Questions about M796 gsxr fork swap

[gitter]

so I kicked around the idea of the 848 fork swap and decided against it due to the fact that the forks will stick so far out of the top of the triples and I still want to run bars instead of clip ons. I decided to look into a gsxr fork swap but have some questions. I've been googling and reading all night but heres what I havent found yet.

1. Is it possible to do this swap and retain my brembo calipers and abs?

2. I'm assuming I'll have to swap to a gsxr front fender?

3. Has anyone on this forum done this, and do you have a parts list compiled?

Thanks in advance

Gitter

[malamikigo]

I have all of the parts in my possession to do this swap besides brakelines, which are en route and will be here friday.  Probably tackle the swap next week or the week after. 

I do have a complete parts list, and will be posting a step-by-step walk through of my swap.  In the meantime, to answer your questions:

1) No. If you want to retain your brembos you'll need to do a swap from a fork off another duc model with the same caliper bolt span. Some superbike models, or an 1100 fork, etc. I'm using GSXR calipers as well.....tokicos. I can't speak directly to what happens with the ABS, unfortunately.  My bike doesn't have ABS, so it's not a concern for me.

2) I'll be running my monster fender.  All that's required is fabbing a small bracket to adjust for the mount differential.  Very basic, and the monster fender is WAY better looking.

3) Parts List of specifically what I am using:

- 2008 gsxr 600 forks (ebay)
- 2008 gsxr 600 front calipers (ebay)
- 5mm caliper spacer (custom made by a friend)
- Gsxr caliper bolts (stock are long enough with the spacer)
- 5mm 6-bolt brake rotor spacer (i have a link for purchasing)
- 2008 gsxr front axle (ebay)
- 1mm shim for the lower triple (i have a link for purchasing)
- Longer brakelines (i ordered build-yourself style, so that I can size them appropriately...i have a link for purchasing)
- axle spacer will need to be measured and custom fabbed to have your wheel centered.

A photo of most of my parts, ready to go.  The only things not pictured are the caliper spacers, which hadn't been fabbed yet at the time of this picture, and the brakelines:



Gsxr forks will also sit above the top triple clamp a fair bit, but not enough that you won't be able to run handlebars instead of clipons.  That's all for now.  Stay tuned and watch for a detailed thread on my fork swap.  I can also link you to several other threads that I referred to when figuring out what I needed for this swap.

[SpikeC]

 As far as the handle bars go, with the fork tubes above the triple you could use clipons with small risers, like Speedymoto or others make.
The ABS is regulated by the sensor on the wheel, the caliper should not matter.

[malamikigo]

As far as the handle bars go, with the fork tubes above the triple you could use clipons with small risers, like Speedymoto or others make.

Yes, eventually I'll be switching over to riser clipons myself.  Was just stating for the OP that he'd still be able to use handlebars with the gsxr fork swap.  Just may encounter slight difficulties in doing adjustments to the fork dials.

[Stormtrooper]

As far as the handle bars go, with the fork tubes above the triple you could use clipons with small risers, like Speedymoto or others make.
The ABS is regulated by the sensor on the wheel, the caliper should not matter.

The ABS sensor is actually on the left side rotor not the wheel.  The ABS 'phonic wheel' bolts onto the rotor itself.  In order to retain ABS you would need to reuse the Monster rotor I presume.  Then you would have to find a way to mount the ABS sensor on the new fork since it wouldn't have the provisions for the mount like the Monster fork does.

[malamikigo]

^ Good input on the ABS.   This swap does retain the monster rotor, so that aspect should be fine.  Mounting it on the fork - guess you'd have to figure out something around that! Could maybe use the extra fender mounting point that the gsxr fork has, plus a fabbed bracket.

[SpikeC]

 That's why God made J B Weld!

[gitter]

The more I think about it, would a new rear shock be a better place to start my suspension adventures?

[Slide Panda]

With the ABS factor at play with the forks - it might be.

Some 1100 forks, or cartridges that fit the 796 forks might be the way to go up front. Then you can retain the same rotors and your ABS

[malamikigo]

Yea - 1100 forks would be the absolute easiest and best option.  Totally plug and play, could probably do the whole swap in under an hour.  However - gsxr forks are much more plentiful, and therefore, much cheaper.  AND, they're sprung stiffer.  If you're a bigger guy like me (210 lbs), if you got 1100 forks you'd STILL need to respring them as well.  The gsxr forks I bought (2008 gsxr 600) are sprung MUCH closer to what I need for my weight.

[gitter]

On a side note, would the ohlins rear shock be a better route to go before a fork swap?

[Curmudgeon]

On a side note, would the ohlins rear shock be a better route to go before a fork swap?

IMO yes.  In fact if you fit a DU-737 Ohlins and set it up properly, you may actually discover that your forks aren't bad. I'm fairly sure a switch to Redline fork oil would make them even better!

[AKducati]

A couple things I'll point out as I just put gsxr750 forks on my M796 ABS. The forks stick up considerably through the top triple if you want to retain the stock geometry, a bit over an inch if i remember right. I didn't have the stock bars on, so I'm not sure if you will still be able to use them or not. I had speedy moto tallboys and unfortunately they wont work with the gsxr forks. See in the picture in between where the top and bottom triple clamps hold the forks? That necked down area? Thats right where your riser clipons would attach and it's far too narrow. You're stuck mounting your clipons above the top triple, if you still want risers you'll need to extend your clutch and brake lines to your bars. I use standard height clipons and it's a bit lower than stock, but not terribly so. The ABS wheel mounts up as it would with your stock forks, its the sensor that will take some fabrication to get on. I haven't tackled that yet so I have no advice to help there. Your brakes will feel super spongy until you get that sensor and your ABS pump cooperating again.

[gitter]

not to bring my own thread back from the dead....but how are all those gsxr fork swaps going?

[malamikigo]

not to bring my own thread back from the dead....but how are all those gsxr fork swaps going?

Mine's done.  I posted a thread on the "other" monster forum.