R1 on FZR

[Sparky 61]

Hi, I have a 1990 FZR and I have been playing with it a bit, I have a set of R1 5VY forks and Yolkes which I am going to put onto the front end (I have already managed to put a Fireblade rear end onto the frame). What I want to know is, has anybody already done this? Headstock bearings are not a problem, the brakes are, the 5VY has the Radial callipers, and I wondered if these would fit the front wheel of the FZR? or whether I am looking at a new front wheel in it's entirety? If so, I will have to look at whether the rear wheel from a 5VY will fit the rear end of a fireblade. I know I should leave it all alone, but I am an Engineer and these things just challenge me

Once I have all the parts here together (lots in the powder coaters at the moment) I will let you know how it goes when I start to out it all back together.

[DonTZ125]

Mixing and matching significantly different components is always fraught with ... interesting challenges. Many things can be dealt with by using different sized bearings and spacers. It comes down to try it and see. Full front-end swaps are always easier, especially when combining multiple changes in design philosophy - USD forks, radial brakes, internal vs external flux capacitor, etc.

One thing to watch for is the overall fork length - IIRC, the R1s were notably shorter than those on the FZR, leading to significant changes in the bike's geometry. I could be thinking of something else ...

You have the parts in for powder before you checked to see if they'd even fit?!

[Sparky 61]

No Don, I have the frame and swing arm in for powder coating, the yolkes and other parts will go in once I can manage the fitting, but until I get the frame back I can't try the bearings and forks in. If all else fails I have some USD forks from the later FZR and Yolkes (which have been manufactured) that I know fit well and work (from an earlier build on this bike) so I can use those, but I just managed to get my hands on the R1 forks and yolkes cheap so if I cant get them to fit, it will be an ebay item

[DonTZ125]

Ok - now THAT makes sense!

By the way (pet peeve of mine, spelling Nazi alert) - it's "yoke" on a bike (or a team of oxen), "yolk" on your fried eggs.

[Bad Kaw]

Do you have photos??? Sounds like a cool project.

[Sparky 61]

Bad Kaw, sorry mate I have been away working in Australia. I have just posted an update with pictures on the FZR 1000 and Hybrid Sportbike forums. It is coming together and getting there now (at last) after a lot of head scratching and a bit of help with bearing manufacturers, shock manufacturers and a real biker friendly engineering workshop down the road