Morris Mag Questions

[srsupertrap]

Hello,
I purchased this "NOS Morris Mag" rear wheel for my GS1000 on Ebay back in 2006 for a reasonable price, I was told it was a 18" & 2.75" wide. When I inspected it I cannot find any manufacturer's P/N or mold marks etc. The seller stated he believed one of the the current aftermarket wheel manufacturer's purchased the Morris tooling and was producing wheels but he wasn't sure and I have not seen any for sale except the occassional straggler on Fleabay.

So, if anyone is well versed on the subject of Morris Mags or knows the story I would love to hear from them. I am still looking for that matching 19" front wheel to complete the set. Perhaps they are made in China?


Thanks,

[sharpy]

?

Simply test is to lift it up. Morris mags where made from magnesium. ( im sure anyway) and will be very light. Either that or throw it in a fire and watch how it burns. if its magnesium stand back and watch the "glow: lol. Same a s VW gearboxes, great fun at the beach at nite. Plus when they corride its a white powder that forms.

[tone]

That looks exactly the same the lester mags i had on my 550 20 years ago maybe you would find a match looking for those as well :-D

[posplayr]

Google Morris Magic Magic

No expert, just a goggle gun slinger

There are a set of Harley wheels on ebay at the moment; bid is low and the front is 19"; Maybe you can adapt. I bet the wheels are the same just have different hubs installed depending on the bike they came off of.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Harley-Sportster-Vintage-Wheels-Morris-Mags-Rims_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35578QQihZ016QQitemZ260209700582QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Also see this link for what can be done to modify the wheels.

http://www.650motorcycles.com/RichPollack101.html

http://www.rebelgears.com/specialwheels.html

Posplayr

[Steve]

Do you want to match the material or just the look?

Kawasaki wheels from the same era as our GSs look just like that.

You will have to paint it, but here is one that is 19 x 1.85.

Seems that only their LTD series (similar to our L bikes) had the 19" front wheels. There are a bunch of 18 x 2.15" wheels available. I just did a search on eBay for kawasaki kz wheel. There are several axles and wire wheels, too, but you will see several front and rear wheels.

.

[Frankenzuki]

morris wheels

Not all the morris wheels are magnesium. They were also produced in aluminum.

[1980GS1000E]

At least you put a napkin down before putting it on the kitchen table!

[Commodus]

I don't think those are mag, unless those silver bits are paint. Magnesium corrodes, it needs to be painted.

[Big T]

It looks just like the wheels on my 81 GPZ550, only wider.

[1980GS1000E]

Kawasaki had a deal with Morris and used their wheels on many models. I would love a set, but would Kawasaki wheels fit a GS?

[srsupertrap]

Yep, Morris made both magnesium & aluminum alloy versions of their wheels. I believe this particular one is the aluminum version because it's not super light. The flakey stuff is the clear coat peeling off the brushed aluminum. Another Ebay seller said they also produced standard wheels with open hubs so they could be adapated to different makes & models. I have seen both the modular hub & fixed hub versions on Fleabay. The fact that they are no marks just strikes me as being very very odd.

In my opinion the performance advantage of the Morris wheels are they wider than the Zuki Enkei (2.75 vs. 2.15) and in the front (2.15 vs. 1.85). So looking at the rear wheel given the same 130 wide rear tire the resulting tire profile radius is larger making the cross sectional view flatter. Don't know how that will translate into real world handling and at this rate I may never know.

If I ever find that matching 19" Front I plan to paint all the back portion with VHT gold epoxy. I personally like the look of those old gold wheels.

Reagarding the Kawi wheels, how would you mount the brake discs? Different pattern right.

[Steve]

If I ever find that matching 19" Front I plan to paint all the back portion with VHT gold epoxy. I personally like the look of those old gold wheels.

Reagarding the Kawi wheels, how would you mount the brake discs? Different pattern right.

Did you happen to notice post #5 where I gave you a link to a Kaw wheel that was GOLD? :shock:

How to mount the brake disk? Might be easier to use Kaw disks and make offset adapters for the calipers if necessary.


.

[first timer]

the wheels i have on my bike are lester wheels a 16" rear 3" wide and a 19" front 2.15 i think.

here is a fitmaent guide that came with my rear lester that explains how to pick a proper tire acording to rim width.
www.grimp.net/ryan/tire_to_wheel_fitment_and_tire_change_guide.zip

i think the morris wheels you got are plain jane kawasaki or yamaha wheels of the same era.

this is what a proper magnesium morris mag looks like