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Changing from mags to spokes on my '82 GS750?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Loose Seal
  • Start date Start date
L

Loose Seal

Guest
Hello all-

I?m sure this question has been asked but I haven?t found anything in my various combinations of searching.

Wondering if there is an equivalent GS spoked wheel available that I could swap out in place of my mags. If not, off to the powdercoaters the mags go.

Thanks!
-Keith
 
There has to be - I'm certain Suzuki didn't change the fork or swingarm spacings when they went to mags.

Someone here will know.
 
i would stick with the mags mate. usually lighter than spokes and a dam sight easier to clean. powder coated they look nice
 
Please find out and then do it....and post all the info.:D

I want to do the same thing to mine....spokes are just way, way cooler.

I run spokes on my drag bike....

Later,
Bob T.
 
Agemax said:
i would stick with the mags mate. usually lighter than spokes and a dam sight easier to clean. powder coated they look nice
Click to expand...
You clean :-?:-?:-?

I ride - God cleans :D

Edit: It's a Brit joke
 
Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.
 
The spoked wheels were actually lighter than the early mags, and if you can find some with alloy rims lighter still.

Early GS750 / 1000 will fit straight on or you could use a front from a 550 (rear no good as the hub is for a drum brake).
 
tkent02 said:
Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.
Click to expand...
the standard spoke wheels are heavier than the mag wheels, thats why suzuki changed to them. you could have lighter spoked wheels if you changed them to ally rims and lightweight racing spokes.
trouble with spoked wheels is they need more maintenance to keep true and the spokes evenly tensioned etc. and obviously need inner tubes which means more expense and a smaller selection of tyre choice
 
The spoked wheels I got from a 750 were quite a bit lighter than the mags on one of my old 550s - I weighed them to check. This was a few years back during my quest to make the 'lightest 550 known to man' so I went further and got some akronts which were about half the weight of the originals.

Those early mag wheels were about style, copying the race boys who had proper magnesium wheels and not the aluminium we got for the road bikes. I remember the Honda works team really suffered for a season as they had to race with aluminium Comstars so that their road bikes looked good.

It was only when we got to the later GSX models with the double 3 spoke alloys that the wheels got lighter.

You're right about higher maintenance of course, though have you seen the new BMW GS with the spoked wheels - running tubeless? Only the Germans could think of putting the spokes on the outside of the rim (outside the tyre) - you can effectively change a spoke without having to even let the tyre down.
 
Agemax said:
when you live in britain you gotta clean, constantly. we aint blessed with nice sunny weather like most of you.we get acid rain and salt on roads!
Click to expand...
I know - I am a Brit :D

Try the A1 - overnight - in freezing rain.

She was worth it :D
 
Agemax said:
...trouble with spoked wheels is they need more maintenance to keep true and the spokes evenly tensioned etc...
Click to expand...

Nothin' to it....I actually find it rather relaxing and somewhat musical....:D
 
tkent02 said:
Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! The quest is on...right after I come down from this K&N air filter cleaner high. wooooo....
 
Spacers will likely need to be changed, but its not a thing to slap spokes on these GSs.

Now, on the debate. Spokes ARE lighter than the early mags. By quite a bit. I have both in my basement, i know this for a fact. They changed to mags, because they are easier to maintain.
 
And of course the rear wheel bearings are different - spindle hole on the rear is larger on 1000 so you'd have to fit 1000 rear bearings. Fronts are the same but they're cheap anyway.

Spoked wheels were probably more expensive to make as well. (Especially if you're the world's slowest wheelright like me - jeez, a fulltime wheelwright makes it look so easy!).
 
personally i think spokes look so outdated. if you really wanted to change your wheels go for a set of newer updated suzuki wheels. gsxr or sommat like that are quite easy to adapt and will be lighter than the originals, and spokes. would have more tyre choices too.
 
Agemax said:
personally i think spokes look so outdated.
Click to expand...

And some think they look...Classic!

2006-Ducati-PaulSmart1000LimitedEditiona-small.jpg


If only....
 
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