002 gsxr 600 front end on it.It was a fight, but its worth it for the large dia. tubes/brakes and the light weight.

[Billy Ricks]

This is a common misconception about the cartridge forks. The cartridge referred to does NOT keep the oil and air separated.

Cycle World must have gotten it wrong too when they tested and reviewed the '88 model 750 that year. Here's part of what they had to say about the cartridge fork. "Among the fork's numerous features are 43mm stanchions, cartridge-type dampers that keep the air and oil from integrating, and independent adjustments for spring preload, rebound damping, and compression damping."

[Anonymous]

Cycle World must have gotten it wrong too when they tested and reviewed the '88 model 750 that year.

Well, it wouldn't be the first time I saw a serious error put into print in a bike mag. The writers are often pretty misinformed and generally go by what the manufacturer's press kit says for the technical info (which is often twisted by marketing-speak). I can assure you that the conventional "cartridge" forks most definitely foam their oil up and do not keep the two separated. The cartridge system may cause less foaming than damping rods, but it still happens. The newer pressurized forks eliminate this problem, at the cost of more $$$ and complexity in servicing. Even the cartridge forks are a PITA to strip, compared to damping rods. But have a good set of cartridge forks tuned and sprung correctly and you will be amazed at how well they work. It's a completely different universe compared to the older forks.

Mark