Value of GS 1100 Suzki Alum. Swingarm with Axls??

I know they were popular. Everyone would like the upgrade. I see what ebay is bringing.
1981-83 GS 1100 Suzuki aluminum swing arms. Looking for a high end value $$ ??
What is the popular opinion? I have one that has all the rear axle parts and the pivot axle up front. I am going to make a nice set of 16mm spacers for the Kawasaki Z1-KZ900-1000 conversion. Last 2 I sold I used 5/8" flat washers about .125" thick.
Anyone know the exact tight fit? for the spacers? .125"-.140"-.150" ????? I don't have a bare Z1-KZ frame to check clearance.
Thanks. I am going to spend hours blasting off that ugly silver anodize.
Then again I might switch mine out and use it.

Do you need a measurement inside to inside? My spare swing arm was lost in the fire.
Steve

Honestly the width of the kz frames varies quite a bit, I've seen a difference of about 1/8" between them, value of the swingarm? Too much, eBay around $125-$150 seems average.

I've never had to shim mine in 40 years. Good point though. When I do my gusseting, I'll be sure to do it with the swing arm installed.
Steve

9.250 is the width to shoot for as an inside dimension(or overall width of the swingarm pivot).
i've done a bunch of arms and always set them up at 9.250 for 900's and 1000'S and no one has ever had any problems.

hth,

leon

Thanks Leon! 9.250 width right on the money for a Kaw swap. The cage bearings are trashed. So bad, I have to cut the shell open inside the swingarm bore to pry them out? Or mill em out some how? Where was the Zerk fitting? Suki engineers?
I'll put one in If when I finish this project. Will be expensive. Hoping to find some industrial cage bearings.
All Balls should have them, their website's not friendly with the search without signing up. Can't find 1 of the 2 catalogs I have lying around.
But these aluminum swing arms clean up nice after after you blast them to take the anodize off! (only 4 hours) cleaned all the welds and seams up 1st also
Can't believe some of the ones on the ebay, people don't even clean the grease off? $100 - $275. Can't believe I missed the 2 that sold dirt cheap 2 weeks ago from a salvage yard. Had Buy It Now! for $20 bucks. But with new bearings and collars. I have stock shocks and all hardware, Cut 2 spacers at .185" for the Kaw conversion. I'd have to get over $200 just to make a little $$?
Oh well, just typin away.

haha !!!! :laugh:
always happy to help!
they do look good cleaned up.
they always have the period upgrade look to me.
i guess it is because the first one i seen(1987) was on a lowered custom z1r before you really had much wheel options so it just had stock mags and a big ol polished aluminum swingarm that i later learned was a gs arm.the shocks mounting different meant it had a (different from most kaws)cool set of shocks .
yeah you could say that bike made an impression.
especially on a 17 year old kid that had a z1r setting at home and no knowledge or money to transform it :pinch: .
thats alright i still got mine :evil: !
plus three more !!!!!!!!!
i have a gs arm i plan to polish and put on one of the z1r's that i plan to to turn into a period looking road racer with gold wheels and a kawi green paint job :woohoo: ...

leon

I believe the bearing that fits the GS arm is TA2530Z www.hellerbearings.com/hk-TA2530Z-bearing-27794.html
You can also use oven cleaner to strip the anodizing. However it leaves the aluminum dark and needs polish. I have been working on customizing a GS arm for my 750 twin project. I shortened it to the stock length and had some new axle plates made, still need to fit the shock mounts. Now that you mentioned it I didn't realize there is no zerk on the arm. gonna add that now.... such a funky tube extrusion for a swing-arm


.

very nice work on the arm vic! :evil:

leon

thanks Leon. I haven't done much of it myself. I drew out what i wanted the axle plates to look like and cut out the old ones, but my friend Eric did the welding. I don't trust my aluminum welding skills yet. Since this is going on a bike with drum brakes I cut all the tabs off and am going to flip it over and box in the extrusion. gonna look pretty cool when its done i think.

it sounds like it's going to be nice!
you'll have to show us the pics

leon

All Cleaned up, new IKO bearings with machined collars. What a difference in bearing prices? These Suzuki bearings are the same as later KZ 1000's TA2530Z. Cut pivot spacers @ .180". .360" instead of .375" Added a zerk fitting.