XS360 fork swap question

[b5iveS4]

I've searched around and haven't quite found the information i need as far as swapping forks out on my 77 XS360. I found a guy selling some '02 SV650 forks and I'm trying to see how difficult it will be to put them on my bike.
My fork tubes are 33mm and the SV's are 41 so i know i'll need to use the triple clamps and triple tree from the SV. Am i going to have to modify my steering tube or could i basically hone my triple tree out to fit the bigger fork diameter?
Doesn't seem too safe but maybe someone has done it before and can chime in. Thanks

 

[VonYinzer]

DO NOT bore out the trees. You have a couple options which have been covered pretty extensively here. One is to swap the steering stems (not sure of the feasibility of this with the sv trees) amd the other is to do a steering bearing swap. Check all balls website for compatibility of bearings.

 

[b5iveS4]

haha, i thought about that after i wrote it and then found the all balls racing site and there is a bearing set for sale. Actually it shows 3 different bearings available for my application.
All 3 options have the same inside and outside diameter but the widths are all different ranging from 12 to 16. Not a huge difference but 2 of those have to be wrong. How will i know
which bearings to buy?

 

[VonYinzer]

Time to break out the calipers. Also, you need to measure the length of the steering stem. The sv one is probobly longer. It can be shimmed with high grade washers, but do it under the neck.

 

[b5iveS4]

where exactly am i taking that measurement from?

 

[crazypj]

Pretty sure it wouldn't be possible to bore 33mm yokes to 41mm.
I know Suzuki into Honda was easy and fitting Katana 41mm forks to XS650 was relatively simple.

 

[b5iveS4]

yeah, i'm going with a bearing kit and all new front end. I'd like to not kill myself on a sketchy front end

 

[b5iveS4]

Looking at the all balls conversion chart, I see that the top bearing has an inside diameter of 25 and an outside diameter of 48. Bottom bearing has an inside diameter of 30 and an outside diameter of 48. The measurement I don't understand is the width. Top bearing shows either 13, 15, or 16mm. Where do I get this measurement from? Bike is a '77 XS360 with forks from an '02 SV650

 

[crazypj]

That's probably the bearing stack height, I haven't looked at chart

 

[b5iveS4]

I found a list that shows my bike needs a 25x48x13 and a 30x48x13. All balls shows the 25x48x13 available but the bottom bearing it shows either a 30x48x12 or a 30x48x14. Which do I pick? Do I choose the 12 with a spacer?

 

[hillsy]

The SV bottom bearing is 30x55x17 so you'd probably want the taller bearing out of the two.

 

[b5iveS4]

Would I not want the bearing to match the steering tube of the frame?

 

[hillsy]

Yes - it goes ID x OD x Height.

So you want a 30 x 48 x whatever.

 

[b5iveS4]

Right and the frame is 25x48x13 and 30x48x13 but I can only the the bottom bearing in 30x48x12 or 30x48x14....no 13...so 12 and space it?

 

[hillsy]

Measure the bearing seat depth in your frame. If it can take a 14mm bearing, I'd be tempted to go for that but it all depends on the stem length as to whether it's all going to fit.

 

[b5iveS4]

I think it will take the 14mm. Oh well, i ordered it so we'll see in a few days if it will work or not