1978 KZ650 2000-2003 GSXR750 Fork Swap

Ok, I have spent many hours pouring over posts regarding fork swaps of all kinds. I understand the method of grinding/tapping out the kz stem and sleeve/welding it into the GSXR bottom tree. However, it seems that I ran across posts(which I didn't bookmark and now can't find again) by sbjones and another member who managed to make the swap work by just using the stock GSXR setup and then finding the right bearing combo because the stem length was so close to the KZ650's. It looks like sbjones isn't active on the forum anymore, but does anyone recall if that approach actually worked and how it turned out? Thanks for any help...and I realize I'm whipping a dead horse here so please don't flog me!

Well, sbjones may not be active here any more, but the bike you are talking about is in my storage shed waiting it's turn.

If the stem is the same length, you can measure the OD of the stem and the ID of the stem tube on the frame, then contact All Balls to see if they have conversion bearings that will work. That's what I did to install a 2000 GSX750 front end on my 1980 KZ750E.

Thanks for the reply. Well, thats a sweet bike you have in your shed! Do you know how sbjones went about the front end swap? I saw a post where he said it may just work out with the correct bearing combo...but I never saw a follow up. I don't have a a GSXR stem yet to measure...and I cross-referenced the 750 and 650 stems and they don't match. I'll just have to buy the parts and see what happens. Thanks again.

Did you cross reference the 650 and 750 bearings? That's the important part, and really the only thing you can do.

There is a bearing chart in the Filebase under the KZ Information tab at the top of this and every page on KZR.

SSK 400:

ER5 97-01
GPZ500S 87-00
KZ550 D1/C1/C4/A1/A4
KZ650 All 77-83
KZ750 B1-B4 76-78
KZ750 E1/E3/G1/H1/H4/K1/K2/M1
Z900 73-76
Z1000 A1/A4/ B1/B4 77-80
Z1000 D1/D3/G1 77-80
KZ1000MKII 79-81

There's your steering bearing interchange list.

Heck, you could probably just call All Balls and tell them what you want to do and they'll probably tell you exactly what you need, and the cost shipped to your door.


KZ Information tab at the top of the page, under it is the Filebase, read it and be amazed at the depth of the information provided

This might help the next guy as well.

www.caferacer.net/forum/project-builds/1...onversion-chart.html

Since you dragged this thing out of the darkness, sbjones had a new stem made and pressed in to the GSXR yolk.

And how many years has this thing been sitting in my shed now?

Great Flying Spaghetti Monster! It's been over 5 years!

Is there a list of fork lengths to see which are closest to stock?

This may help with the bearing swap when you are ready. www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion

Depending on the browser this may or may not work. I found that Chrome didn't work.