option 2 wont work unless you are using forks of the same dia eg late model usd forks wont fit in your yokes (too big)

the simple way to do it is to find a complete front end of similar length to your stock one then either remove your stock steering stem from the yokes & fit it to the yokes of the new front end or have a stem made up to suit your application

If using gsxr yokes you may need to remove & re-make the lockstops either on your frame or on the new yoke

hope it helps

Is this for your '94 Katana?

I ask because don't the pre's have the speedo cable to the front wheel? If so, if you want to maintain the stock speedo-meter you'll need to find a compatible USD front end.

For my 2001, the speedo is electronic which will make things easier for me.

oh so in option 2 i must remove my stem from the clamps.... now this makes more sence!
oh im sorry... i didn't mean to say katana lower triple for option 2 i meant to say the triple from the gsxr with katana bearings and a spacer.

yes your are right i will have to get a new speedo but this will easily be corected with a magnet, and some jb weild.

This is a start!

I got ahead of myself when I posted my comments but I'm going to leave it for when someone does a search.


Not necessarily. What follows goes along with your "option 1" scenario.

After doing some reserch on Ron Ayers site, your speedo cable is the same as a 1990 GSX-R 750. The same 1990 GSX-R 750 "Speedo Body Assembly" as they call it, the part mounted at the front wheel, is also compatible to the 1995 GSX-R 750 wheel.

So, a 1995 GSX-R 750 front end would have USD forks and still utilize your stock speedometer. You may need to get a longer cable, though.

On top of all of that good news, the 1993-1995 GSX-R 750's use the same steering head bearings as our, yours and mine, Katanas.

So, at least for me and my 2001, it will retain the original steering stops and the ignition lock. For the pre's I do not know for sure, but you could buy one cheap on ebay and bring it over to me in Sac and we can compare it.




Edit to add: it appears the steering stem for the GSX-R 1100 has the same configuration as the GSX-R 750, so you could look into using that model as well. And yes, you'll retain your speedo-meter and it has the same steering head bearings.


Another edit: One other thing to be aware of is length of the forks. If you alter your fork length enough, you may have steering issues i.e. headshakes, tank slappers etc. You want to maintain as much as possible the same fork length as the original forks.




After all this typing and re-reading your posts, you are specifically wanting late model USD forks, which I assume for the radial brakes as well, so...never mind.

well i ended up getting early 90's gsxr 750 f/e... which i'm hoping should have the proper wheel for my speedo according to your research. which i don't mind either way because i have my eye on a nice dig speedo... but if i don't need it then oh well.

my original idea was to put busa forks on because they are a lil easier to find...

Thaz will tell you... the problem with that is finding the correct bearings. He ended up needing a special insert machined and getting custom bearings.

dude, you were all worried about getting 1100 forks for two up riding, now you want to put late model forks on your tuna for a bike that's like 130 lbs lighter then any katana?

Sorry for the off topic, but man, I'm just across the river from you.

Are you takling about wheel bearings or steering head bearings?

lets go for a ride some time then! ride to hamliton smartsville some time during the week sound cool?

steering head bearings.

If using the Busa triple then I can see needing to fabricating something for the top bearing. But it would seem to be easier just to swap stems.

It would be much easier just to go with the complete triple from the 93-95 GSX-R 750, same bearings and a miniscule height difference.

hey, I just answered the question, I have no desire to build a half-a-busa.