GSXR to GS Swingarm

[Cyclepath834]

OK, so ive posted a few threads, but still havent resolved this question:

I have an 84 GS1150 and want to convert the rear wheel from a stock 3.5 to an 89 GSXR wheel that is 4.5. ..as I see it, there are only 2 options

1-Change the sprocket carrier/ cush drive to allow more room on the chain side of the wheel. There is no space available here to allow the 1/2 inch of additional wheel width.

2-Install a GSXR Swingarm and modify it to fit. There does not seem to be a stock swap GSXR swinger for the GS 1150....

Is there a lower profile GS Sprocket carrier that picks up a half inch? If I can slip that into the Gixxer wheel, Im done.

hard to find one on ebay if you dont know if it will work....

[kingofvenus]

I've got an '89 1100 wheel on my '83 750. Is your wheel a 5 or 6 paddle on the sprocket carrier? (5 or 6 cushion rubbers) In '89 the 750 wheel had 5, the 1100 had 6. Knowing that will help a lot, as there are narrower ones in each style. I used the carrier that came with the wheel from an 1100. I took material off of the rear caliper mount to reduce the overall width in order for it to fit in the stock 750 (that is almost identical to an 1150) swingarm. Salty Monk or Billy Ricks will probably stop by and let us know what narrower 5 (or 6) paddle carrier will work, they have also mounted these wheels on this style swingarm.

[kingofvenus]

Pic of mine.

[Cyclepath834]

Here is the stock carrier for the 3.5 in wheel. Its a 6 Bolt, 6 paddle, and the width is 1.5 inch.
It matches the 4.5 in GSXR wheel.

I Think the perfect solution would be a 1" deep carrier of the same style....

[FLHGSRay]

This is just an opinion, as I've never done swaps like this on Suzukis and have no idea what fits what. But if I was gonna try this, I would look very hard at using the swingarm that fits the wheel.

[John Kat]

I've installed a GSXR 1100 K swingarm with a mono-shock on a GS 1000.
It's not easy to do as the swingarm pivot is wider than the frame.
I believe the real question is how wide is the 1150 swingarm at the wheel axle?
The GSXR 1100 K wheel ( 4.5" wide, 5 bolts) requires approximately 245 mm.
How wide is your swingarm?

[Cyclepath834]

Ray, you may be right. Once I got to understand that there is some modifcation that can be done on the caliper side, but not the sprocket side, I started looking at swingarms.
Ive heard from some here that this is possible, via machining spacers, and offset front sprockets, but with an extra inch to fit, you just cant take the 1/2 inch out of the sprocket side of the wheel.
Suggestions of spreading the stock arm may work for a small amount, but an inch is too much in my view.
I think Ill just have to find a swingarm

See attached pic-This is what Im shooting for-
This bike looks like it has the perfect setup, but I dont know whose it is!!

[Cyclepath834]

Ok, so I found the bike in the pic. Its from a guy named fred on the oldskoolsuzuki site. Hes got a jmc swingarm custom made. Sharp bike
Im gonna post new with my plan for the swingarm

[Cyclepath834]

I've installed a GSXR 1100 K swingarm with a mono-shock on a GS 1000.
It's not easy to do as the swingarm pivot is wider than the frame.
I believe the real question is how wide is the 1150 swingarm at the wheel axle?
The GSXR 1100 K wheel ( 4.5" wide, 5 bolts) requires approximately 245 mm.
How wide is your swingarm?

John Kat, i measured the whole setup, suffice to say, that a gixxer 4.5 wheel in place of the stock 3.5 expands the required width at the axle exactly 1".

You could pick up some space by machining the caliper bracket (stock 1" wide) but you would need to take the same amount from the drive side of the wheel to keep it centered. There simply isnt any space to take there, unless you reduce the size of the hub. Ive discussed this before and havent got much feedback on it here, but ill keep looking for a thinner hub, and post my findings if I come up with the right part.

Based on my searches on the oldskool site, most wrenchers (fabricators) seem to swap a gixxer swingarm, by loosing the 1150 cushion linkage, and welding a mount on the frame for the upper shock mount, and keep the lower dogbones/linkage. Not sure how this works under heavy stress, but I can tell you that the stock 1150 full-floater setup is a bitch on chains and adjustment.

If I do end up swapping the swingarm, ill try to save the ducati 600 monoshock I purchased to replace the stock. (i never got a chance to see how that performed, but ive read that anything is an improvement over stock)

[John Kat]

The only solution is then to install another swingarm...
Here's a picture of the top mount I did for my GSXR swingarm mounted on my GS 1000.
I hope it helps?

[Cyclepath834]

JK, thanks
Not sure why, but cannot see the pic? can you send in message? Thanks again

[John Kat]

Like this?

http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc407/John_Kat1/59ed50db.jpg

[Cyclepath834]

Like this?
http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/...1/59ed50db.jpg

Interesting. That certainly does the trick I imagine. How is the performance?

[John Kat]

Since this picture I changed the rear shock absorber for an Ohlins and the performance is really superb.
I don't know if it's the fact I built it myself but it's one of the most amusing bikes I know.
Gone is the rubbery feel of my GS 1000 S
Often, I will prefer to take a ride on my GS 1000 XP instead of my Z 1000 SX Ninja....You feel more connected to the road ( maybe due to the clip-ons) and it takes much less effort to go round the bends ( due to a 160 rear tire versus the 190 on the Kawasaki no doubt)
It's not in the class of a CBR 900 RR but...you can ride it longer without pain

[Cyclepath834]

Awesome. Glad its worked out well. I looked into that setup this weekend.

I took a 88 Gixxer swingarm this weekend and mocked it up, the good news is that the pivot fits perfect.
I measured and drew up some specs for the mount alignment on the gixxer, and compared them to the gs frame. The placement of the crossbars should work out for me to add a new top and bottom mount for the shock, and the lever arm underneath.
But im not ready to pull the trigger on this mod without further research on the stock setup.

Ive been combing the posts and there are a number of people who claim the wider wheel will fit in the stock arm heres one site:

http://www.suzuki-katana.com/katana_suspension.html

but I cant really decipher how he made it work. The bottom line is there needs to be a half inch removed from the sprocket side, but i havent figured out how to do that.
One suggested he filed the inner hub down to the bearing, and then milled the spacer between, seems like there would need to be more machining of the sprocket carrier too.
Ill keep looking, id rather keep the stock arm if possible