[Candyman]

Hello all, I'm just searching for some info about a mod I had heard about. I have heard that in race circles it was the thing to do to put an F2 front end on the EX500 for the brakes and suspension upgrade. I'm looking for more info on this mod. Anyone here done that? Ever heard of it being done? Any resources to point me to?

The 500 has 37mm forks and the F2 has 41mm's, so I know it would not be a direct fork swap. I'm thinking it would have to be a ex500 stem pressed into F3 triples, but I'm looking for a more definate answer.

Anyone who could help me or point me elsewhere, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks

 

[fog]

Well you'd have to modify that statement by Identifying which race circles you are referring to. In mine (Loudon International) that is not true. The setup you referring to carries a great penalty in weight, all bad unsprung kind. The advances in Brake pad Technology had allowed the EXs single side caliper to match any two disc system you cloud choose. If you were going to a front end that superior fork with real dampining, and maybe some adjustablity then great, but don't bother for the brakes.

Nobody ever went faster at Loudon than Jeff Wood on a stock EX, on any sort of modified EX's, reguardless of how much power they claimed or what chassis mods they may have made. I don't think he could have ever even touched the brakes.

FOG

 

[Candyman]

Point well taken.

With what I'm planning on working with, adding a bit of unsprung weight is not a huge issue for me. The bike I'd be doing it to is more a fun/project bike than a performance dream meachine. I enjoy the tricks of modifying things as much as I do riding, so for me I get more enjoyment out of doing mods that are seldom done for whatever reason.

That being said, if a singe sided front brake with up to date braking equip is just as good, I may stick with it. Could you point me towards a fork swap option then? I'd rather not just do mods to the stock ones, just for my purposes. So do you know of any fork swaps done?

I still have to believe that this F2 mod has been done, so if anyone else has come across it please post up. If for nothing else I'd like to know how it was done.

 

[fog]

Ok, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with changing the forks. and the F2 swap is a good one. I believe all that you need to do is to change the bearings in the head and make some spacers. I think that the older F2 forks aren't much better that the exs though.
Maybee somthing like a newer upsidedown set with full adjustability would be nice.

FOG

 

[bitzz]

I swapped a GSXR 750 front end onto an Ex. It was stiffer, more brakes, bigger front tire.

It threw the decent balance that an EX has out the window, moved the flex from the fork to the steering head, made it push ... no...PLOW through corners, the brakes were too much for the poor limp spagetti frame.
Went back to stock tubes and sliders with Race Tech emulators. EBC pads with the floating rotor, change the fluids often. Been happy with that. Never had, or needed a steering dampener.

So then we put the gixxer front end on a Norton.....
It was worse than the EX.

 

[Candyman]

bitzz, mind sharing exactly what you swapped/had to fabricate to mod the gixxer front on? Not that I'm going to try it, I'm just curious on what you had to do to make it fit.

 

[bitzz]

Sure...I used the triples from a '89 GSXR and the post from the EX, tapered roller bearings (don't remember the number) AND had to build up the steering stop on the EX.
It was pretty simple, very little machining. I think the Honda conversion is just as simple.

 

[OreoGaborio]

if you're still curious about the F2 swap, here's a page you'll be interested in... but I still wouldn't really recommend it.

http://mfes.com/wade/F2front.html

 

[McBiggity]

i raced a modified Ex500 my first year- FZR swingarm, F2 forks. I think my best lap time was a 1:30.
On my stock ex500- Race-tech front end- I ran a 1:25.
-
attached is a pic of the modified Ex i had last year.


[attachment deleted by admin]