Both of these forks are a proper height for our bikes, as far too many modern fork swaps just bolt up a modern front end with an All Balls conversion bearing set and call it good without any regards to bike geometry, and often end up with USD (upside-down) forks or even RSU (right side up) forks that drop the front end so low that any speed bump or driveway approach smashes their exhaust into the ground, or else they end up with a bike that steers very heavily or is very twitchy due to not evaluating the ride height, rake change, and their relationship with triple clamp yoke offset / front tire radius changes / resulting trail measurement. Sure, you get phenomenally better dampening and brakes, and can move the modern wheels over to the GS, but adapting the rear wheels will take at least some custom spacers, offset sprockets &/or 520/525 chains, brake mods, etc., and we're here to help each other out with info so that you are all armed with knowledge to build better geometry/handling to go with that awesome cartridge dampening & modern braking!
My goal here is to bring to attention the common disregard for proper rake and trail on a vintage bike upgrade/conversion, as well as share my findings on what I learn about the best cartridge fork swap candidates and issues regarding them.
More to come...
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EDIT - So if you don't make it through my ranting and rambling, here's my current conglomeration of opinionated info and research copied from below on conventional RSU cartridge fork options, will update this (Need some 93/94 GSXR1000 fork info):
Ultimate swap for slightly lower front, best dampening, fully adjustable, opposed piston 4/6 pots:
*CBR600F4/F4i forks and modded VMX12 93-05 or custom billet triples
Excellent dampening and close to stock ride height, 310mm brakes and 4/6 pots:
*Bandit 1200 43mm forks (no external dampening adjust, need longer shocks and slight drop in front height to get respectable stable trail with 34mm offset GSXR 89-90 triples or other similar triples as discussed by other members - Posplayr etc - see their thread for gen 1 vs gen 2 b12 fork details, different triple width I believe)(custom billet triples will make this a GREAT geometry upgrade/converson)(Suzuki models seem to run the calipers inwards more, need triples spaced 2.5+mm wider than Honda options if brake/spoke clearance issues)
41mm cartridge fork with external rebound and preload adjustment, near stock ride height, 4/6 pot brakes:
*Honda VTR1000F SuperHawk (Firestorm non-USA) 775mm tall forks, PERFECT with the scarce GS1100GK triples, may be able to adapt the stem on VTR-width late model 90's/00's CB750 Nighthawk triples, slightly clearance calipers inboard side for extra assurance), same possibility on 1984 Honda VF1000F Interceptor triples but they are 190 spacing, must adapt to CBR600F2/F3/VFR750 non-abs calipers - great swap if you go to that length) (dampening could use some mods on these or Racetech gold valve upgrade, same as most of the other forks here really to get dampening perfection) $325-$700 custom billet triples will solve all research/modding hassles!
41mm cartridge forks near stock ride height, much easier brake to wheel clearance with sliding 2 piston calipers:
*CBR600F2 41mm forks
*CBR600F3 41mm forks
*VFR750 41mm forks non-ABS '94-'97
same triple options as the VTR1000F Superhawk although the 1984 VF1000F Interceptor triple, IF the stem can be adapted, would be a great candidate, as well as the newer retro CB750 Nighthawk triples IF stem height can be adapted. $325-$700 custom billet triples will solve all research/modding hassles!
43mm cartridge forks external rebound/preload, A++ factory dampening, shorter than stock @727mm for GS550/650/400-425-450-500/GR650:
*94-97 RF900R 43mm forks in custom triples, 727mm tall - shortest you can run on a GS without offset triples.
43mm cartridge forks, fully adjustable rebound/compression/preload, shorter than stock longer than RF's @ 745mm:
*89-90 GSXR1100K forks and triples, 1"+ taller rear shocks as typical to help reduce rake and trail to an appropriate improved geometry
(These are a substantial upgrade to any GS, but Racetech says that the dampening is rather crude for a cartridge fork, but they can custom modify their parts to vastly improve the dampening for a reasonable labor charge)
So far that covers most of the models that I am aware of, with emphasis on RSU (conventional appearance) forks closer to 775mm height as to retain ground clearance.
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