I'm in the process of doing the same s/a mod you are doing. I found that the GS shocks are a bit too short, besides the upper bushings won't fit the KZ mounts.
I also found some Honda CBX and CB1100F shocks that looked pretty good, but the clevis isn't wide enough to git over the GS arm. Two wasted purchases.:blink:
I don't want to spend the money, but it looks like I'll have to give Works Performance a call and havem them to tailor me a set.
Good luck with your project.
Jim

You think these will do?

cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1982-Suzuki-GS11...dZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Ah, thanks for the advice.

I'm glad I asked. Further inspection reveals that it's a KZ rear brake. I'll check out those Suzy shocks. I'm looking forward to knowing this bike better.

Thanks a bunch.

maybe the suzuki motor was punched to 1200.try the kawasaki brakecaliper and suzuki shocks,should fit.goodluck,happy wrenching:whistle:

Post edited by: wireman, at: 2006/02/18 22:03

Looks like you're right. The PO said gs1200, but it looks to be the aluminum gs1100 swingarm.

Sweet. Knowledge is power.

Anyway, same question.. except replace gs1200 with gs1100.

do you mean a gs1100 swingarm?

I just bought a 79' kz1000 that has a very cool gs1200 swingarm attached to it. It's also got the suzuki rear disk brake. The problem is that the torque link that goes with that setup rubs the rear suspension spring.

I'm thinking of having a torque link machined for it that kinks or bends away from the spring. Any idea what something like that might involve (costs n such) at a machine shop?

Anybody else have this setup? Any alternatives?


(been away from the forum for a few years ... just replaced my stolen ride.. it's nice to be back)

A wider tire only helps traction when used with a wider rim. A wide tire on a narrow rim will actually give you a smaller contact patch because the inside beads have to be squeezed together forcing the actual tread area into a tighter arc.

Like wireman said, get some tapered head bearings some good bronze bushings or bearing for the swingarm. I've heard that the older bikes don't like radial tires, so I've tried to stay away from them. I did have Kenda Challenger on the back of my 1000 until I swapped to 17" rims. I did like the Kenda and would recommend them.

The original ZR-7 of the early 90's up to the point where they threw the old zx-7 motor in the frame are essentially the same as kz, gpz motors. The reason the horspower was done is due to EPA milder cams less compression and CV carbs. A zr-7 motor will bolt into Kz Frame except it does not have the lower mounting lug on the cases in the front. Everything else will pretty much bolt over onto a KZ650 or KZ750 including front end. The rear swing arm was mono shock and also about an inch and a half longer. It has no mounting points for twin shocks. Minor problem. The ZRX 1100 1200 swing arm actually will slide in to the stock frame with the exception of a little shimming. It also is about two inches longer than stock. But you can accept bigger rubber. The front end will also bolt right in with some different sizing on the tapered bearins in the steering neck. The problem now becomes frame twisting with all that moder rubber. The Zr-7 stuff is hard to find. A SV650 front end is identical to the Zephyr and far more easy to find. A lot of racers took the stock front end off for a GSXR front end and have them sitting around.
The ZR-7 motor can be spiffed up by sliding in GPZ pistons and cams. Still available. The Zephyr 550 also benefits greatly from simply putting in GPZ pistons and cams. My wifes Zephyr 550 dynoed at 69 horsepower with this set-up. The pistons slide right in and the cams dropped in. We slotted the cam gears and degreed them up. hope this helps.

Well the EBay seller for the KZ1000P swingarm offered me a 77 KZ1000 arm instead, so I took that. Is going to go into a 78 KZ650 frame and would give me a little beefier swingarm and just about a 1 1/2 inch longer axle point. However, what I have found out so far on comparing them side by side, is that the KZ1000 arm is about .125 wider at the outsides of the bearing tube than the KZ650 arm and either the frame bushings or the arm will have to be trimmed to fit the arm into the KZ650 frame. Has anyone else done this swap and which side of the problem did you trim?

The other thing I noticed that surprised me, was that the inside of the KZ650 arm is actually wider at the front area than the KZ1000 arm, it looks like it is about 1/4 to 3.8 wider, so it looks like it will actually allow a wider tire on the KZ650 arm.

Just some findings in case anyone is interested in this swap. Have not decided if it is worth trimming the KZ1000 arm to fit yet or not