1200 Bandit swing arm swap

[opalmanta]

Finally after several years of collecting engine bits (two big blocks,extra heads , carbs etc.) I finally scored a GSX1400 swing arm so I can swap over to the twin shock look. Buddy in Wales scored it for me and sent it over here to me. I hope to get some nice hubs to lace rims to for front and rear. I have been laying low for couple years now on this project do to work hours , I am retired now and already have two strokes on my resume.  Should be able to go at it hammer and tongs after completing the move back to FL from this communist state of California. If anyone on here has suggestions for shocks on this change over or hubs front and rear please speak up.

[krazy kat]

10 minutes ago, opalmanta said:

Finally after several years of collecting engine bits (two big blocks,extra heads , carbs etc.) I finally scored a GSX1400 swing arm so I can swap over to the twin shock look. Buddy in Wales scored it for me and sent it over here to me. I hope to get some nice hubs to lace rims to for front and rear. I have been laying low for couple years now on this project do to work hours , I am retired now and already have two strokes on my resume.  Should be able to go at it hammer and tongs after completing the move back to FL from this communist state of California. If anyone on here has suggestions for shocks on this change over or hubs front and rear please speak up.

Good to here you are moving back to the free state of Florida, must have been hard living in the people's republic, been using YSS shock mostly now days good luck on the twin shock bandit send pictures out.

[opalmanta]

Thanks, I am in the middle of moving all my stuff. I have been using my old  enclosed race car trailer . Made three trips so far ( 6000 miles round trip each) with about 10 to go.  It is a little more of an effort for me now that I am looking at 70 yr. and health challenges.  I will deff look into YSS shocks , I want them to work not just look the part.  I look forward to getting the Lathe and mill set up in FL to possible make my own hubs but if my buddy that owns Fastech in Newmarket area has the program still I will get him to make me some on one of his CNC turning centers . Plan on staying close to standard Bandit width on tires and rims so I do not run into chain clearance challenges. I saw a bike on here a while back that was changed to lace up rims . I wanted to do it when I bought it in 2001 but got busy with life.

[PaintItBlack]

Like the sound of what you have in mind, look forward to seeing some pictures of how it progresses  

[fatblokeonbandit]

Do you mean like this

 

[Gixer1460]

On 12/19/2025 at 11:08 PM, opalmanta said:

 I have been using my old  enclosed race car trailer . Made three trips so far ( 6000 miles round trip each) with about 10 to go.  It is a little more of an effort for me now that I am looking at 70 yr. and health challenges.

So, let me understand the logic here . . . . 13 trips (back and forth) @ 6,000 miles each = 78,000 miles ! Average fuel consumption for truck & trailer, say 25/gallon - 78000 / 25 = 3,120 gallons @ $3.00 / gallon = $9,360 ! ! ! and maybe a month to accomplish? Wouldn't it have been more sensible to hire a removals co. with a semi to do it in single hit - got to be less than 10 large? Oh and didn't factor in wear & tear on you and the truck, both of which sound like they need maintanence LOL!

[TLRS]

On 12/19/2025 at 11:32 PM, opalmanta said:

I am retired now and already have two strokes on my resume.

That sucks and sqeezes. Lean mixture? 

[spiderpig]

An inzuma frame would make your life easier 

[Captain Chaos]

4 hours ago, Gixer1460 said:

So, let me understand the logic here . . . . 13 trips (back and forth) @ 6,000 miles each = 78,000 miles ! Average fuel consumption for truck & trailer, say 25/gallon - 78000 / 25 = 3,120 gallons @ $3.00 / gallon = $9,360 ! ! ! and maybe a month to accomplish? Wouldn't it have been more sensible to hire a removals co. with a semi to do it in single hit - got to be less than 10 large? Oh and didn't factor in wear & tear on you and the truck, both of which sound like they need maintanence LOL!

they think different in Murica.

 

Edited December 21, 2025 by Captain Chaos

[krazy kat]

5 hours ago, Captain Chaos said:

they think different in Murica.

 

Moving companies in US would easily charge twice that probably more, when I moved to FLA from New York (about half the distance mentioned) made half dozen trips over year and a half before retiring. Moved ever everything myself in that time, would have been going there anyway. Last trip the wife pulled a trailer with her FJ. Still way cheaper than moving company. You got to look out for yourself when everyone else wants to fuck you over.

[Upshotknothole]

8 hours ago, spiderpig said:

An inzuma frame would make your life easier 

We never got Inazumas in the states. A lot of our grey markets also come down from Canada, and they never got them either, so you'd be looking at shipping one in and dealing with the paperwork. 

 

As a California native, I've never understood why anyone would want to live in Florida, but this isn't the place to talk politics. Looking forward to your build, and safe travels on your move, that's a hell of a lot of driving. 

[opalmanta]

Believe me guys I pencil whipped this thing left right and center and three ways from sunday.  I have three trailers to use already from years of auto and bike racing plus a Duramax crewcab to pull them with heavily loaded I can squeeze 11 mpg {US} gal.  Plus I have 24ft camper trailer that the wife bought . I called and priced stuff out with all kinds of movers , I am still only on third the cost of what they quote . I am officially retired now and time is not an issue except to stay alive after two strokes in Feb.  I love California , nothing quite like it.  I grew up in central Fl and have family wanting me there.  Did a lot of racing there and unlike the tracks in Cal , most of the FL tracks are still open.  And I love the looks of that Bike that Fatbloke put up. 

[opalmanta]

Are those custom hubs or repurposed from some factory bike ? The rims I hope to use are the ones that look to have a reinforced rib. I think the factory XS 650 Yamaha was so equipped . 

[fatblokeonbandit]

I got the spokes wheels from PaulM if i remember right he said they are German hubs and rims laced together,  excellent wheels but not cheap and very heavy

 

i think Xs 650 rims are 18

inch rear and 19 front with only skinny tyres available….

I used  to have some modern 17 inch Triumph spokes wheels that were also excellent.

i will Try and find some pictures

[fatblokeonbandit]

My Heron painted Bandit I’ve had from new in 1997, it’s evolved a bit over the years, I’m still not 100% about the wheels as the are really heavy, I have another 1200 with lightweight R1 wheels and the difference is chuckability is amazing 

[opalmanta]

I am hope the lace up rims and hub assemblies I end up with are not a whole lot heavier than my original Bandit 1200 rims.  Back in the caveman 70's-80's days when I worked at Pit Stop Perf in central FL we used to get new aluminum rims and lace them to the OEM Kawasaki and Suzuki Hubs . I am going to start shopping the modern rim suppliers to see what is available. I figured I will end up getting John at Fastech in Newmarket to make the hubs for me. I have a lot of projects I want to get done in my retirement and I know my hour glass is getting bottom heavy. Once I start putting these bits together  I will post pics of the entire project. 

[krazy kat]

5 hours ago, opalmanta said:

I am hope the lace up rims and hub assemblies I end up with are not a whole lot heavier than my original Bandit 1200 rims.  Back in the caveman 70's-80's days when I worked at Pit Stop Perf in central FL we used to get new aluminum rims and lace them to the OEM Kawasaki and Suzuki Hubs . I am going to start shopping the modern rim suppliers to see what is available. I figured I will end up getting John at Fastech in Newmarket to make the hubs for me. I have a lot of projects I want to get done in my retirement and I know my hour glass is getting bottom heavy. Once I start putting these bits together  I will post pics of the entire project. 

cognito moto makes hubs that will work with that bandit, pricey though

On 12/21/2025 at 8:02 AM, Captain Chaos said:

they think different in Murica.

 

Moving companies in US would easily charge twice that probably more, when I moved to FLA from New York (about half the distance mentioned) made half dozen trips over year and a half before retiring. Moved ever everything myself in that time, would have been going there anyway. Last trip the wife pulled a trailer with her FJ. Still way cheaper than moving company. You got to look out for yourself when everyone else wants to fuck you over.

[opalmanta]

Thanks I will look into  Cognito Moto , Hope all you guys on here have a Merry Christmas and an Awesome New Year.