GS1100 swingarm to KZ650 bearing questions

I have asked this before with no definite answer. I know I need a kz1000 20mm bearing to make this work. I am putting a unknown year GS1100 swinger on my 78 KZ650. I have the GS axle but when I looked at allballs there are so many choices.

I have a bare swingarm as well, my camera batteries just died so no pics at the moment. Do I need the GS1100 needle bearings and some spacers to pull this off? I just wanted to get a stock number for people down the road attempting this swap. I also emailed this to all balls so hopefully they will get back as well.

Don't have your answer, but I'll be watching for when you get it and/or post pics.

Yes you will need the stock GS needle bearings. You can use the stock inner sleeve from the KZ650, it slides right into the GS needle bearings. You also need washers on both sides of the swingarm about 1/8" thick. Each bike is a little different so the thickness might be thinner or thicker.
For the rear you can approach this one of two way.
1. Swap the wheel bearings for the 20mm ones from the KZ1000, the problem with this is since you have the B model it has drum brakes. You will have to drill out all the spacers and axle bore for the drum brakes to get the 20mm axle to fit.
2. You can use a stock KZ650 swingarm axle for the wheel axle, it is 16mm and the stock wheel bearings on the 650 are for 17mm. It is a little small but it does work. You can also search the junk yards for an axle that is 17mm in diameter and 13 1/4" long. That is what I ended up doing. I found one but have no idea what it cam off of. It was in a large box of axles.

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what year is this swingarm? 1981?

81-82 would be my guess,82 seems to be most common

wireman wrote: 81-82 would be my guess,82 seems to be most common

agreed its an 82

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationSeems like alot of Suzuki swingarms have sold lately from the oinkjohnson gang for $130 to $177.
Look at this guy on ebay who did not type Kawasaki into his ad, Damn, I missed this one!
This one slipped buy for only $32.00!


I might have to post one with the shocks soon!

Oh boy now I'm confused. I did some reading and I guess I need a kz1000 rear wheel? I got some gs shocks as well as the spacers. From what I read there is no bearings I can simply swap into my 650 mag wheel to make this work.

Why do you need the KZ1000 wheel? I have the GS1100 S/A on my 78 kKZ650. I'm using the stock 650 wheel. Use the stock wheel bearings and like I said you can use the swingarm pivot axle for the rear wheel axle. You will need to make two small bushings to allow the 16mm axle bolt to work with the 20mm GS S/A. It's really not that hard. I swapped mine in an afternoon. Here is a pic of mine before the crash.

OK now we are getting somewhere, here is what I'm working with....
The stock kz pivot/swingarm axle is at the top.
The stock gs1100 rear wheel axle is in the swingarm.
Below is a stock kz rear axel.
Along with gs1100 shocks and some various spacers.

I am bidding on a stock gs1100 pivot/swingarm a El on eBay right now mainly to get the bushings.

What will make this all work?
The bike has rear disc so I will have to drill out the caliper bracket if I use the gs axel.
Stock 1982 gs1100 needle bearings and grease/end caps on a kz or gs pivot axel?
Stock 1978 kz650 may wheel, I would like to run the gs rear axel because I searched many a junkyard to find it but I am lost as far as what bearings to use. I know 20mm or kz1000 but I need a stock number or something more specific than that, people give me a funny look when I ask for these.
And I guess gs1100 chain tensioners because I would like to run the gs axel Can I drill out the kz ones?
Sorry for being long winded I just want to have all of my ducks in a row when I start putting this bike back together.