Gsxr usd forks in my bandit

[MikeyVeitch]

I have recently swapped a k2 gsxr 1000 front end into my 1998 Suzuki bandit. I can help but notice that the front end feels low because the forks are shorter than the bandit ones and it’s kind of fucking with how the bike sits. I feel like I’m going to fall off the front whenever I am just cruising. Has anybody figured out a way to lower the forks or can somebody post some links to steppes top yokes or fork tube extensions as I can’t seem to find any. 
As always, thank for the help lads and ladettes. 

[TonyGee]

I think the step yoke is the only way to go 

[bluedog59]

What's the difference in fork length because that will be a hell of a stepped yoke if it's as much as I think it is. Faced with a similar problem I had a yoke stepped 25mm, a 25mm fork extension and made the yoke 30mm thick so it clamped over the join.

[TonyGee]

this is why the GSX1100 forks are the best to keep the ride height as close to standard as possible.  but like i keep saying they are hard to find in good condition.  

[Tony Nitrous]

5 hours ago, TonyGee said:

I think the step yoke is the only way to go 

I’ve seen some quite tidy thread in extensions. IMO the bottom yoke takes the load and most of the work and personally I don’t see screw in extensions being as big a drama some folk say they are.  
 

Edited April 19, 2023 by Tony Nitrous

[Tony Nitrous]

5 hours ago, TonyGee said:

I think the step yoke is the only way to go 

Certainly a popular fix….

[colinworth79]

Spring rate will ideally need changing as well due to the bandit being a lot heavier  than a k1 . 

I'm running a stepped yoke on my bandit no problems .

[fatblokeonbandit]

K1/2 are way too short, 710/715 mm instead of 775mm as B12 standard, i fitted  a set of K1 ones years ago and smashed the mudguard into the oil cooler when I braked really hard...

 

slingshot the easiest like Tony said, but difficult to find now...

 

Heres the chaep way to make a stepped yoke, weld 2 top ones togtehr, worked fine for years until I had a posh ( expensive ) one made..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 19, 2023 by fatblokeonbandit

[bluedog59]

A neat little trick but you'll probably have to add a couple more sections to lift it enough to suit K1/2 forks. 

[fatblokeonbandit]

You can get 25 mm back with this, so the K1/2 would be about 735/740 mm and that’s ok I’ve had several bandits with 740 mm forks.. 

obvioulsy you need to add a spacer to the top bit so the clamp has something to grip so it doesn’t strain the top part,,

[TLRS]

These days there ought to be more choice for long forks shirley? Some cruisers have long usd forks with radial mounts. Ktm have some long forks with seemingly reasonable travel?

[Tony Nitrous]

16 minutes ago, TLRS said:

These days there ought to be more choice for long forks shirley? Some cruisers have long usd forks with radial mounts. Ktm have some long forks with seemingly reasonable travel?

I think ones like the 1290 SuperDuke’s were still 40mm shorter than my Bandits. 

[Dezza]

I have a set of RC8R forks on my bike and they're longer than the GSXR1100K forks that were on the bike when I got it. Superduke forks (olders ones anyway) are longer still and the older ones take axial calipers (decent Brembo are a bolt-on). Using these units you also get the kudos of quality WP forks for a fraction of the cost of Ohlins. A drawback is the odd sizes, e.g. top is 51mm but the same goes for Ohlins.

[Wagola]

4 hours ago, TLRS said:

These days there ought to be more choice for long forks shirley? Some cruisers have long usd forks with radial mounts. Ktm have some long forks with seemingly reasonable travel?

Who's SHIRLEY ??? 

[MikeyVeitch]

All the reply’s, pictures and advise is very appreciated guys but I came to the conclusion that I couldn’t find any stepped top yokes or couldn’t afford extended caps without selling a kidney and my left bollock so fuck it I made some. I’ll upload some pictures with this post. I had some spare caps laying a round so I use a lathe to bevel the edges and did the same to a piece of ally pipe (65mm x 52mm od x 42mm id), had a friend weld them to the caps and then I lathed them back down to 50mm. Is all working very well and I no longer feel my cock getting slammed up against the tank every time I get on the brakes. Forks successfully extended by 65mm.