I have the chance to pick up a complete Buell front end minus the calipers for $450. It comes with LSR billet upper and stock lower tripple, forks, bars, carbon fiber fender, wheel, used tire, and brake rotor.

What do ya guys think? I searched and couldn't find if anybody has done this swap before.

With a little work, I can make it fit. Or, hold off for a CBR1000 front end? I've been pricing those out and DANG those are expensive ($700-$1000)

 

Personally, call me a poser if you like, but I could NEVER mount up a front end with that ridiculous single disc brake (ZTL) set-up.... but that`s just me......

There are other options too, some have used GSX-R, R1, ZX, Ducati, Aprilia,.... front ends, you are not limited to the CBR.......

 

I'm the opposite... that single perimeter disc brake makes me all giddy inside!

Which Buell is it from? I know nothing of the forks themselves; you may want to see what Jamie has to say about the quality of the internals.

 

I say stick with Honda parts.

If you saw the buell have the problems I saw at Mid Ohio you wouldn't consider it. At first I saw that single perimeter disc and thought hmmm that's interesting.

After the guys first race he pulled in and started packing up early. He roasted and totally warped the single disc and couldn't ride anymore. Those were racing conditions so it would probably be ok on the street....but personally, I'd be embarrassed with buell parts on my Jap bike.

 

IIRC, Buell used Showa forks, so the same supplier as Honda.... I would imagine the forks themselves are probably ok, I just can`t get past the braking system. While (I imagine) slightly lighter in terms of static weight, the larger diameter of the rotor (again, I imagine) would likely have a higher moment of inertia than smaller dual rotors.... in other words, different for the sake of being different while offering nothing in the way of benefits that I can see

 

Well, scratch the Buell idea. Right after posting this, I came across some 2007 CBR1000RR forks (have 20k miles on them) for less than a couple bills. One of the forks have some light scratches on it where the lower tripple goes, but they will be sanded down and painted or anodized anyways, so it is a fantastic deal!

 

I think that's why I like them

I imagine you're right in that having the moment of inertia pushed out that far with all of the mounting hardware it's probably a net loss, but good on Buell for at least making a unique OEM product.

 

As for the Buell braking system, that was the whole reason for wanting to try that front end. It just seemed like a superior braking system, having the rotor out near the edge of the wheel. However, after the issues brought up now, I think not.