New front end on a K75

[kedw44@gmail.com]

I would like to meet anyone who has swapped a sport bike front end onto a K75.

 

[chasmrider]

what's wrong with the stock front end?

 

[kbasa]

what's wrong with the stock front end?

It’s marginally capable as compared to a modern USD fork? You can get brake technology from this century?

You’ll need to figure out a fender and deal with the switchgear, but I bet a GSX-R front end would be pretty terrific on that bike. Oshmoto sells the spindle, I think.

 

[pglaves]

I would like to meet anyone who has swapped a sport bike front end onto a K75.

I swapped K75S fork innards into a K75T. Does that count?

By the way - it did make a huge difference in front end dive, cutting the dive by about 50%.

 

[52184]

I’m not sure the expense and hassle of swapping a sport bike front end onto a brick-k would be worth it, even with an USD fork. There’s still the weight to deal with, the longer wheelbase, the frt/rear wheel alignment offset, etc. that impact handling—this is never going to become a cut-and-thrust sport bike.

There are vendors like Tractive that offer cartridge internals for the brick-k bikes, that can dramatically improve front fork action with much less investment in time and money. And then there’s basics, like every brick-k ever built should be on it’s second or third set of fork springs by now, with appropriate sag and preload adjustments included in the job.

Best,
DeVern

 

[kbasa]

I’m not sure the expense and hassle of swapping a sport bike front end onto a brick-k would be worth it, even with an USD fork. There’s still the weight to deal with, the longer wheelbase, the frt/rear wheel alignment offset, etc. that impact handling—this is never going to become a cut-and-thrust sport bike.

There are vendors like Tractive that offer cartridge internals for the brick-k bikes, that can dramatically improve front fork action with much less investment in time and money. And then there’s basics, like every brick-k ever built should be on it’s second or third set of fork springs by now, with appropriate sag and preload adjustments included in the job.

Best,
DeVern

I put RaceTech stuff in my airhead and it's better. But it's a long way from what my 916 was like in terms of compliance and control. By the time I got done with the billet top clamp, springs, emulators and additional bits, I was probably in for $600 or so. I did my own work, as well.

I think something that might be getting overlooked is that a modern fork usually comes with a wheel and a brake system. There's absolutely no doubt that you will have far more powerful braking, especially with larger rotors, radial brake discs and MC and generally a lighter wheel than the things that kBikes came with.

Better and modern brakes, less unsprung weight, better compliance and an ability to put a modern radial tire on the front? I'm in. If you compare what I spent on my airhead with the cost of installing a modern front end, complete, the price differential between "acceptably modified 80s technology" and "modern brakes and suspension installed on your bike" is like $400.

Seems like a deal to me if one is willing to work through the control clusters, pressing out the old spindle and bolting it all up.

Your mileage may vary, but let's be frank - the K75 was designed 45 years ago. There have been vast improvements in motorcycles and this is a relatively easy way to update these vastly interesting bikes, IMHO. I'd got with a K11RS radial wheel on the back and now you'd even have modern rubber to go with a more modern suspension and brake setup.

I think this'd be pretty sweet on a late R100R, as well, but that's just me.