Converting '78 CB750K to '92 Ninja 600 front end

[Buster]

I have been offered a scrap 1992 Ninja 600R for a good price (free), and plan on cannibalizing it for a few parts for my 1977 CB750 cafe project (such as rearsets, maybe levers, etc...)

However, I keep looking at pics of the dual-disk setup on the Ninja, and wondering whether it would be practical to look at swapping out the forks entirely. Unfortunately, I can't even find info on the Ninja 600R forks - what diameter the tubes are, whether the steering head is shorter. The bike is an hour out of the city if I want to pick it up, so I can't just go and measure it.

I have seen a bunch of more modern GSX-R upside-down forks put on CB's, and I would think this would be easier, but I understand I am still going to run into a lot of issues with rake, steering head diameter and length, brake placement (if I want to go with larger diameter vintage-style wheels, etc..)

Just wondering whether anyone has tackled a similar conversion, using an early '90's-era sportbike front end, and can offer any advice (or firmly talk me out of it...)

 

[VonYinzer]

http://www.ohiocaferacers.com/ - Look at the Tech Tips section.


http://www.allballsracing.com/index.php/forkconversion

 

[SaltCityCafe]

This is an R6 conversion but some of the information is relevant.

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=21648.0

I am doing an R6 conversion as well and I had no idea how many considerations there were when using a non CBR front end. Its worth the effort for the price but that link will help with some of the things you need to think about and how to solve them.

 

[Buster]

This is an R6 conversion but some of the information is relevant.

http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=21648.0

I am doing an R6 conversion as well and I had no idea how many considerations there were when using a non CBR front end. Its worth the effort for the price but that link will help with some of the things you need to think about and how to solve them.

Thanks - just looking through that now - lots of great info! I think that will be very similar to what I am considering

 

[mark13018]

All balls. They have conversions bearing sets for swaps that work. Use their conversion chart and it should tell you if it will work. Should be little to no modification other than the bearings.

 

[hillsy]

If it's the 600R with the 16" front wheel it's not a good candidate for a front end swap IMO. You want to get a 17" wheeled front end if you want to improve what you already have.

 

[Buster]

If it's the 600R with the 16" front wheel it's not a good candidate for a front end swap IMO. You want to get a 17" wheeled front end if you want to improve what you already have.

Hillsy, I think you are right. The more I looked at this, the more I realized that all the effort i would have to go through wasn't really justified by changing to a twenty-year old mediocre set of forks. If I am going to go through all the trouble of doing a neck and hub conversion, it will be for something worth it, like some of the GSXR conversions I have seen (maybe a project for next winter). In the meantime, I may consider the shortcut solution of going with a set of GL1000 forks so that I can at least get a dual brake setup without going through too much trouble.