Air Assist shocks? or not...

Why not just strip and polish the lowers?
Steve

It's an option. But I would prefer the longer lowers if possible. If you look at the photo I posted, the amount of real estate between the top of the dust seal and the bottom of the lower triple just bugs me.

swest wrote: Why not just strip and polish the lowers?
Steve

You can ignore the air assist, BUT you will need stiffer springs.

Is that right? What about using the springs in my current forks? (which aren't air assist)

TexasKZ wrote: You can ignore the air assist, BUT you will need stiffer springs.

Get some progressive springs. You can use a spacer if you have to.
Steve

Depends on their length.
The air assist was a cheap way to effectively change the spring rate. With no air at all, the front end will be pretty soft. However, since your 550 is noticeably lighter than an 1100, there might not be a problem.

The 550 shaft I sold last year the front would sag 4". Put air in it and it would be great but the air lasted a few minutes. I like the long travel and If I kept it I would have gone with the new springs.
Steve

Well, the plot thickens. I came across this image. It's an '82 KZ650 CSR. Seems to have the exact same 4 bolt rotor that my '80 has, as well as having the longer fork lower (and not black!). It looks to me like my stock wheel and rotor would fit on these forks with this caliper.
I already have a set of '82 KZ650 lowers with all the internals, just need to source out a caliper now to see if it all fits.

Just going to throw this out there... Wish I had come across this when I needed new front forks.

forums.kz650.info/index.php?topic=15525.0

Listing from Doctorot, also a member here, selling off a pile of bits from what seems like a bunch of KZ650's among a bunch of other bikes as well.

[strike]Set of KZ 650 front shocks is ~$40. If you aren't interested, I'll probly pick them up as a spare set...[/strike] The Police front end will probably work well, and as a complete assy for 200, it's a steal.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Cheers!

EDIT: Staying up and reading past when I should apparently. Stock rear shocks, not forks.

Those forks have the bottom wheel mount, my wheel/fork combo is for the front mount style. I'm holding off on the 1100 front end for now, I've got a caliper on the way for my 650CSR forks, pretty sure they're going to work.

Jonny wrote: Just going to throw this out there... Wish I had come across this when I needed new front forks.

forums.kz650.info/index.php?topic=15525.0

Listing from Doctorot, also a member here, selling off a pile of bits from what seems like a bunch of KZ650's among a bunch of other bikes as well.

[strike]Set of KZ 650 front shocks is ~$40. If you aren't interested, I'll probly pick them up as a spare set...[/strike] The Police front end will probably work well, and as a complete assy for 200, it's a steal.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Cheers!

EDIT: Staying up and reading past when I should apparently. Stock rear shocks, not forks.