Topic: beatn to death front end swap question from a newb.....

[kopptl]

id just like to know what model and or year of sport bike to look for when i go up to the boneyard next weekend,
im thinking of looking for a mid 90's cbr.... any advice links, or pictures wil be extremely helpfull!!!
thanks-tom

[kopptl]

almost forot, im looking to swap said front end onto a 76 cb750k

[Don R]

It depends on what you want it to do. the early gold wing is not too difficult for better brakes, if you want improved forks not so much.

[fastbroshi]

  The best thing you can go by is the steering stem size.  You have to be able to fit a bearing with the OD into the races of the CB750s neck, and the inner diameter has to match the stem of said sportbike.  And then there's the steering stem length issue, but that's easily resolved with spacers since they're all usually pretty close.  Smaller problems include lock to lock clearance for the tank and such but if you get that far that won't faze you.  That's pretty much it. 
  Someone can chime in here with cb750 stem dimensions, I have a 550 so I don't know.  Good luck.
 

[Retro Rocket]

I don't know about the CBR stuff but i am using a gsxr1100, 1989 model front end and the Honda stem pressed straight into the Suzuki bottom clamp and it all bolted straight up.

Mick

[Fabricator]

Talk to the guys at "ALL BALLS" bearings.  They can give you a list, and it will be based on the ID of the neck races, as they will supply the correct ID bearing for the donor front end stem.   Very good folks.

Fabricator

[faux fiddy]

Good post.

Dollar Bill had a swap ready, you need the triple trees forward, for anytihig. I guess that would make everything easier.

Other than that , find some 'upside down' ones, if they are there.

BTW, where is the scrap yard? Anyone else know of scrap  yards, close to the middle of the country?

[fastbroshi]

The middle of the country?  Just how far are you willing to go for a front end dude?   If it's any consolation, I just scored a complete CBR600f3 rear end for $200 shipped.

[faux fiddy]

The middle of the country?  Just how far are you willing to go for a front end dude?   If it's any consolation, I just scored a complete CBR600f3 rear end for $200 shipped.

There are deals out there, I understand, and swap out perfect. Everybody wants one, and they get it.

Still it's nice to brouse a junkyard, eh?

I remember seeing one between Abiline and Witchita Falls, with old stuff, maybe on 281 0r 287 , have to look for a map.  I was not on a mission other than 70 mph rubber-necking at the time, and it was an acre of bikes.

If you are at the right impound auction the whole bike goes for $200- $300 or a bit more.  Straight fork tubing, triples and working breaks is the bonus if they swap out.

[fastbroshi]

   What a whole bike for $200?!  Wow I gotta get out more.  Most of my buying is via the net: ebay, forums, etc.  Not too many good ones   around here.  I can think of one but they moved and primarily just pick the parts and mail them to you or something.  How crappy is that?  I'm at your front door and I can't go look around.
   You have a 750, so I'd start by looking at Industrial Cafe's thread, he moved over a gsxr 750 front end to his.  There's been a couple that've moved Gixxer front ends on 550s too.  One guy is in the middle of putting an SV front end on his 550, but he ended up having to trade stems on that one. 

[faux fiddy]

I am tinkering with 350's myself, but:

Look for your  local towing yards. Often by request  they have a card they send to you in the mail when they have an auction. Impounds do not always get picked up, and they get auctioned off with title. Good running stuff is often abandoned because of financial hardship. Leinholders probably get first notice to pay storage, are noticed and forfeit their clams.

Find out who tows cars for the city, and ask the towing co. to get on their mailing list. At a minimum they have to announce it in the classifieds. Make a friend who works there to give you a heads up on what is seized or comming up on the block. It's not buy-it-now like e-bay, it's like buy-it-now and pay cash now, and want it more than the other guy. Sometimes the auction fever becomes overbidding, but mostly the stuff goes cheap, especially if it doesn't demonstrate that it is starting and running.

Check one out, usually early on Saturdays. Impound lots have good stuff and $500 running bmw's and usually a couple bikes and boats among 50 cars. Take care not to bring a 25 year old non running pickup into your wife's yard, even if it's only $100.
'

Never know what will be up for sale.

[KB02]

I wish I had asked this very question before I did my swap. What you have been reading above is very true. Steering stem size is the key dimension that you need to be aware of. I swapped in the front end from an 89 GSX600F (Katana) and the stem was about half an inch too short. I had to have it lengthened. Front my understanding, the Yamaha F series (F1, F6) have a longer stem that seems to work, and I think the CBR's do as well.

WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS THIS:
Take REALLY good measurements from the steering neck on your K6. When you go to the bone yard, compare them to the front ends you are looking at. Once you find a front end that will be long enough (you can always use spacers if it's too long, but the closer the better), then call the guys a all balls and they will set you up. The CB750 has kind of an odd-ball sized bearing (48.5mm) that no other bike seems to share. They were able to help me by combining two different bearings to make one that fit for what I wanted.

Good luck, and keep us posted.

[kopptl]

retro rocket. i might look into a leter model gixxer, if they have one!
KBO2 is it all balls you say? would you happen to have their number?

[754]

Poor Boi.. with all these deals flying around in your neck-o-the-woods, why are you pissing around with a clapped out 350... (not intending to bash the 350)..

 Hey guys, stem is least of your worries, I have built a few between 50 & 100 bux.. easy to make
 

 Bigger problems. fork stops, length, fork offsets, headlight mounting,  those are far bigger issues and sometimes harder to change..

[verboten1]

I didn't HAVE to switch stems.

I am pretty sure I could have used the SV stem, but I wanted to use my brand new tapered bearings for the honda, and it also helped raise the front about an inch...those sportbikes are SHORT!






that was a mockup of the setups, as is, you can see the space at the top.




with the honda stem....works great. I do need to trim down the headlight mounts now though

[brandon]

OP: Check out this link here: http://www.ohiocaferacers.com/

This guy has compiled PDF files of stock fork sizes AND stem sizes. Click on 'Tech Tips' and the appropriate blue linked PDF. You will then see, in regard to your stem measurements, what will be a straight across swap with a different front end. Very informative! No searching around for answers too! Year and model numbers are provided! Good luck with the swap and let us all know what you decide to do! For me, I have a little CB400F and would like to swap ends too some time.

Actually, your bikes stem measurements are the same size as my CB400F. The only substantial straight swap I can see is that of the 1983 Honda VFR750C which will give you nice forks, dual brakes, dual piston calipers per side and probably much better dampening...as well as different wheel/tire combinations.

Brandon

[Retro Rocket]

retro rocket. i might look into a leter model gixxer, if they have one!
KBO2 is it all balls you say? would you happen to have their number?

Going away for 4 days, will post some pics when i get back, its a very easy conversion..

Mick