98 GSX600 Katana Swingarm

Ok, so here's another swingarm question.

To clarify, this is about a Katana GSX600/750 F swingarm, not a gsxR

I have been searching both this forum, and the archives for information on this arm.

Here's what I've found:

-pretty sure it's a boxed steel, monoshock arm. Makes it easy for me to add shock ears.

-it looks like both the pivot bolt(15mm) and the axle bolt(20mm) are the same size as mine(77 KZ1000)

-the total length of the arm is 26.75 inches, but the axle hole is not all the way at the end of the arm. So anywhere from 2-4 inches longer wheelbase

-pivot width is 9.625

-they are cheap!

-can later add later model gsx wheel with radial tire, 530 chain, and lighter caliper.

I looks to me like some spacers and some welded on shock mounts and I am in business with stock wheel and brakes.

So, does anyone have any insight or experience with this swingarm? My searches were never clear because both the gs and the gsx where Katana's, and the gs arm is very popular. And the GSXR is a totally different beast.

Thanks in advanced, I know you get a lot of swap questions. I did search extensively first though!:silly:

Attached is an image with most dimensions.

looks aluminum to me anyway

heres a gsxr arm before i started modifying it.

and heres my answe to dual shock mounts before welding and drilling holes.

that swing arm looks like it would just about bolt straight in and it would be easy to build shock mounts for it as it can be hard to find somebody decent at welding alloy. i think it would be a good choice.

Thanks for the feedback. I think I am going to go for it.

I check a couple of Katana forums and it seems the stock arm is boxed steel.

If it does turn out to be aluminum I can find somebody to weld it for me.

Plummen, It looks like those are extensions and shock mount's all in one? That's pretty cool. I don't think I can swing getting something like that machined up right now though.

How well does it fit in the frame, and any idea how much longer it is than stock?

its about 4" over with the extensions/shock mounts welded on,the slot for the axle is also moved up around 1/2" from stock location to help lower rear of bike a little more while keeping swingarm level.

i was thinking your shock mount might be too far back, in that your shocks might interfere with the sprocket, i would definetly mount the arm to the frame and loosly attach the rear wheel then see where your shocks fall in relationship too the sprocket, i probally am wrong but i think i was right once i just can't remember that long ago

with my setup the shocks will be about an 1 1/2" farther back from stock about the same as a stock gs1100 arm.

Well, I have one coming from ebay now, so I will be sure to take lots of pictures when I start setting it up.

Wish I had seen this thread earlier, might have saved you some money.

99 600 Katana is a steel swingarm, and the axle is "not" the same size as your 1000 (20mm).

I sent one to the scrapyard

I bought the entire front and rear suspension off a 99 600 Katana (supposed to be 750 Katana wheels) to put on my 750E project. The rear axle on the Katana is the same size as the 83 GPz750 axle (17mm I think), and I think the pivot bolt is also a 17mm (don't remember for sure though).


I'm using the rear Katana wheel on a 83 GPz750 swingarm modified for dual shocks. The 83 GPz750 swingarm has to be the easiest thing out there to convert to dual shocks, just cut the monoshock linkage off the bottom and re-weld it on top, works great.

That's no fun.

I guess I'll check it out and see if I can get anything useful out of it when it gets here. I could get some sleeves made to make up the difference at the pivot and axle...

Thanks for the heads up.

How much longer than your stock swinger was it, if you remember.