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18" spoked wheels for GS1000?

  • Thread starter Thread starter wera racer
  • Start date Start date
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wera racer

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Converting my 78 GS1000 for vintage racing. Doing the Salty_Monk front brake upgrade, among many other mods. Want to replace the stock cast wheels with 18" spoked wheels (a little wider, too) to cut weight, improve the aesthetic, and help it turn quicker. Any suggestions on where to find them? Not seeing much on eBay or these threads. If I could find strong enough hubs, I can probably get new spokes and rims elswhere. Any help will be much appreciated.
 
The original wheels from my 1979 GS 1000

The original wheels from my 1979 GS 1000

The spokers that came on my GS 1000 are alloy-rim and hub, with steel spokes, 19" front and 18" rear. I don't know if any of the GS 1000s used 18" on both. If they are of interest to you, PM me.
 
I don't believe any of the GS bikes were available with 18" front wheels, but, in theory, I should be able to use the hub off the 19" front and buy new spokes and a rim to make an 18" front wheel. I'll send you a PM about your wheels. Thanks!
 
...only thing is then you'll have a 3.5" wheel on both ends.
 
makenzie71 said:
...only thing is then you'll have a 3.5" wheel on both ends.
Click to expand...
no... only 2.15 IIRC. The spokies were pretty darn narrow. Realisticly, they should really be shod with a 120 tire. 130s pinch pretty bad on em. Some guys will lace Harley rims to GS hubs, but you need to find the ones with the correct spoke count ( i have no idea which models) Kosman made (still make?) rims to lace GS hubs to that are stupid wide (like up to 5" i think? maybe more) There have been a couple of guys who did wide tire spokie conversions on modern forks/swingers. There is a member ( i cannot remember who) who has a KILLER looking 750B with USD forks, and big ol brakes and rubber on spokes. Very very nicely done.
 
damn...2.15 is nuts. I'd hate to have to run 100hp on those.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=136474&highlight=axle

You can use that list to find interesting swap options. Early GL1000 Goldwings, for example, had 1.85" or so DID aluminum spoked front wheel (and a 17X3.5 rear wheel). Something like you would be able to slip right in there with only some modified caliper hangers. A lot of Honda brake patterns are easy to adapt to Suzuki 310mm and 320mm rotors, as well as Yamaha 298mm rotors.

blackmaggot1.JPG


It's not the spoked wheel, but it's a good example.
 
We've looked at putting spoked wheels on our 1000 pre 82 racebike.
Didn't do it for the reasons racers in period used mags - wheel stiffness.
On these big heavy bikes the stiffness of the wheel makes a big difference to the handling - and how the tyres work.
Depending on your rules you may be able to use later lighter mags maybe wider too. we can if we want go to 17's - 3 in front and 4 in rear. there's quite a wide choice of later mags around these widths.

I've put spoked wheels on smaller/lighter racebikes which originally had mags - at the owners request. As it was not critical on these bikes I didn't argue - and there was a reasonable weight saving too.
 
wera racer said:
Converting my 78 GS1000 for vintage racing. Doing the Salty_Monk front brake upgrade, among many other mods. Want to replace the stock cast wheels with 18" spoked wheels (a little wider, too) to cut weight, improve the aesthetic, and help it turn quicker. Any suggestions on where to find them? Not seeing much on eBay or these threads. If I could find strong enough hubs, I can probably get new spokes and rims elswhere. Any help will be much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Easy way is too get a set of genuine Suzuki spoke ALLOY wheels and you can lace the rear rim (2.50x18) onto the front and buy a 4.25x18 rim for the back. Tyre choice is limited for racing unless you want to go to 17" rims. Not sure about the lack of stiffness as you can use 8 guage spokes as compared to what (modern) wheel you use. Front guard is from a GSX 550 esd and bolts one with minor change but its only plastic. Have a look in here for race bikes with 3 spoke modern wheels for ideas.http://s125.photobucket.com/albums/p55/sharpywheelie/






Use to race these two and they was real nice to ride.......



Kat-Wirewheels.jpg
 
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Buchanan's sell Rims with the right spoke count... for them to build the wheels total cost is about $900 from memory with stainless spokes & shipping.

I looked into this for my skunk & then decided not to run with it due to cost.

Dan :)
 
I plan on doing the same thing on my GS1000. I have 2 sets of spoked aluminum rims. Buchanan's has a good selection of rims and spokes. I am going to lace and true them myself. Its not that hard, just time consuming.

http://www.buchananspokes.net/
 
The aluminum rims are what's expensive -$400 and up each

The spokes (stainless) are about $100, Lacing $75-100

You can get a wider rim for the back, but you're limited by the stock swingarm (replace with an aluminum GS 1100 one) and available bias ply tires.
 
Buchanan's suggested GS1000C spoked hubs, which I'm buying now. Then they can provide heavier gauge spokes and a variety of 18" rims. I need to do more research on the rims...
 
I just picked up a junk 1000C. Stock rim sizes are 2.15x18 rear and 1.85 front. I am going to lace both with 18" rims and put them on my S. Sacrilege, I know, but I will keep the stockers. I'm going 2.5 on the rear, and 2.15 on the front. There are lots of rim options cheap from dirt bike suppliers.

Flame on.
 
pplassm said:
I just picked up a junk 1000C. Stock rim sizes are 2.15x18 rear and 1.85 front. I am going to lace both with 18" rims and put them on my S. Sacrilege, I know, but I will keep the stockers. I'm going 2.5 on the rear, and 2.15 on the front. There are lots of rim options cheap from dirt bike suppliers.

Flame on.
Click to expand...

That should be good, but don't go too wide on the front tire - I have to squeeze that 3.50 Avon between the fork legs as it is

On the back, if you upgrade to a GS 1100 swingarm, you can go even wider - a 2.5 will give you a 140 or thereabouts

No sacriledge if you keep the stock parts (worth more if you sell it)
 
pplassm said:
I just picked up a junk 1000C. Stock rim sizes are 2.15x18 rear and 1.85 front. I am going to lace both with 18" rims and put them on my S. Sacrilege, I know, but I will keep the stockers. I'm going 2.5 on the rear, and 2.15 on the front. There are lots of rim options cheap from dirt bike suppliers.

Flame on.
Click to expand...

You sure about "lots" of rim options? Spoke angle, 36 holes, size of the nipple holes and width are the main things to look out for. Not many dirt bikes had hubs the size of the rear suzuki hub. Why you sticking with such skinny rims? If its price thats ok but i stated 4.25 and 2.50 x 18 rims which would run 140/80x18 and 110/80x18 tires that would be a perfect match for your bike with NO issues with rubbing. Especually if you used a $100 GSX alloy swingarm setup. Even using a 18 GSX550esd front guard would solve the problem with the standard guard.

Picture_0020.jpg


DSCF0048.jpg


i116732108_12099_5.jpg
 
And if you use stainless spokes, try and get them polished. I know there shiny as they come but running the buff over them aswell makes them OMG shiny. Afetr all there only mass produced straight blanks bent to suit that wheel.
 
Does anyone know if a 18 inch rear/19 inch front from a gs1100 will fit on a 1979 gs1000? Or has anyone done this swap?
 
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