inverted fork swap kz550-newb

Newb here and i did some poking around but couldnt really find what i was looking for.

i have most of a 1983 kz550c chain drive.

its missing everything in front of the neck.

so i figured id make it a cafe and do inverted front forks.

is there a particular set that swap easier. i know i can get conversion bearing from allballs.

thx

Probably cheaper and easier to source a 550c fork and wheel. If you are after upside downs try to find a set of zx600 forks.

Kind of a steep slope, a USD fork swap with that skinny little swingarm and (now) skinny rear tire wont look or handle right, so expect to change that out too. And consider the $500 or so to do the front right (big meaty tire, rebuild brakes and forks and gauges when your speedo doesnt work with the wheel) and $500 or so on the rear (machining a swingarm to fit, sourcing a rear wheel and costly back tire, chain etc) question becomes what're you after?

If you have a set of forks that take the same size bearings the 550 uses you can use them, or go with a bearing swap if the stem fits in the steering neck. OR you'll have to have parts machined and a stem swap done.

i was thinking about going with a kz dual disk front wheel. not the big meats

ive seen a few kz's running inverted forks and the 7 spoke mag wheel (dual disk)

so i shouldnt really have to mess with the back.

Use a front end off a 400 or 600.
Use the site below to find comparable front ends that may share the same bearings but be prepared to have some machining done on the stem and lock stops.
www.allballsracing.com/index.php/fork conversion
Most modern front rims take a 100 to 120 tyre and won't mess up the handling due to width even with using the original "skinny" rear wheel however it's most likely to be a 17 incher so that will quicken the steering as well as the new yokes may have less offset also having a similar effect.
I've done hundreds of modern running gear conversions and have never failed to improve on the original machines handling.

thanks for the info

400 or 600 ? make etc.

Just gotta find one the right length and width if you do a search here it should pop up.
To do the kz wheel on a modern fromt end you're going to need axle bushings, or a spacer or some type of adapter to fit the small (17mm) kz axle into the larger (sometimes an inch) hole for the newer bike's axle. Then you have the problem that the KZ brakes and wheel are heavy, so you grab sportbike rotors, pay a machinist to knock out a couple adapters to bolt the newer lightweight rotors on. Like I said, depending on what you do, it can add up.

And you're still going to wanna mess woth the back; new shocks (plan $200 or so) swingarm bearings (if your's are toast) new brake shoes (if you have a drum brake, linings come loose locking the rear wheel, even at speed) no use having a good front end and a worn out rear.

kz550cafe wrote: thanks for the info

400 or 600 ? make etc.

Search the conversion site to see what may fit then go from there if you want to find the easiest swap.
Otherwise find a front end you like and do what it takes to make it fit.
I usually go for the second option but then again I have my own machine shop.

Ok so it looks like if I use early 90s gxsr front. They use 20mm axles and I can get conversion wheel bearings to make it work with kz wheel.

That just leaves figuring out how to get 310mm discs on a kz 7 spoke mag

Have you tried getting a KZ front end on eBay?
Steve

swest wrote: Have you tried getting a KZ front end on eBay?
Steve

But inverted forks

kz550cafe wrote: Ok so it looks like if I use early 90s gxsr front. They use 20mm axles and I can get conversion wheel bearings to make it work with kz wheel.

That just leaves figuring out how to get 310mm discs on a kz 7 spoke mag

Use kz discs and make some adaptors to move the calipers to the position you need.