1978 GS1000 Skunk Rebuild and Mods

[John Kat]

The VTR1000f fork length is 775mm from the center of the wheel spindle to the top of the fork tube, where the fork cap seats.

Measuring to the top of the triple tree on this fork setup is not an accurate measurement, due to the fact that the stock clip-ons mount above the triple clamp. Therefore.....you have about 2 more inches of usable fork, which I took advantage of for exhaust headers clearance. I mounted my clip-ons below the triple clamp.

Great
These forks are as long as the 1200 Bandit ones I'm using on my 1100 Kat.
The advantage is that there are adjustable in preload and rebound if I'm correct?
What about the triple trees?
Are these also from the VTR 1000 F?
I suppose you had to redo the lockstops?

The bike is looking great, and those alloy tanks you made are absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had even 1% of your fabrication talent . I like the fairing on there, I have a giant 70's fairing like that too which will eventually get used on something.

Thank you so much, on the tanks. I will be making those again one day, when time allows.....family right now has precedent.

Yeah....this fairing originally was way off!! The thing was mounted really high and not positioned correctly on the bike. Looked like a big tumor attached to the front of the bike. I've adjusted the height and now need to fit the fairing to the bike with some proper supports.

Coming soon will be a modification to the stock aluminum GS1100E swingarm......some nice aluminum bracing will be welded onto the bottom. Similar to the ZRX1100 swingarms. Those black passenger peg mounts will be removed, along with the center stand. I'll try and keep this thread updated.

The bike is looking great, and those alloy tanks you made are absolutely gorgeous. I wish I had even 1% of your fabrication talent . I like the fairing on there, I have a giant 70's fairing like that too which will eventually get used on something.

Hopefully....some better pics. Hard to photograph a black bike in a dark garage.





The bike is rusty and dirty.....I will address that once all of the new parts are fitted and installed. Right now..she aint pretty....but she is getting there.

Looking good
What's the length of the front fork?
I mean fully extended from the center of the wheel spindle to the top of the triple tree?
Here are some forks, I measured personally:
Katana 1100 SD/SZ : 800 mm
GS 1000 E/S : 775 mm
GSX R 1100 G/H (RSU 41 mm) : 767 mm
Yamaha YZF R6 98-03 (RSU 43 mm) : 760 mm
Kawasaki ZZR 1100 90-92 (RSU 43 mm) : 760 mm
GSX R 1100 K (RSU 43 mm) : 745 mm
GSF 1200 Bandit 96/02 (RSU 43 mm) : 775 mm

The VTR1000f fork length is 775mm from the center of the wheel spindle to the top of the fork tube, where the fork cap seats.

Measuring to the top of the triple tree on this fork setup is not an accurate measurement, due to the fact that the stock clip-ons mount above the triple clamp. Therefore.....you have about 2 more inches of usable fork, which I took advantage of for exhaust headers clearance. I mounted my clip-ons below the triple clamp.

[John Kat]

Looking good
What's the length of the front fork?
I mean fully extended from the center of the wheel spindle to the top of the triple tree?
Here are some forks, I measured personally:
Katana 1100 SD/SZ : 800 mm
GS 1000 E/S : 775 mm
GSX R 1100 G/H (RSU 41 mm) : 767 mm
Yamaha YZF R6 98-03 (RSU 43 mm) : 760 mm
Kawasaki ZZR 1100 90-92 (RSU 43 mm) : 760 mm
GSX R 1100 K (RSU 43 mm) : 745 mm
GSF 1200 Bandit 96/02 (RSU 43 mm) : 775 mm

[azr]

It's getting some nice flow with the fairing. Looking good.

Its been awhile since I last updated this build, but here are some of the latest updates. Decided to use the front end/brakes off a 1998 Honda VTR1000f, with a 1994 Honda CBR900RR front wheel/rotors, GS1100E aluminum swingarm, and 1996 Honda CBR600f3 rear wheel/brakes. Here are a few of the latest pics:






Sorry pics are soo dark.....will take more later that are better...more to come.

Did i read that right...you had those usd forks on a CB350?
I recognize the fender stay at least.
A couple years ago i collected early GL1000 front end parts and thought that was going to be over kill.

Yes.....back in the early 2000's I purchased a 1998 GSXR750 frontend and installed it on a 1970 Honda CB350. Those black inverted forks have been powder coated black and rebuilt. The 350 has been sitting in the corner of the garage unfinished....so decided to try them on the GS.


During mock-up

you want the forks off a 93/94 gsxr 750 or 1100.
the 750 ones are slightly shorter but useable. i use them on my gsx1100 with a harris pipe and have never had a ground clearance problem. in fact i use them on all four of my gsx's..

those look like the SRAD750 forks ...tried em but ended up being too short unless you use a stepped top yoke but without a speedo drive on the wheel it does present issues if you want to use the original clocks...

be good to see another 1000 rise from the ashes

[steve murdoch]

Did i read that right...you had those usd forks on a CB350?
I recognize the fender stay at least.
A couple years ago i collected early GL1000 front end parts and thought that was going to be over kill.

Did some swapping in the garage the other night. Pulled the GSXR750 front end off one of my CB350's......bolted right onto the GS1000. Definately the 750 forks are too short....as the bike sits way to low. Need to find some longer forks...probadly find some GXSR1000.

Anyways...some teaser pics. Actually looks like some low drag bike with the 750 forks....lol!
Before forks


After forks

Nice ride......i'm south of Columbus in Grove City.

There are several of us that meet weekly up here in Columbus on mondays and wednesday for the CO-OH Vinmoto group. When the weather breaks....you should ride up and hang. Couple guys have old GS's.....and one guy rides his XS650 from Lancaster. Good time!

I'm from Lancaster, maybe I'll stop by sometime!

if your deciding not to run that dunstall fairing.. Let me know. If i can't use it , i have several friends that would love to it. LETME KNOW

The fairing even matches the Skunk in colors and stripes. The solo seat is pretty cool too! So you're planning on running modern suspension? I would assume that you will be going the mono shock route as well. If you are, I got dibs on those Yoshimura shocks