best suspension mods?

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Jim C

best suspension mods?

#1 Post by Jim C » Sat Sep 17, 2005 1:56 pm

Whats the best suspension mod that we have done to our 500's? I'm in the process of putting a late 80's GSXR 1100 front end with 6 piston tokico calipers, a GSXR 750 rear wheel in a stock swingarm w/ a GSXR caliper mounted under the swingarmand it is free floating. Also, I have a fox shock to a Honda CBR 900 that is about 1" too long, but I hope with the new suspension it will work out OK. Most of my purchases were off ebay, not real expesive, and the decision to make any bids were from posts on this forum.
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cardinaljames@charter.net

Rob

Re: best suspension mods?

#2 Post by Rob » Sat Sep 17, 2005 3:20 pm

Sounds like you already decided! Depends how much work you want to do - an FZR1000 late 80's or yzf750 early 90's is an easier front end as it bolts right on - I did an 88fzr750 front end and you just bolt it right on done (and R1 calipers bolt right up also) - even the speedo works! With the gsxr1100 front end, you will have to switch steering stems at minimum - it may be a little longer also and definitely will be sprung heavy as the GSXR1100 was a bit weighty. The GSXR rear is a pretty easy mod, lots have done it - just a little work on spacers etc., but a good match. You may want to consider a swingarm brace with the extra grip you'll get. Shock - I came close to trying a honda shock and after much research I usually recommend just spending $700 on a good aftermarket job. You will have to respring and possible revalve - the extra inch will actually help as I jacked mine as much as it would go on the ride heigh adjuster, which was about and inch, so my shock eye to eye is about an inch long. You would not have any adjustment, so moving the forks up and down in the tubes wil be all you have, and if you get the back too high, the chain drags over the swingarm slider and wears it out in a hurry, it also will hit the pipes is you run GP pipes. <p>Hope some of this info helps! <p>Rob
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roadkillrobert@yahoo.com

Jim C

Re: best suspension mods?

#3 Post by Jim C » Sun Sep 18, 2005 6:33 pm

Hey Rob<p>Thanks for the post. I started this post to see what others have been doing to thier RZ's. There have been a bunch of posts in the past, but everyone seems to have stopped writing about suspension improvements. I'm hoping to get something started again!!!<p>Anyways:<br>The GSXR front end I purchased already had the RZ stem in it. The biggest problemI'm having is steering stops. I do not want to do anything to the RZ frame so I saw a RZ350 web page where the owner made a cresent shaped bracket with 2 spacer that he bolted to the lower yoke. Have to drill and tap the lower yoke, but it should work OK. The rear seems pretty sorted except for routing the brake line. I'm thinking of coming out the back of the caliper and up and along the top of the swingarm. Might have to drill and tap 1 or 2 holes to hold the line in place. As for the fox shock it has a 600/900 spring, but I think the stock spring should also fit on it. What I do not know is how to mount the reservoir. I'm thinking of making a bracket and bolting it to the lower cylinder head. For pipes I have an unknown set of chambers (not GP style) so hopefully I will not have a clearance problem. <p>Jim C
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cardinaljames@charter.net

Wyn Belorusky

Re: best suspension mods?

#4 Post by Wyn Belorusky » Sun Sep 18, 2005 7:34 pm

Here's the triple clamps I made for my bike. If you notice, on the lower triple clamp, just outside of the bearing, there are two holes. Those holes are drilled and tapped for an allen head bolt. Using the allen head bolt and a spacer the same diameter underneth the bolt, you have stops similar to the stock cast lugs on the stock triple clamp. I know, If I really wanted to, I could have carved the lugs out in billet, but I got lazy!!<p><img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b142/ ... Clamps.jpg" alt="Image hosted by Photobucket.com"><br>
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RZVWyn@aol.com

Rob

Re: best suspension mods?

#5 Post by Rob » Mon Sep 19, 2005 3:50 am

The steering stop you describe sounds like the one that most guys use on custom harleys - you could just buy one for a few bucks from J & P cycle or somewhere and bolt it right on.<p>Rob
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roadkillrobert@yahoo.com

Jim C

Re: best suspension mods?

#6 Post by Jim C » Mon Sep 19, 2005 4:42 pm

Hey Wyn<p>Do you have the dimensions to drill and tap those holes, such as how far from center of stem, distance apart along radius, or what ever you used to locate them?<p>Thanks<br>Jim
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cardinaljames@charter.net

Wyn Belorusky

Re: best suspension mods?

#7 Post by Wyn Belorusky » Mon Sep 19, 2005 7:30 pm

Jim - from the center of the steering stem hole forward 19 mm, from the center of the steering stem hole left or right 34 mm.
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RZVWyn@aol.com

Jim C

Re: best suspension mods?

#8 Post by Jim C » Thu Sep 22, 2005 6:10 pm

Wyn - What diameter was the allen bolt? Was there a spacer to reach the stop on the steering stem? If so what diameter and how high? I noticed you used upside down fork legs. Are/were your spacers designed for clearance at the end of the clip-ons or fork tubes?<br>Thanks<br>Jim
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cardinaljames@charter.net

Wyn Belorusky

Re: best suspension mods?

#9 Post by Wyn Belorusky » Thu Sep 22, 2005 8:12 pm

Jim - it is an 8 x 1.25 allen head bolt, the spacer is the same diameter as the head of the bolt. The total height is about an inch to reach the stock steering stop on the lower part of the steering head.
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