• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

1980 GS1100e Front end swap

  • Thread starter Thread starter johnnay
  • Start date Start date
And here's a pic with the new front end installed (94 GSXR - thanks Katman!) - still have to figure out what gauges I'm going to use, and mount the new headlight (from a European naked FZ6 - nice!)
 
thx for the pics - always interested in seeing mods progress...:-D


lemme know how it rides m8...\\:D/

cheers

Phark
 
Thought I'd provide an update on my bike, with some new pics. I've decided on a change of handlebars, as I didn't like how high the ones I had were. I bought a nice renthal KTM fatbar, and will use the orange as an accent colour to the bike, which will be either gloss or flat black.

Rode for half of last summer with the front radial and rear bias ply - better than both bias plys except in bumpy corners - the rear tends to roll over on the edge more than the front, which is unsettling. Have started on the rear monoshock conversion:

IMGP1141.JPG


Will try to update more frequently...
 
Nice! Those handlebars look sweet! Have you designed the lower and upper monoshock mounts yet?
 
No, have to mill the swingarm first so it fits - I think it's pretty important to keep the dust covers. I also have to decide whether to bush the stock swingarm pivot bolt, or enlarge the pivot holes in the frame....I'd like to go with the GSXR pivot bolt cos it's way cool, but it may be more trouble than it's worth.
 
Last edited:
johnnay said:
No, have to mill the swingarm first so it fits - I think it's pretty important to keep the dust covers. I also have to decide whether to bush the stock swingarm pivot bolt, or enlarge the pivot holes in the frame....I'd like to go with the GSXR pivot bolt cos it's way cool, but it may be more trouble than it's worth.
Click to expand...

So are you moving the swingarm needle bearings in the pivot inwards a few mm?

I figured that the GS swingarm didn't have dust covers, and the swingarm bearings lasted for years and years, so no harm no foul. That and the new bushing will cover up the bearings anyways. :)

Length and diameter between the two pivot bolts is pretty different as you know. IIRC, you'd have to shorten the Gixxer pivot bolt and widen the pivot bolt holes in your frame twice perfectly to make it fit.

Looking good, keep posting pics of your progress. :D
 
Last edited:
I haven't pulled the swingarm bearings yet, but if the cups need to be deepened, I'll get that done too. As you said, the GSXR bolt would require even more fab work. I was wondering if I'd be able to cut out one of the existing frame bushings by using a hole cutter aligned with the other hole, then welding in a new, larger bushing and repeating the process for the other side. Or, cutting both out, and welding in the new bushing across the whole width of the frame and then cutting that down. as I said, it may be more trouble than it's worth. Prolly a lot easier to just get a bushing for the stock pivot bolt (and use a bolt from 83, as it's apparently shorter).

by the way, is that Spiegler top clamp for 7/8 bars, or 1 1/8? I have 1 1/8 bars and am modding my clamp, but would go for the Spiegler if it was the right size.
 
Last edited:
johnnay said:
I haven't pulled the swingarm bearings yet, but if the cups need to be deepened, I'll get that done too. As you said, the GSXR bolt would require even more fab work. I was wondering if I'd be able to cut out one of the existing frame bushings by using a hole cutter aligned with the other hole, then welding in a new, larger bushing and repeating the process for the other side. Or, cutting both out, and welding in the new bushing across the whole width of the frame and then cutting that down. as I said, it may be more trouble than it's worth. Prolly a lot easier to just get a bushing for the stock pivot bolt (and use a bolt from 83, as it's apparently shorter).

by the way, is that Spiegler top clamp for 7/8 bars, or 1 1/8? I have 1 1/8 bars and am modding my clamp, but would go for the Spiegler if it was the right size.
Click to expand...

The Spiegler/LSL kit is for 7/8" bars. With the kit, you get a very nicely machined top triple clamp, a set of 7/8" handlebars, and a set of braided stainless steel brake lines.

Which front end are you using again?
 
Last edited:
94 GSXR - spiegler has a top clamp for it - too bad about the 7/8, though.
 
Yeah - the bars I have are schaweet - I'll just continue along my path of reinforcing and drilling the current top clamp. the only issue is that the current holes (from the clipon mounts) are too wide for these bars, so I have to drill two new holes a little closer together.
 
Here's my Odyssey 535 - about the same size as what was in the bike, but can be mounted sideways. May exchange it for the PC310, which is even smaller (but for some reason more expensive...).
 
Nice work. Takes a bit of deliberation before taking a grinder to your baby, doesn't it? :lol: Might I suggest using a Dremel with a metal cutting wheel for fine tuning the remaining metal/welds you want to remove as there's a lot of precision available with that tool, then filing the rest smooth by hand with a metal file. You doing any other frame mods?
 
haha, I'm usually in too much of a hurry for precision...8-[

All the tabs are gone, and a sanding wheel on the grinder took care of smoothing them all down. Should look nice after painting. I also got the GSXR swingarm mocked up and started scoping out the shock mount. I had to cut away the rear battery tray crossbar mount to make room for the shock.

Not sure whether the center stand mount will result in wonky geometry or not - anyone have any real world experience using it? I know swanny started to, but then redid it in a little different position. I also have to do some more thinking about shock length - the one I have now is from a honda CBR600RR.

I'll post some more pics later today.
 
johnnay said:
Not sure whether the center stand mount will result in wonky geometry or not - anyone have any real world experience using it? I know swanny started to, but then redid it in a little different position. I also have to do some more thinking about shock length - the one I have now is from a honda CBR600RR.
Click to expand...

YoshiJohnny used the centerstand mount to mount the lower pivot of the shock. He reports great handling and no issues with it. From mocking up the shock and swingarm on my bike, the angles all look right. Next part of fabrication for me is have a VERY strong bolt (think 10.9 rated or stronger, 36,000 lb shear strength at 10 mm diameter) that will hold on the lower pivot of the shock linkage to the centerstand brackets along with some new spacers and nuts, and a locking system.

How are you planning on holding on the upper part of the shock?
 
Last edited:
Well from my initial look, the top shock mount will need to be somewhere right in the middle of the engine cradle tubes and the subframe tubes (for lack of a better description). Therefore I'm thinking a kind of an arrangement of tubes like an "H" with two centre bars:

Front of bike
__________
____|_|____

With the shock mounting between the two centre tubes. the long tubes would join each side of the frame. Make sense?
 
With the tank & tail back on to see how it looks with the new swingarm.. I likee!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top