650 "G" Rear Tire question

[Macguyver]

I recently ordered in a new set of Bridgestone Spitfire II tires/tyres for my 1981 GS650G, using the sizing chart in the shop manual.

The local stealership mounted the front tire for me yesterday, and I took in the rear one today to have the new rubber installed. I just had a call from the stealership and they said that the rear tire is the wrong size.

So I dug out the print out of the tire sizes, and confirmed what I had ordered to be the correct size for the rear tire for my bike. They say that the rim is a 17", not a 16"?!?

I checked out the splines last night, and they looked in really decent shape, so I am wondering if one of the P.O.'s just swapped the rear tire assembly from a larger GS, maybe an 850, instead of replacing a worn out spline?

Does this sound possible/probable?

They are ordering in a 17" tire right now for me, it should be in on Monday/Tuesday, so I have the weekend to work on other things like painting the rear end parts I couldn't get at with the tire mounted, etc.

I am mainly just wanting to know if I will run into any problems in the long-term because of the rim size difference/extra rim weight? I am fairly certain that this should be fine, it just means that the bike has a lower acceleration, and a higher theoretical maximum speed because of the larger diameter tire in the back, kind of like going up a tooth if it were a sprocket drive, correct?

[waterman]

My 650g are 17", I think the GL are the 16" rims. Either way I don't think it will make much difference.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

Yes, the "regular" G models have 17" rear wheels. The "GL" models have 16" rear wheels.

http://www.motorcyclespecs.co.za/model/suzu/suzuki_gs650gt%2081.htm

Or there's a 650G service manual on my site. Feel free to "righ-click" and "Save as...".


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Macguyver]

Thanks

Hi,

Or there's a 650G service manual on my site.

IIRC that's where I D/L'd the manual I looked it up in.

I likely had a brain fart and printed out the wrong part of the manual.

It's good to know that I won't have any problems from this, and I've confirmed my splines are in really decent shape, so overall, this one goes in the win column!

Thanks for the quick replies all!

[BassCliff]

Hi Mr. MacGuyver,

Yes, new rubber is a great feeling! And it's even more comforting to know you have good spline gears and fresh lubricant on them. WOOT!


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Steve]

The picture in your sig shows a G model, not a GL, so it should have a 17" tire on it.

Keep in mind, though, that they are interchangeable. You could get a 16" wheel to use as a spare and just swap them back and forth.
The only thing to be careful of there is to make sure the spacers are the same for the brake caliper.

.