GPZ 1100 fork balance tube position

[Stugill]

Mark.

I have the GPz 1100 A1 UT and my balance tube rests on the top of the bottom clamp.
If it helps the fork (compressed) in total is 701mm long.
The gap between the top of the bottom clamp to the top of the top clamp is about 228mm.

I measured 230 with a ruler at an awkward angle so I'm confident they are the same. When you say compressed do you mean with the front wheel on the ground when bike is on side stand or how did you compress it? Would you be able to measure it uncompressed with wheel of the ground by any chance?
Phil

The front wheel is off, spring out, Anti dive unit off etc whilst I sort the leak etc.
Compressed is with the lower part pushed up as far as it will go, so it's as short as it can get.
I'll measure it uncompressed tomorrow for you.

Stu

[Stugill]

Phil.

The total length of my front fork extended is 825mm, this is what I would describe as a resting measurement with it extended, I've not measured it whilst pulling down against the internal springs.

I hope this helps / makes sense.

Stu

[Skid Mark]

Yes I have the base and supplement but neither have this level of detail.

if you slide the fork tube up to the top surface of the top yoke (but not into the handlebar) where does the balance tube sit ? and does the top bolt still reach the fork tube ?

Sorry, to be clear, the fork is flush with the top of the yoke and the long cap bolt extends down through the handlebars to hold them down. I will post a photo in a minute.

[Skid Mark]

Phil.

The total length of my front fork extended is 825mm, this is what I would describe as a resting measurement with it extended, I've not measured it whilst pulling down against the internal springs.

I hope this helps / makes sense.

Stu

Hi Stugill,
I measured mine from the top of the tube to centre of the axle and got 797mm. Like you I couldn’t pull on the fork and measure on my own. That’s 28mm shorter for mine? Where did you measure to? Is it was bottom of fork we are probably pretty close.

[Skid Mark]

Yes I have the base and supplement but neither have this level of detail.

if you slide the fork tube up to the top surface of the top yoke (but not into the handlebar) where does the balance tube sit ? and does the top bolt still reach the fork tube ?

Sorry, to be clear, the fork is flush with the top of the yoke and the long cap bolt extends down through the handlebars to hold them down. I will post a photo in a minute.

The top yoke is just over20mm. The gap at the bottom of the balance tube is 17mm even if I steel 3or4mm on position of the tube I will have only 7mm or there about in the top yoke. Wtf!

[Hard Road]

the top of the fork being flush with the top surface of the top yoke is right, was the balance unit sat on the bottom yoke before it was stripped ? thats the usual position. if everything is in the exact position where it should be theirs a chance the balance unit can slide down due to road bumps, you could get a bit of black plastic tube cut to size that'll fit over the fork leg and sit in-between the gap.

[Skid Mark]

the top of the fork being flush with the top surface of the top yoke is right, was the balance unit sat on the bottom yoke before it was stripped ? thats the usual position. if everything is in the exact position where it should be theirs a chance the balance unit can slide down due to road bumps, you could get a bit of black plastic tube cut to size that'll fit over the fork leg and sit in-between the gap.

That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m happy enough to make up a spacer, my real concern is, what has gone on here. Have I dropped a bollock or was this always the case. Never minded the position of it before, just presumed it was down tight. I am going to compare to a turbo forks first chance I get. I wonder were they changed at some point for a set that where “near enough!”

[Hard Road]

the top of the fork being flush with the top surface of the top yoke is right, was the balance unit sat on the bottom yoke before it was stripped ? thats the usual position. if everything is in the exact position where it should be theirs a chance the balance unit can slide down due to road bumps, you could get a bit of black plastic tube cut to size that'll fit over the fork leg and sit in-between the gap.

That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m happy enough to make up a spacer, my real concern is, what has gone on here. Have I dropped a bollock or was this always the case. Never minded the position of it before, just presumed it was down tight. I am going to compare to a turbo forks first chance I get. I wonder were they changed at some point for a set that where “near enough!”

I could only find one pic of the balance unit and it was sat on the bottom yoke, all other pics its hidden behind the headlight fairing !!!!!!

[Hard Road]

found this, it shows you that Kawasaki had it resting on the bottom yoke, just the same with Suzuki's.

[Skid Mark]

found this, it shows you that Kawasaki had it resting on the bottom yoke, just the same with Suzuki's.

I can’t open the picture, but I’m sure it does sit on the yoke. Thanks for clarifying

[Stugill]

Phil.

The total length of my front fork extended is 825mm, this is what I would describe as a resting measurement with it extended, I've not measured it whilst pulling down against the internal springs.

I hope this helps / makes sense.

Stu

Hi Stugill,
I measured mine from the top of the tube to centre of the axle and got 797mm. Like you I couldn’t pull on the fork and measure on my own. That’s 28mm shorter for mine? Where did you measure to? Is it was bottom of fork we are probably pretty close.

Phil.

I measured mine to literally the bottom of the fork, in essence I latched the tang of the tape measure to it.
The top of my forks are in the same position as yours, ie flush with the top mount.

[moizeau]

I may be up the wrong tree but forget the length of the forks for the moment. The issue is the position of the balance hole in relation to the bottom yoke. Here's a pic of mine when I first got it home.

If you zoom in the balance pipe is sitting on the bottom yoke.
I've just measured the length between the top of the fork to the centre of the balance hole.
21.7cm
If your balance hole has the same position the only other thing that could change the pipe postion would be the yokes or fitting of.
If the complete fork was a different length the only thing it would alter is the postion of the front wheel because the top yoke is the datum.

[Skid Mark]

I slipped the tube down and this shows the position of the hole when tibe sits on the bottom yoke. Tube is as per previous photo in line with top of yoke. Nothing for it but as you suggest cut a spacer to prevent the tube slipping down. Inly explaination i can come up with is they are a slightly different replacement fork. Old bikes, old problems!

[Hard Road]

my thinking is, if both yokes are in the correct positions as per the factory spec then the only explanation is the fork tubes have been changed, either with aftermarket ones or tubes off a different model.
and as I said a simple fix is a spacer.

[Skid Mark]

my thinking is, if both yokes are in the correct positions as per the factory spec then the only explanation is the fork tubes have been changed, either with aftermarket ones or tubes off a different model.
and as I said a simple fix is a spacer.

I actually didn't see your post with pictures of your bike ( love the white!) I was trying to post on my phone ( small screen and big finger!)
I agree with all you say about overall lenght of forks, I was trying to establish if they are the correct ones.

I got 218mm to the centre of the hole from the top of the tube, so we are pretty much the same. The diffrence must be the space between the bottom and top yokes? I got 249mm top to top. would you mind measuring yours? Either way I agree about the spacer. I just want to find what the cause is.
P