GS1100 front and rear end questions

Can anyone give me some info on a GS1100 front fork and rear swing arm swap? I tried the search function but didn't come up with much, what are the pro's and cons? From a google image search the GS1100 isn't an inverted front shock set up, is the rear arm lighter or stiffer than the stock KZ1000 arm? The GSXR front end is inverted, correct? One might be coming up for grabs locally and I'm just thinking ahead to what I want to do with my 78 sooner than later.

Anyone using this set up?

Are you asking about the GS front end or the GSXR front end, I'm confused! :blink:

Gs1100 is what I'm asking about.

The gs1100 frontend is an overly complicated piece of crap in myb experiance anyway,the 82-83 swingarm is ok

I wouldn't use the GS front end, it is basically the same idea as the KZ front ends. The rear swingarm however is much stiffer. Made difference on handling with my KZ650.

The 1980/81 GS1100 front end had adjustable damping, adjustable spring preload and air valves for varying air pressure. It could be adjusted from interstate cushy to sport riding firm pretty easily. It was clearly the best front end available - in 1980. It will not impress next to a modern front suspension setup, but is significantly better than what you find on a Z running through 1980.

faffi wrote: The 1980/81 GS1100 front end had adjustable damping, adjustable spring preload and air valves for varying air pressure. It could be adjusted from interstate cushy to sport riding firm pretty easily. It was clearly the best front end available - in 1980. It will not impress next to a modern front suspension setup, but is significantly better than what you find on a Z running through 1980.

I had an 82 1100e ill handling,non cornering piece of junk! :sick: :laugh:
One of the first things i did was eliminate the anti dive crap,made the brakes work a lot better.
good luck doing anything remotely resembling sport riding on a gs1100e,unless you like going in a straight line the damn things corner like an occ chopper in stock form. :woohoo:

Well I'm passing on it, the guy selling is a PITA. Trying to get him to email me pics of everything has been like pulling teeth, plus I really see a modern inverted front end and mono shock swing arm on my 78 when the time comes. The thing that initally caught my attention was the already braced frame that came with the package.

wireman wrote:

faffi wrote: The 1980/81 GS1100 front end had adjustable damping, adjustable spring preload and air valves for varying air pressure. It could be adjusted from interstate cushy to sport riding firm pretty easily. It was clearly the best front end available - in 1980. It will not impress next to a modern front suspension setup, but is significantly better than what you find on a Z running through 1980.

I had an 82 1100e ill handling,non cornering piece of junk! :sick: :laugh:
One of the first things i did was eliminate the anti dive crap,made the brakes work a lot better.
good luck doing anything remotely resembling sport riding on a gs1100e,unless you like going in a straight line the damn things corner like an occ chopper in stock form. :woohoo:

The front end on the 1982/83 model was quite different to that of the earlier version.