New steering head tube or just a new stem made to fit?

[Anonymous]

So I met up with the machinist/fabricator guy that was recomended to me by some swell Ducati guys that have had major work done by him. I just stopped by to meet him and decide a plan of action and just to go over some of the details/options. He seems very capable of doing just about anything, and also very knowledgable about performance issues related to modifying motorcycles. (not like those dudes on american chopper that make huge notches in their frames so they can fit a neat oil tank :roll: ).

But in talking about putting on the new forks (02 gsxr 1000's) he mentioned that instead of fabricating a new stem to match the GS's he could replace the entire steering head tube to leave the nice fat stem from the gsxr. Now, I haven't actually measured the GS's stem (I tried to this weekend but I lost the damn allen wrench i needed) but the GSXR's seems to measure 20mm.

He sounded very confident that it would be stronger than the original headstock and I've seen his work, which is impressive (he rebuilt a large chunk of a Ducati trellis frame quite nicely) but I'm thinking this may be a little overboard. I mean, cost wise it seems like it would be more expensive than just a new stem. Would it really make that much of a performance difference? I would like this to be as high performance as I can afford (hopefully get some occasional track use in) but at the same time I am working on a limited budget and this doesn't seem like the best place to be spending the money.

But then maybe getting a stem would only be marginally cheaper and maybe it would make a difference with strength/bearing life.

Any ideas?

 

[Dink]

I would just get a new stem fitted to the GSXR lower triple clamp.
It is not worth the extra cost etc to cut the frame.
Dink

 

[Anonymous]

Let me start by saying that I am certainly no expert in this field.
Having said that, I don't see the benefit in replacing your steering head with a larger diameter steering head. The head itself is not one of the weaker areas of your frame, the structure supporting it perhaps, but not likely the head tube. I can't see any inherent 'performance' gains in just swapping one diameter head for another. If, on the other hand, you were changing the angle of the head - because you had altered geometry elsewhere on the bike - then why not replace the head tube while you're at it.
I guess what I'm really trying to say is, IMHO it works out to a lot of money for little or no appreciable gain. If necessary, replace the stem to make it fit your tripples.

____________________
old_phart

 

[Anonymous]

But in talking about putting on the new forks (02 gsxr 1000's) he mentioned that instead of fabricating a new stem to match the GS's he could replace the entire steering head tube to leave the nice fat stem from the gsxr. Now, I haven't actually measured the GS's stem (I tried to this weekend but I lost the damn allen wrench i needed) but the GSXR's seems to measure 20mm.

I have a 99 GSXR 600 front end in my basement and I think the stem measures 35mm at the bearings and tapers a bit in the middle. It is aluminum, so needs to be bigger OD than a steel one, but still very massive overall. Your 02 1000 stem will be at least as big if not bigger.

He sounded very confident that it would be stronger than the original headstock and I've seen his work, which is impressive (he rebuilt a large chunk of a Ducati trellis frame quite nicely) but I'm thinking this may be a little overboard. I mean, cost wise it seems like it would be more expensive than just a new stem. Would it really make that much of a performance difference?

If he does good work, welding on a new steering head is no problem. Yes, it would be overboard. A new stem should cost you maybe $50-$60 (max $100 if he presses the old one out and the new one in), while a new steering head will be hundreds. Given the flexi nature of the GS frame, it would be a waste of time to change the head out.

Mark

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah, thanks guys, that was pretty much what I was thinking. Just a little too far into the overkill spectrum. If I was on an unlimited budget I would say "sure go ahead" but since I'm poor I'll have to watch what I spend a little more carefully.

Thanks for the advice, I'm sure I'll need a bunch more