GSX 1100 ES 1983 Katana tank and fairing swap

[DanT]

Hello from Down Under.

This is my daily ride that I have had for the last three years

its started life as a  1983 GSX 1100 ES and I found it in a pretty sad condition

with gummed up carbies but it had the half fairing and original paint .

A slight mishap saw the fairing and light and handlebars smashed ( along with a broken collar bone

on my part ) so a cheap fix off Eblag saw it transform from 80's old skool to sorta kinda cafe that would eat

patina'ed CB350's for break fast.

I love the old girl and will probably keep it for as long as I can ride.

I would love a Katana and still remember being gobsmacked the first time I ever saw and

heard one back in the Eighties, which brings me to ask, I remember reading some where that the

1983 GSX 1100 ES and Katana have the same frame and the tanks and fairing off the Katana will fit

the ES. Has anyone done this and is it as simple as bolting them into place ?

[Captain Chaos]

Hi and welcome.

Post in the "wanted" section about swapping bodywork.

[DanT]

Thanks captain chaos, will do

[Pedda]

Done that swap on my recent project. The front tank mounts fit, rear mounts must be custom made. Front fairing fits almost, see pic below. No big deal here, obviously.

 

 

You also need custom made mounts for the side panels, the frame rear needs modifying to take the Katana rear cowl and seat.

 

Recent project can be seen here on the Katana UK webpage, some more piccies there.:

http://www.katanaownersclub.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=35

[kiwi]

Pedda how is the race Kat coming on 

[Pedda]

Pedda how is the race Kat coming on 

Well - behind that link I posted hides the race Kat. First resuld became my recent road legal Kat. So the project is still going on...

 

Still moving on slowly due to (leck of) funds. But I'm confident...

[gsx]

As pedda said , fairing is fine , rear tank mount needs moving forward a couple of inches and side panel mounts welding on ,seat lock is in a different position and higher than katana one ,

May be easy for some but this took a lot of time and effort to get everything to line up 

[DanT]

Thanks Pedda and GSX , here in Australia  the 1983 Katana tank, fairing mount and fairing are still available new off the shelf. About $670 for a new  tank and the fairing is about $400 .

 

[kiwi]

Your new tank price not that bad here in UK 2nd hand are going $550 but New replica fairing only about $250

Edited August 19, 2015 by kiwi

[DanT]

Your new tank price not that bad here in UK 2nd hand are going $550 but New replica fairing only about $250

Yes , especially when you take into account that any used tank will likely have rust inside and need to be treated so by the time you add that cost on the "new" tank is not a bad price.

Airtech make a replica fairing for about $200