After a few glances back and forth... and after several bent tie rods on the zuki I decided to swap to the R setup.. they are stronger and don't weigh anymore than the stock cheesie hollow tube.

Note: To those that try this, if you run a standard width A-arm you will have to trim off a few threads off each end.
Don't worry, you'll have plenty of adjustment still.

After examining the 06+ 450R spindle versus the Z spindle they are almost exactly identicle. If there is a difference it's not by much, nothing you can see with the naked eye.

So after trimming two threads from either end of the tie rods, and ordering the replacement tie rod ends, I began the install.
The ends fit perfectly in the spindle. However the aftermarket ends that I got were just a fuzz longer than the stock 450R ends.
Which meant I had to do a little more shaving to get enough adjustment.

After the setup was done, let me tell you it was easy, it was time to ride.
Back when we had the table top on the practice track is when I did this swap. Cause almost every time I landd and hooked into turn 1 the front end was all out of whack.

I took it full bore over the table top, landed flat and fast, hooked turn 1 and kept going. No wobbly steering or anything out of line.

I don't know why you don't read about more people doing this swap. the stock 03 style ends(I believe the same until present day) are a weak design.
Which for trail riding isn't so bad unless you're an aggressive trail rider like I used to be. They don't hold up very well to airing out water bars on the trails.

Anyway, that's all there was to the swap. So if you are having issues, or just don't like the weak stock design, it cost about 30 bucks when I did it, and it was very worth it.

soon your gunna have a z with all honda parts
On this note i have some +2mm thicker tie rods and ends for sale

Zophar have fun on your suzonda

lol.. well I use a little from this and a little from that..
The honda has zuki parts on it.. lol

Those Honda tie rod ends are far superior to anything else that out there - good move, man. They've been using the same stuff since the 250R, in 1986, and nothing else out there has been better.

They definitely are tougher. Adjustment is a snap on them too.

As of right now i am running stock control arms with a very bent tie rod, i was going to buy some stock oem replacements but im glad that this caught my eye before i did!

Like it says above, the constantly bending stockers are what made my mind up to do this swap. I'll never go back.

when installing the tie rods, should there be any weight on the machine or should one just let the shocks come to full extension by lifting the front end?

If you're talking about setting your toe, I'd let it sit at sagged height, or put a block on the seat to sag it out some.
For initial installation, you can go either way, but to do the alignment part it is better to let the machine sag.

ok, thanks!

Sorry to bring up an old topic but would 400ex rods and ends work?

Can't remember how EX rod ends are made. If the end threads ON TO the tie rod then they are the good style.