FRONT FORK SWAP

Hey:

I´ve ran into a nice 1992 Ninja 600R fork, complete with lower and upper holders, wheel, brakes, fender, handlebars, front master cylinder, etc. even the insruments panel...

All parts come from a bike that was hit sideways (in the rear) by a car, ended really beaten and actually twisted, but the front end is still intact and the scrapyard will sell it for a real low price.

Is it difficult to fit it in my ´84 Gpz550? Does this kind of job involves major mofifications at the front sections of the frame? Is the supposed improvement in suspension, comfort, braking and handling really worth the pain and money?

Cheers.

I put the same forks on my `84GPZ 750.They were the same size +even used same bearings!I don`t know if the 550 is same size as 750.Do like I did+put both triple trees side by side+take measurements.Should still be a real easy swap.I`m putting the ZX6 swingarm on my bike now.

Thanks for your input GPZScott!

Judging from the pic, I can say that the 750 is the same bike as the 550, except for the extra 200 cc.

Anyway, I'll follow your advice about measuring everything first just to be sure...

BTW, is that a Supertrapp on your bike and are those front rotors the original ones from the Ninja? They look bigger to me, I think that your fork is from a 1992 Ninja ZX-6 (ZX600-D3) and the one I´m talking about is from a 1992 Ninja 600R (ZX600-C5), which are indeed very different bikes.

Anyway, let´s see what happens. I´ll go to the scrapyard to take some measures and pics, will post them as soon as I can.

Cheers

Does this change the size of the front wheel?

Sure thing, my ´84 Gpz550 (ZX550A1) has an 18 inch front wheel, with the complete fork swap it will go down to a modern 16 inch front wheel.

Your bike (KZ550H2 Gpz) comes with the older 19 inch front wheel, a more dramatic decrease in size.

I think a smaller front wheel gives the bike quicker steering, right?

Yes,they`re rotors that came with front end.The donor bike was a `92 ZX6 which came with 17" wheels.I learned EVERYTHING about my bikes from KZrider.The archives have a ton of great info.

now you guys ARE killing me..... I have two unused zx600R Ninja front ends lying in my garage... maybe one should go onto "Mad Max" the KZ550 project? Just concerned about the geometry change. AND the following change that might be needed in the rear. hehehehe

GpzScott, I thought that both the ´92 Ninja 600R and the ´92 ZX6 had 16" front wheels, but apparently the 600R comes with a 16" wheel and the ZX6 with the 17" one...

Medic24: In your place, I´ll follow GpzScott´s advice: measure things carefully and calculate the risks and pros and cons. Personally, I think that the little geometry change will make your KZ550 a quicker steering bike and a better looking one too. But I´m no expert in chassis geometry though...
:whistle:

Cheers

GpzScott, I thought that both the ´92 Ninja 600R and the ´92 ZX6 had 16" front wheels, but apparently the 600R comes with a 16" wheel and the ZX6 with the 17" one...

Medic24: In your place, I´ll follow GpzScott´s advice: measure things carefully and calculate the risks and pros and cons. Personally, I think that the little geometry change will make your KZ550 a quicker steering bike and a better looking one too. But I´m no expert in chassis geometry though...
:whistle:

Cheers