Fork Upgrade Musings

will any yar rs 125 forks work? or does it have to be specific? and im assuming you need the clipons for the rs125 and would you use the stock xs400 throttle and schtuff?
 
Has worked a few times. Just a bearing change but youll need the forks and triples to do it. Some spacer work and you can reuse the original tire, or just go all out and buy the whole front end. Either way, if you're in the US, its gunna cost.
 
My current forks are beat to hell so I will need to makes some changes anyway, why not go big. I like the idea of the Aprilia, but not sure I want to drop the coin on shipping. I'll have to start colecting parts and see what I can do.
 
I've just been collecting parts. Sometimes you can find a good deal on a whole front fork set up, sometimes it's cheaper to buy the parts by individually. I went the latter route. I just need the neck bearings and the wheel bearings in order to mock mine up. Once I get my Harley running, I'll get back to this project. You know how it is. :)
 
Oh yeah, I get it. My projects have been on hold while as I was in an apt after moving to NC. Now I'm in a house and playing catchup. I have too many things not on the road.
 
its not impossible to make other front ends (including wheel) work, biggest issue is steering stem length. Easy fix for that is to press in the original stem OR make a spacer to take up the gap.
 
Yeah, a bump for a charles update. I'm putting a gsxr 1000 front end on the xs400 and if there is a part number for the axle bearings I'd be interested. I don't have an axle yet to start messing fitments.
 
Another thing I poked around with this morning. The speedo drive. The gixxer axle is 25mm. I found a bearing set that mates the axle with the Yamaha wheels. (Above). The speedo drive has press out flange. That is 26mm OD. The speedo gear has an ID of 25mm. Cut a little key way, make a simple dust seal to make up the 1mm (or ream it and bush accordingly) and slide the gear onto the axle, ensuring everything is all spaced and rotating correctly. Then all you gotta do is make an adapter to mount the gixxer 1000 discs to the Yamaha wheel. And fancy cnc triples abound in any colour.

That and making it fit in the head tube lol.
 
The fzr400 being the same bearings as the xs 400...is that for Real?..because if it is the possibilities for front ends are endless
 
You need to look at a lot more than just "bearing size." You need the ID, OD, thickness, type, and probably what will be the most important thing, the length of the center stem. I hate to be a Debbie Downer, but I bet you a quarter the triple tree you want to "bolt on" has a much longer center stem than the original XS stem.

Does that mean it can't be done? Of course not. I have an '81 XS400 in my shop right now undergoing a ground up custom build. It is getting a massive GSXr front end swap.

Make no mistake, the swap is not a bolt on! It's requiring a LOT of custom machine work. Machine work for the triple tree, for the brakes rotors (what is pictured isn't being used... going with larger drilled rotors), for custom stops, for the speedo and tach mount... like I said, this is a ground up custom professional build.

NOTE: For whatever reason I cannot upload a pic. Check out pictures of the bike on our Facebook page @ Evil Monkey Kustoms
 
Was asking because if in fact the fzr400 bearings are the same...then it follows that a conversion kit from allballs will fit the bill for ID/OD thickness and type ?...ya?.....and if so I found an 1999 r6 front end (not inverted but still) with dual disk/ calipers...clip ons...wheel...fender...for 350$!!!!!
So if the bearings fit...it is just a matter of spacing for the lenght...Ya?
Pretty easy machining wise...
Or am I wayyyyy off:umm:
 
I have no idea what you mean by a conversion kit.

You could pull a front end off of a 2011 Harley and make it fit. Bearing size doesn't matter. There are tons of bearings out there. TONS! I got a set of bearings for my front end that had the same ID as the OD of the GSXr center tube and the same OD as the ID of the XS frame tube. You want to order by bearing size, not "for an XS400" when buidling something custom.

Once you get the bearings laid out, the rest is spacing up and down. Any local machine shop should be able to make you some spacers to work.

It's just a matter of getting something close and not too big (your bearings can't be too thin). It's a matter of how much machine work you can do (or afford to have done).

Other than the one rather expensive front end already named, you aren't going to find a bolt in application, if that's what you are asking. All will require some sort of custom machine work, spacers, etc.
 
Saying the same thing here, by conversion kit I was talking about the allballs bearings...I was just trying to make it a little easy on myself as the build is in it's planning/disassembly phase and I am faced with pretty good deal for a front end upgrade so...a lot to ponder over
Thanks for the pointers.:thumbsup:
 
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