Suzuki GSX650F Forum - www.GSX650F.biz

I was looking at a friend's GSXR600 of 2002, and couldn't help but notice he had a standard, non inverted set of forks, of remarkably similar diameter, that had the exact, EXACT same brake calipers, mounted in the EXACT manner as the GSX650F... difference being the dampers were sprung stiffer, and are double-adjustable, as they should be imo....



all I need now, is a set of 2000-03 gixxer forks, and a 2000-03 gixxer front fender....

oh the humanity... just what I need, another pipe dream project...

The Tokico calipers we have on the bike go back to the '90s. They are on all kinds of bikes, even on old Kawasaki ZX6R/9R.

so now im doing homework... maybe a 300 dollar project... maybe less if i sell my old forks, haha

new springs and valves from racetech or similar will cost about the same.
won't make the forks adjustable but has the potential to provide just as good a ride when set up to you and how you ride.
there is the bonus that you know how the forks have been treated (as they are yours) and they are not another 5-6 years older (how many wheelies, stoppies, crashes etc have the second hand ones had?? kinda thing)

You might also find that you will still need the front wheel & axle from the GSXR. I would also check the dimensions of the triple clamps to make sure spacing is also the same. A friend of mine has some rebuilt '99 GSXR600 (SRAD I think) forks that we looked at putting onto mine but they run different caliper mounts, axle size so there would still have been a decent cost to adapt.

Al.

Funny you should post this. I was looking at the inverted forks from an 08 GSX-R750. They look like they are the same overall length.

On ebay, I found a set of forks with triple tree, calipers and a front fender for around $600. I haven't bought anything yet. But it is tempting...

it's hard telling if the new gixxer hardware uses bigger rotors or not though... could rope you into a gixxer front wheel, rotors, ect.

Apologies for this but after reading all of the below I am wondering what the point would be?
If the GSXR forks are the same size and all that why change what you already have if the ride will basically be the same?

I can't answer for the OP, but for me. The benefit would be more adjustability. Our stock forks are only adjustable for damping. There are more adjustments on GSX-R forks. Why not buy a GSX-R? The GSX F is way more comfortable. But, as a former CBR RR rider, I spent weeks dialing in my suspension to my weight and riding style. The stock forks on the GSX F are limiting.

For some of us, handling is more important than absolute horsepower.

exactly, I don't -want- a GSX-R.

I want a stiffer front end, with the ability to dial the dampers to -where I want them-.

If I wanted to take vicious 30 minute romps about town and backroads and hop off the bike with fatigue and pain like what the gixxer is good at, and for, I wouldn't be here.

if I had to guess, the ride won't be the same at all.

Fixed that for ya.

Need to keep in mind the GSXR forks will have springs and damping suitable for the GSXR of that era. I haven't looked up the specs of said bike that will be donating the forks etc but if the weights of the 2 bikes (GSXR and GSXF) are different then you will be in the same hole you are now with the stock GSXF forks. I haven't even mentioned the differences in rake and trail and wheelbase which will all have an effect on suspension and how it works from one bike to the next.

IMO I think the OP would be better served in getting a set of springs for the weight of the rider+bike and setting up the standard forks with appropriate damping control which will cost about the same as buying second hand GSXR forks and retrofitting them, with the possibility of finding they are not suitable and having to spend that money again to get the spring rates and damping correct.

If you are keen for a more adjustable fork then go for it, it will be a good mod to the front of the GSXF, just be prepared to pay a few more $$$$ to get the right spring rate and valving so you get what you need, not get wank

If you could find a front end off an '07 or newer Bandit 1250, that would probably be your best option. You'll get a stiffer fork with a bit more adjustability, and it was made for our frame.

For what it's worth, our forks are adjustable for damping via different weights of fork oil.