Aus das GS 500 Wiki: www.GS-500.info
Customisation instruction for Bandit 600 rocker or RF 600 rocker:
Parts list
For the customisation you need the following parts:
- a) Rocker of the B6 (4,5 x 17 with 160/60/17)
b) Rocker RF 600 (4,5 x 17 with 160/60/17)
- Deflexion of the B6/RF 600 (This deflexion made from aluminium cast is identical in construction in models GS/B4/B6/B12 etc.)
- Spring leg of the B6/RF 600
- Deflexion lever of the B6/RF 600 (I used the ones of the GS, thus the tail won’t be just as high then)
- Rear wheel of the B6/RF 600 incl. brake disk and spacer
- a) Brake anchor with brake calliper and anchor rod (B12 and B6 are identical in construction)
b) Brake anchor with brake calliper RF 600
- Chain wheel mount and inner spacer of the B6/RF600 with the sprocket of the GS
- Chain guard B6/Rf600 or any that fits on the B6/RF 600
- Spacer of the B6/RF600 on the side of the chain wheel
- Offset sprocket (depending on year of manufacture and type, I’ll explain this later in more detail)
- Spacer for repositioning the foot rests, measures (I/A/L) 8,1 x 24 x 20-30 mm
- Fitting sleeves for the rocker mounting (smoothed and tempered), measures (I/A/L): 14,1 x 25 x 37 mm
- Chain slider B6/RF 600
First of all, I’d like to mention that all parts on the above list, unless marked a/b, are identical in construction.
As regards the measures, the rocker of the RF 600 is identical in construction with the Kult rocker of the Bandit, and from the year 1996 onward it is even 100 % identical.
That means the RF 600 was made without the brake anchor rod from 1994 until midyear of 1996, and with the arrival of the Kult Bandit it was adopted from this.
Keep this in mind when you acquire parts.
If you mount a Pop or a Kult rocker, a Pop rim (straight spokes) or a Kult rim (twisted spokes like the GS), is up to you.
The rocker of the Pop should be a little longer than the Kult's, but I couldn’t verify that yet.
The customisation is the same, anyway.
To show the different steps more clearly we carried out the customisation on an empty frame. If you are not well versed in technical matters, you should use the manual and dismount the rocker step-by-step.
We just dismounted the whole rocker assembly.
To not overload the customising instruction with pictures, not all of the steps are documented using images.
Basic things, like jacking up the motorbike and de-aerating the brake, are not explained, but assumed as being known or explained in FAQ.
Please check the bearings of the parts before assembly and replace as necessary.
Make sure that you grease the bearings, as this is easily forgotten.
The images of the mounting of the new rocker show the
RF600/900 rockers, but the steps are identical.
Customising instruction
1st step:
To dismount the foot rests plates including the brake lever etc., you best screw off the brake pipe backwards and drain or collect the brake fluid before.
2nd step:
Screw off the chain guard, unfasten and push forward the rear wheel, pull off the chain, screw off spring leg, deflexion and rocker (pictures 1,2,3), and pull out the wheel backwards.
Beware: By undoing this screw the rocker will drop, so keep hands etc. away from under the tyre.
Depending on the year of manufacture it will be necessary to unfasten the upper mount of the spring leg from above, taking off the bench and thus uncovering the spring leg from above first to dismount it.
Most models have a cap on the left side of the frame that covers an opening to introduce the tools for unfastening the upper mount of the spring leg.
3rd step:
Prepare the B6/RF 600 rocker for the mounting by carefully modifying/cutting the chain glider until it can be introduced together with the rocker. Then fit the rocker in the front with the bushes (No. 12).
Then mount the rocker and don’t forget to put the chain over it.
4th step:
Now we’ll mount the spring leg and the deflexion levers – insert the latter through the opening from under, and fasten them to the frame and to the rocker.
See the arrows in the picture.
I recommend you fasten the screws and nuts with the appropriate torques, which you find in the manual or in our FAQs (not translated so far).
 Spring leg with deflexion levers (12) |
5th step:
Now mount the tyre assembly, that is to say fasten the brake disc, fit the chain wheel mount with the chain wheel of the GS and insert it, don’t forget the spacers.
As soon as this is done, mount the back wheel, put the chain (the one of the GS) over the chain wheel, making sure that the spacers are well fitted, then you put the axle through the chain tensioner and after adjusting it you screw it tightly.
 Rim, chain wheel mount, spacers,... |
 New rocker with mounted rear wheel |
6th step:
Install the brake calliper and the brake anchor rod (see last picture), feed in the brake pipe through the grommet in the rocker and run it through to the front.
Connect then the brake pipe to the pump, mount the foot rest plates with the fitting spacers and de-aerate the rear brake.
The width of the spacers depends from the rest set you use.
Measures of the spacers:
Inner: 8,1 mm
Outer: 24 mm
Length: between 20-30 mm according to preference and footrest set
Screw on chain guard and Bob’s your uncle!
Looks like this then:
 completed B6-customising; thanks to Knut for the picture |
Looks like this when registered:
Concluding remark: the chain alignment is very important, as the chain does not always run straight and here and there needs adjusting, which can be achieved by inserting a different front sprocket, or by adjusting the chain wheel mount.
The one of the B6 can be turned off to size, or the one of the GS can be employed using a spacer, both solutions are feasible.
The measures in either case will have to be taken from the customised bike.
Tolerances in production
It has happened that these customised parts fit only with difficulty into the GS frame, which is due to the tolerances of the frame and the rockers. If need be, parts will have to be reworked.
Depending on the tolerances, it might also be necessary to rework the standard exhaust.
