Is this a good idea? Or am I off my perch?

[Lissa]

Originally Posted by Red Herring

Truth is I bought it for a specific project, got it home in the evening on the trailer, and was so keen to start that I just ripped it to bits without waiting for a chance to ride it. I've ridden tricked up SV's before so I've got a rough idea what I'm getting into. At the moment it is a frame and engine, no front end, no back end, no nothing. Fortunately the pile of bits arriving to go on is almost the same size as the pile going out, still haven't decided on exhaust system yet though.

I presume you'll be going for a full system? Would be a shame not to, with the effort you're going to.

[Red Herring]

Yes I will. Spoke to James at JHS and he is reccomending M4 pipework married up to a Leo Vinci can. He customs makes a link pipe to sort out the diameter change. My only reservation is that with any one off replacement can be an issue, especially if I need it in a hurry and exhaust systems are always vulnerable to crash damage. My problem is I need a high level system that must also be road legal, they are really tight on noise limits in France, and Belgium is going that way.

[northwind]

andyb's spot on, mine would have made me money if I'd not blown the budget on luxuries like powdercoating, a new master cylinder, stuff like that. But I made good buys on the new parts and good sales on the old. The real danger is:

"Only thing is that worries me, is that I could end up with a gsxr front end which would require discs, and springs, and oil, and I'd be throwing the money away..."

All it takes is one damaged part and that's the budget out the window. And the problem is that it might take you some time to put the bits together, so if you (for example) buy a wheel today, but don't notice it's bent, and then finally do the swap in 2 months time it'll be too late to sort the wheel.

It also depends a bit on your weight, I was lucky with the K3 front end in that I'm very light and suited the stock valving extremely well, so I had no real need to upgrade or modify the forks. With the K4 ones, I'm actually too light but not badly. But if you weigh 20 stone or similiar, the GSXR forks will need set up just as much as the stock ones did, you can compensate a wee bit with damping but there's no replacement for a rebuild.

Billy, just do it, you know you want to!!

Have a look here for a list of parts that fit:

http://gregmli.blogspot.com/search/label/DIY

And look here for parts:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...tle=gsxr+forks
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...trypage=search
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...e=search&fgtp=

etc!!

The Gixer front end does seem a good idea, but only if you're lucky IMO.

So many rubbish bits out there that could soak up the pounds, unless you source a front end like Phil did. Now that was lucky.

I'm sticking with the original front end but with better internals and better braking components. Not that that plan is going too well either

Get some Braking Wave or Galfer front discs and springs and oil.

Me, lucky, I dunno what ya mean.

Originally Posted by northwind

andyb's spot on, mine would have made me money if I'd not blown the budget on luxuries like powdercoating, a new master cylinder, stuff like that. But I made good buys on the new parts and good sales on the old. The real danger is:

"Only thing is that worries me, is that I could end up with a gsxr front end which would require discs, and springs, and oil, and I'd be throwing the money away..."

All it takes is one damaged part and that's the budget out the window. And the problem is that it might take you some time to put the bits together, so if you (for example) buy a wheel today, but don't notice it's bent, and then finally do the swap in 2 months time it'll be too late to sort the wheel.

It also depends a bit on your weight, I was lucky with the K3 front end in that I'm very light and suited the stock valving extremely well, so I had no real need to upgrade or modify the forks. With the K4 ones, I'm actually too light but not badly. But if you weigh 20 stone or similiar, the GSXR forks will need set up just as much as the stock ones did, you can compensate a wee bit with damping but there's no replacement for a rebuild.

I think if I wasn going to do it, then I'd may as well get the new front end set up for my weight properly, otherwise, not much point in doing it - especially since I'm at the heavier end of the scale!

One question tho, would SV discs fit onto a gsxr wheel? Just thinking if I bought new discs for the existing front end, then changed it at the end of the summer - could I use these discs with the new front end? (if that makes sense?)

Originally Posted by phil24_7

Billy, just do it, you know you want to!!

Have a look here for a list of parts that fit:

http://gregmli.blogspot.com/search/label/DIY

And look here for parts:

http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...tle=gsxr+forks
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...trypage=search
http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/sear...e=search&fgtp=

etc!!

Thanks for the info Phil, really useful stuff there. I think unless I can source a good front end (worried about buying some heap of poo on fleabay), I might just stick with what I've got for now. With a new oil, and the forks properly set up, it will probably be more than enough for my abilities.

I'll keep looking though - its something I'd love to do if I could get hold of the parts. I was just trying to work out the costs based upon the fact that I will need a new front tyre and discs very soon...

Ta muchly!

Billy.

P.S. Dont want to copy you Mr Phil!

[northwind]

Originally Posted by Biker_Billy

One question tho, would SV discs fit onto a gsxr wheel? Just thinking if I bought new discs for the existing front end, then changed it at the end of the summer - could I use these discs with the new front end? (if that makes sense?)

The bolt spacing might be the same (I forgot to check) but other than that nothing'll line up, they're small and dished while GSXR ones are all larger and flat, unfortunately.

Originally Posted by northwind

The bolt spacing might be the same (I forgot to check) but other than that nothing'll line up, they're small and dished while GSXR ones are all larger and flat, unfortunately.

Thanks Northwind....soooo, if i get new SV discs, I cant use them on anything else - if I was to do the conversion I'd have to sell them.

Thats a plus point to doing the GSXR conversion then