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Author Topic: Modern front end on a CB500/4?  (Read 9954 times)

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Offline Honda Brat

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Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« on: July 17, 2011, 07:28:54 AM »
hey guys, jusy wonderinf if anyone has come across swapping over the stock front end with a modern one?  I can get stuff machined etc as I have access to a machine shop and a very good friend who helps me out when I get stuck - but was hoping to use the standard yokes/trees - also a spoked wheel would be good.

thanks
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2011, 08:44:54 AM »


   That subject has been hit on quite a bit, in the past. Basically, I remember that the Suzuki GSXR front ends, after you swap out the triple tree stem on them, with the Honda one, work quite well. Just grind off the welds on the triple trees, so the stem can be removed (pressed out), the one from the Honda installed and rewelded. If memory serves me correctly, that's the main part. Do a search and you should find lots of input on that. Plus, others might chime in here and back up what I have said. Be sure to post your work with pictures and details, we LOVE that stuff. ;)
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Offline bluesmoke69

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2011, 08:47:14 AM »
Some good reading here. Use the search function in task bar on top to search for front end swaps, or fork swaps. Hope this helps.
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Offline Flying J

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #3 on: July 17, 2011, 11:45:04 AM »
There is no direct swap. Most front ends require machining a new triple tree stem. Also no modern sport bike has spokes so people have been using Harley hubs ( same diameter axle i guess) and machining them to fit sport disk ect. But like it has been said. Use the search there are a few builds with details.
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #4 on: July 17, 2011, 11:55:06 AM »


  If you want to know the different fork tube and triple tree stem sizes, check out ohiocaferacer's site. Greg has some good info there AND you can see what he did to mount a GSXR front end to his CB350. Like I said, there are SOME front ends that can be fitted, by swapping out the stem in the lower triple tree. It DOES require some grinding, the use of a press and proper welding up, after the stem swap. ;)

                                 http://www.ohiocaferacers.com/
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PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
"Because HE lives, I can Face Tomorrow"                  
 You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Just Takes A Little Bit Longer & A Lot More Patience!! 
             
Main Rides: '02 Durango, '71 Swinger & Dad's '93
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2011, 12:00:37 PM »
           BTW, Just trying to show that there IS a way to upgrade w/o major efforts.  ;)

   Here is a direct copy from Greg, over on his site.

      "the GSXR inverted fork front end is fully funtional. This crossover has been fairly simple, having only to press out the gsxr steering stem in the lower gsxr triple tree and then repressing in the removed steering stem of the cb350. The 2 stems, at the base are of the same size. Its amazing how versital these little bikes are."

                    And a picture of the front end installed:

                     

  And a better picture showing Greg's efforts:

         
« Last Edit: July 17, 2011, 12:04:35 PM by bill440cars »
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PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
"Because HE lives, I can Face Tomorrow"                  
 You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Just Takes A Little Bit Longer & A Lot More Patience!! 
             
Main Rides: '02 Durango, '71 Swinger & Dad's '93
                  Dakota LE 4x4 '66 CB77 & '72 SL350K2
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Offline Honda Brat

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #6 on: July 17, 2011, 01:36:19 PM »
massive thanks to you all - got my juices flowing, already fitting a cb750 swingarm and wheel into the 500/4 frame so a front end is next  ;D

oooh forgot to ask, what year GSXR is that in Greg's post??
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #7 on: July 17, 2011, 02:01:18 PM »
Quote from: Honda Brat on July 17, 2011, 01:36:19 PM
massive thanks to you all - got my juices flowing, already fitting a cb750 swingarm and wheel into the 500/4 frame so a front end is next  ;D

oooh forgot to ask, what year GSXR is that in Greg's post??

     '98 GEXR750, is the one HE used.  Check him out, he is a wealth of info and a Heck of a Nice guy to boot.
« Last Edit: July 17, 2011, 02:03:12 PM by bill440cars »
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Member # 1969
PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
"Because HE lives, I can Face Tomorrow"                  
 You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Just Takes A Little Bit Longer & A Lot More Patience!! 
             
Main Rides: '02 Durango, '71 Swinger & Dad's '93
                  Dakota LE 4x4 '66 CB77 & '72 SL350K2
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #8 on: July 17, 2011, 02:49:03 PM »
Quote from: Honda Brat on July 17, 2011, 01:36:19 PM
massive thanks to you all - got my juices flowing, already fitting a cb750 swingarm and wheel into the 500/4 frame so a front end is next  ;D

oooh forgot to ask, what year GSXR is that in Greg's post??

I think the 750 arm is shorter than the 500 so i am not too sure why you would swap that out. Most Gsxr models from 1984 onwards have the same sized base to the steering stem. I have a 1989 model GSXR 1100 43mm right side up front end, and after swapping the steering stem it all went straight in. There is a difference in triple clamp offset and the forks will hit the tank, i am having triple clamps with a larger offset made up to fix this. You don't have to do this but you will have a reduced turning circle with the modern clamps. Some modern front ends are also shorter than stock, reducing ground clearance, something else to think about when doing a conversion....Another thing, early GSXR swingarms bolt straight in, they just need to have the mono shock section removed and shortened....
Here's a 500 with a early GSXR750 swingarm...And early GSXR forks....



Mick
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Offline bill440cars

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #9 on: July 17, 2011, 03:24:16 PM »


       Hey Retro, thanks for throwing in here, you really added some up to date info. I was going with that was happening some time back. All that you provided, sure adds to it, eh?  8)

      Have to keep some of this stuff in mind, for myself.  ;)                                           
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Member # 1969
PRAYERS ALWAYS FOR: Bre, Jeff & Virginia, Bear, Trevor & Brianna ( Close Friend's Daughter)
"Because HE lives, I can Face Tomorrow"                  
 You CAN Teach An Old Dog New Tricks, Just Takes A Little Bit Longer & A Lot More Patience!! 
             
Main Rides: '02 Durango, '71 Swinger & Dad's '93
                  Dakota LE 4x4 '66 CB77 & '72 SL350K2
Watch What You Step Into, It Could  End Up A Mess!

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #10 on: July 17, 2011, 05:00:05 PM »
No worries Bill.... ;)
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Offline Honda Brat

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2011, 10:39:32 AM »
thanks for the info Retro, I have a swingarm for a CB750 and also my 500/4, the CB750 one is thicker and about an inch longer, I was thinking of making some axle plates to give a bit more length as it will drop the arse end of the bike and give an incline to the shocks, aesthetically it will/should look better?  I managed to get some forks the other day, not sure what they are off but they are a 35mm stanchion, slighlty longer and have mounting lugs in the right place, they were super cheap plus I can use my original yokes.  So maybe I can get away with these as opposed to going to the ballache of spending more money and pissing around with machining etc.  This is my 3rd build in as many years and the last 2 chops/bobbers I built I got carried away with.  I still want to try to keep a period correct bike but just 'beefed' up a little in the right places. Again thanks for the tips and advice always appreciated  8)
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2011, 03:47:19 PM »
Quote from: Honda Brat on July 18, 2011, 10:39:32 AM
thanks for the info Retro, I have a swingarm for a CB750 and also my 500/4, the CB750 one is thicker and about an inch longer, I was thinking of making some axle plates to give a bit more length as it will drop the arse end of the bike and give an incline to the shocks, aesthetically it will/should look better?  I managed to get some forks the other day, not sure what they are off but they are a 35mm stanchion, slighlty longer and have mounting lugs in the right place, they were super cheap plus I can use my original yokes.  So maybe I can get away with these as opposed to going to the ballache of spending more money and pissing around with machining etc.  This is my 3rd build in as many years and the last 2 chops/bobbers I built I got carried away with.  I still want to try to keep a period correct bike but just 'beefed' up a little in the right places. Again thanks for the tips and advice always appreciated  8)

Ok It must be the 550 that have a longer arm because some of the guys that race the smaller bikes use the 750 arm to speed up the handling, making the bike turn in faster. There is a guy in Cali that sells Dresda style swingarms in standard length and 2 inch longer, personally i thing 2 inches longer is a bit long. If you want a link i will post it for you.... ;)
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Offline Honda Brat

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #13 on: July 19, 2011, 09:03:21 AM »
funnily enough , my mate was telling me to look up Dresda yesterday.  He has been around Jap bikes for over 40 years, I googled Dresda and a UK site came up with a lot of stuff for the early Triumph stuff but nothing for Honda?  He also told me that Dresda was big for cafe racers?
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2011, 03:51:38 PM »
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Offline Honda Brat

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Re: Modern front end on a CB500/4?
« Reply #15 on: July 20, 2011, 09:38:36 AM »
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