GSX Katana forks on 1100E?

[AJ]

I love my 1100E, but the forks stink and the brakes are only a little better.

I've been looking for early Gixxer forks and wheels to put on my 1982 1100E to get better forks, brakes, and radials, but they aren't that easy to find for cheap. (part of my thinking is that the brake lines alone on my 11 will run me $150)

But what about the forks/wheels from the much unloved GSX-series Katana?

I owned a 2001 Kat 600 and other than lack of power, it wasn't a half bad bike. In many ways, it felt a lot like my Hayabusa (granted, the Busa suspension stuff is much better).

The GSX Kat stuff can be found pretty cheap. Bigger forks, beefier brakes with real floating calipers, and radial tires. Parts are easy too.

So what do y'all think?

[mmattockx]

But what about the forks/wheels from the much unloved GSX-series Katana?

From a quick look at Racetech's site all of the Katana's of all years use damper rod forks, so they are fundamentally no more sophisticated than your GS fork. They do use bigger tubes though, and you could install cartridge emulators or have cartridges installed in them to improve the suspension performance. Either way adds cost to the swap.

The older Katanas use 3.0"F/3.5"R wheels that limit your tire selection choices compared to the 3.5"F/5.5"R combo that the GSXR's run. The 1998+ Katana's used a 3.5"F/4.5"R that will let you use current rubber. Brakes won't be as good as the GSXR but they should be a big step up from the GS.

In the end it is up to you. The Katana stuff will work, but you will end up spending money to improve the forks with emulators or a cartridge conversion and as isleoman notes you may be on your own regarding spacers and working out the finer points of the swap, especially at the rear. Suzuki are masters of parts bin engineering so I bet the Katana forks would be a straight bolt on in the same fashion as the GSXR forks but I don't know that for sure.


Mark

[ArttuH]

Back in the days I installed forks and wheels from a Katana 600 (GSX600F) on my 1100E. The front forks were quite all right after full rebuild and stiffer springs but not a huge improvement. Same goes with the brakes, clearly better than original ones but still they could be better.

Swap was quite straightforward. The forks were bolt on job except steering stops and lock needed tweaking. And naturally mounting the light, gauge cluster and bars needed some work too. The rear wheel needed some bushings and spacers but otherwise it was quite simple too.

So it's doable but I'm not sure if it's worth of effort. Maybe if you get a really good deal for the parts and don't mind tinkering. One good side is that GSX-F fork legs are quite long so there won't be major issues with ground clearance. Most of the GSX-R forks are shorter.

[AJ]

Back in the days I installed forks and wheels from a Katana 600 (GSX600F) on my 1100E. The front forks were quite all right after full rebuild and stiffer springs but not a huge improvement. Same goes with the brakes, clearly better than original ones but still they could be better.

Swap was quite straightforward. The forks were bolt on job except steering stops and lock needed tweaking. And naturally mounting the light, gauge cluster and bars needed some work too. The rear wheel needed some bushings and spacers but otherwise it was quite simple too.

So it's doable but I'm not sure if it's worth of effort. Maybe if you get a really good deal for the parts and don't mind tinkering. One good side is that GSX-F fork legs are quite long so there won't be major issues with ground clearance. Most of the GSX-R forks are shorter.

This is exactly what I was looking for. It looked like a fairly easy swap. You can pick up complete non-running Katanas for about $500. I am concerned that the fork springs would be weak given the 100+ pound difference between the bikes.

But yes, you're probably right that it's more trouble than it's worth. It might even reduce the value of my bike compared to just repainting the forks and going with stainless brake lines.

[AJ]

Even a well done Bandit/GSXR conversion will kill the value of your bike. Its a labor of love. If you aren't doing it for a performance gain or plan to keep it, then its just a way to kill time while loosing money.

This is precisely the issue I have been struggling with. Part of me wants to play with the engineering of this wonderful old machine, and part of me wants to preserve it as a decent and increasingly rare example. A professional paint job would be cheaper and probably better for value.

[AJ]

If your real bike is a Busa I'd just call it a day and leave E alone. I hope your very young if your waiting for Es to become collectable.

Yep, the 'daily driver' is my Busa, but find I enjoy riding the 1100E almost as much. The 1100 is actually a much better bike to carry a passenger.

I think the old GS is slowly becoming 'collectible.' Big engine bikes tend to hold their value much better than smaller bikes, and many people still remember the 1100 as the drag-bike king for years.

Sometimes I toy with getting a newer 1250 Bandit (or the air cooled 1200) for my 'take a passenger' bike, but the depreciation and expensive insurance kills the idea. The 1100E has the advantages of classic tags ($35 one time fee), no annual inspections, cheap insurance, and little depreciation, perhaps even some modest appreciation in value.

[mmattockx]

The 1100E has the advantages of classic tags ($35 one time fee), no annual inspections, cheap insurance, and little depreciation, perhaps even some modest appreciation in value.

I can understand where you are coming from. My daily rider is a GSXR1000 but the GS1100 is easily as much fun to ride. The GSXR offers basically seamless perfection at my riding ability level but the GS has loads of character and offers such a great riding experience, especially two up. It's like taking a classic muscle car out for a drive instead of a brand new sports car.

Something we haven't mentioned here is that none of your suspension mods would have to be permanent. You could do the Katana swap (with cartridge emulators for much improved fork performance) and simply box up all your OEM parts in case you want to re-install them at a later date. You get improved suspension, brakes and rubber for all your riding without hurting the value of the bike in the long run.

Gotta believe car companies and dealerships would like the idea.

Yes, but the government wouldn't. Here we have to register each vehicle with its own license plate and pay a fee on each plate. If we could do this I would only register one plate instead of several and the government would be out the rest of the tax money.

FWIW, I love the idea but it will never fly because it reduces government and insurance revenues.


Mark

[AJ]

I think the Gen 1 Fz1s are one of the best low cost options for two up sport touring. 120hp and about $2200 to $3000 for low mile examles an 01-05. Like the Bandit they are bullet proof fugly bikes but since you own a Busa I can tell you can manage fugly.

Yeah, the FZ1 would be great. A very clean 2001 was on Craigslist locally, $2000, 7500 miles. I really wanted it for my son - replace his SV650, but neither of us had the cash available what with college expenses and recent family medical bills (thank you Obamacare - not! ). Expenses would have essentially been a trade, but we just didn't have the cash to float the deal. Siggghhh... Been a rough couple of months.

I can understand where you are coming from. My daily rider is a GSXR1000 but the GS1100 is easily as much fun to ride. The GSXR offers basically seamless perfection at my riding ability level but the GS has loads of character and offers such a great riding experience, especially two up. It's like taking a classic muscle car out for a drive instead of a brand new sports car.

Something we haven't mentioned here is that none of your suspension mods would have to be permanent. You could do the Katana swap (with cartridge emulators for much improved fork performance) and simply box up all your OEM parts in case you want to re-install them at a later date. You get improved suspension, brakes and rubber for all your riding without hurting the value of the bike in the long run.

My hat is off to you if your skills match a GSXR1000. My skills don't come close to a GXSR1000 (or probably even a modern 600). And the Busa I treat with major respect; the extra 100lbs is noticeable, but the endless power is oh so pleasant.

Keeping the stock parts would be the way to go with the fork, but this conversation has pretty much convinced me to leave well enough alone. It's just not worth the investment, especially when I have modern hardware to ride.

Would LOVE isleoman's suggestion to let me swap plates. It's really nice to have different bikes to ride, but it's so expensive (3 modern bikes tagged, one to a young rider). The antique bikes are much more affordable.

[mmattockx]

My hat is off to you if your skills match a GSXR1000. My skills don't come close to a GXSR1000 (or probably even a modern 600).

Oh, that came out wrong. The GSXR is vastly more competent than I am. That's what I meant, at my level the bike offers perfection because I am just not fast enough to expose any flaws in its performance. I can run at the slow end of the fast group at most track days, but that isn't even close to the faster end of local race grids let alone anything bigger than that.


Mark

[AJ]

Oh, that came out wrong. The GSXR is vastly more competent than I am. That's what I meant, at my level the bike offers perfection because I am just not fast enough to expose any flaws in its performance. I can run at the slow end of the fast group at most track days, but that isn't even close to the faster end of local race grids let alone anything bigger than that.
Mark

LOL. I was teasing you, Mark. It's likely that you're far more capable than I am as a rider.