GS650 GT Front fork

[inmate]

Good afternoon OSS er’s, I need your expertise.

I swapped the original, leaking front fork for a refurbished, by Kais suspension, front fork, plus brakes, yokes, speedo drive and wheel from my GSXR 1100 k. 

I think it looks the Bollocks compared to how it was, brakes much better, suspension more controlled-less bouncy. However it now wants to fall into corners with the slightest push of the bars. I put this down to the shorter fork altering steering geometry. So, can I get away with adding say the ends of a GSXR top yolk welded to my top yolk, giving approx. 25 mm, or will I have to have a stepped top yolk made to bring it back to original geometry.

GS original fork length - 780 mm  axle to top of stantion 

GSXR original fork length - 740 mm

Thanks, inmate

 

[wraith]

Yes you can have two yokes welded together (fork part) 

The bandit 12 MK1 also has the 43mm fork legs so if you can't find a gsxr yoke to cut up, you could use a b12 yoke.

[TonyGee]

what ive done on bandit forks a few times is use a spacer under the damper rod (with a longer allen bolt) which will extend the overall length, but if you have an adjusting rod from the top cap running through the legs I don't think it'll work. 

[inmate]

Thanks for the replies wraith and Tony, I am looking to weld GSXR or b12 yokes to gain some extra fork length, I see that Clivegto , I think, has done this before, it would be the cheaper option. But would the 25mm be enough to reduce the ‘quick’ steering? It is a bit unnerving at the moment

[wraith]

It won't harm.

What size tyre do you have on the front 120/70/17 ?

Also have a play with the tyre pressure, dropping it down to say 33 psi will make it a bit more slower 

[inmate]

Yes wraith 120/70/17.

I’ll try the local breakers see if I can get a top yoke, then I will need to find someone to do the welding. Anyone recommend a welder around north Manchester?

Then next job find a better looking exhaust, hate the ugly motad thing.

[wraith]

You may find it hard to get a off the shelf exhaust for the 650.

The sharp front end may have something to do with the rear end, sounds daft but sometimes bad handling at one end can be course but the other end, as you still have the standard 650 rear wheel with its not very wide tyre and the tyre will be mist match and compound ie the being a zr rated the rear being no where near that.

Just a thought.

[inmate]

Wraith, yes the original wheel and a 130/70 tyre. There is brand new Bridgestone  B46 just been fitted. I looked at fitting a wider wheel and tyre but there isn’t enough width in the swing arm. Long term I would like to fit an oil boiler 750/1200 in the bike, with chain drive and perhaps a GSX 1400 swing arm.

[TonyGee]

this is a cut down fugly motad exhaust with a bit of bull shit riveted on 

 

 

Edited May 16, 2022 by TonyGee

[inmate]

Ooh yea, I like that TonyGee. That’s why I come here talented peeps with imagination.

[TonyGee]

1 hour ago, inmate said:

Ooh yea, I like that TonyGee. That’s why I come here talented peeps with imagination.

don't know about that ????  it was more about being skint and not having the dosh for a new exhaust system   I just happened to have the end of an old can that fitted over the motad with a bit of cutting and riveting.  

[neilw]

Stick a gsx1100j 18" front wheel on it 

[inmate]

nielw, yes that’s an idea I’ll have to price one up, but then I’d have the expense of another new tyre and still have odd wheels. TonyGee’s bike above is sort of the look I’m after, slowly modifying the bike when funds allow.