GSX1100S Katana rim sizes...

[pmcburney]

Does anyone know the exact rim sizes fitted to the wire wheels on the early Canadian and Australian Katana's?

I've tracked down hubs (thanks Chuck!) and I know the rim's diameter - 19' front, 18' rear, but I can't find any info about how wide they were.

I can fit a number of rim widths given the space available under the guards and between the swing-arm, but I want the correct OEM sizes to make it look as original as possible.


Thanks
Paul

 

[Joe Nardy]

Does anyone know the exact rim sizes fitted to the wire wheels on the early Canadian and Australian Katana's?

I've tracked down hubs (thanks Chuck!) and I know the rim's diameter - 19' front, 18' rear, but I can't find any info about how wide they were.

I can fit a number of rim widths given the space available under the guards and between the swing-arm, but I want the correct OEM sizes to make it look as original as possible.


Thanks
Paul

Paul,

First, the spoke wheel Kat's are SOOOOO COOOOOL! Try sending a PM to Shin-Ken 1074. He has an Aussie spoke wheel Kat that he's restoring. He knows as much about them as anyone here. I got the below pic from him....

Thanks,
Joe

 

[oldgrumpy]

kat rims....

kat rims....

you could try suzyiworld in adelaide...or my best bet would be mick hone in box hill ,and ask for steve in spare parts ,,he,s been there 20yrs.. he knows everything about suzi... regards david

 

[doctorgonzo]

God that Kat is so gorgeous.

 

[gearhead13]

It must be personal preference, but spokes dont look any good to me.

 

[pontiacstogo]

It must be personal preference, but spokes dont look any good to me.

I thik they look a little odd too. Here's a set for sale (aftermarket?);

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SUZUKI-GS-GS...temQQimsxZ20091217?IMSfp=TL091217189001r10145

 

[spyug]

Beautiful bike no question. Is that the $16K bike?

Like some of the others, I'm not sure the wires look correct on a sportbike and especially one with that distinctive profile. I think I prefer the "mag" wheels of the 83 and later. I don't really like the 'snowflake' style of those on my 82 either. To me they don't look right .

Spyug

 

[doctorgonzo]

Beautiful bike no question. Is that the $16K bike?

Like some of the others, I'm not sure the wires look correct on a sportbike and especially one with that distinctive profile. I think I prefer the "mag" wheels of the 83 and later. I don't really like the 'snowflake' style of those on my 82 either. To me they don't look right .

Spyug

I love the way the Bandit/RF900 3 spoke mags look on my EZ, modern rubber the #1 reason for doing it, but a close second is how good they look.

I actually like the spokes on that particular bike (the Kat above). It's unusual, but I like it.

 

[sharpy]

2.5x18 and 1.85 x 19

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Sharpy is on the money there with the rim size. 19 x 1.85 and 18 x 2.50 were the standard road size rims fitted ex factory. Australian, South Africian and New Zealand (not sure about Canadian model) Katana rims were made by Takasago in Japan and are made of alloy, not steel as fitted to the earlier GS models.

P.S. No, the pic Joe has posted here is not my Katana, I wish it was!!! I hope my restoration turns out as good as the photo, I'd be happy with the result.

 

[Guest]

It must be personal preference, but spokes dont look any good to me.

The factory race bikes were wire wheeled too, originally.....the company sold a batch of these to the public for homologation purposes, to legally race them as production bikes. Shin-Ken probably has accurate info, but I think they differed quite a bit from the 'regular' Kats, with hotter cams, slide carbs etc and made around 120 hp. Wire wheeled perhaps, for a weight advantage, or choice of rubber.:-k
Tony.

 

[pmcburney]

The factory race bikes were wire wheeled too, originally.....the company sold a batch of these to the public for homologation purposes, to legally race them as production bikes. Shin-Ken probably has accurate info, but I think they differed quite a bit from the 'regular' Kats, with hotter cams, slide carbs etc and made around 120 hp. Wire wheeled perhaps, for a weight advantage, or choice of rubber.:-k
Tony.

Tony,


The Factory 'wire wheel specials' were known as the GSX1100SXZ.

They had a completely different frame numbering system and were, as you say, a bit different in a couple of areas.
AFAIK, the wire wheels were fitted specifically for racing as a weight advantage over the alloys (and were possibly stronger as well), and for the greater tyre choices especially for the rear wheel.

Also, thanks for the replies from everyone on this.
I've done the research and it appears it might be cheaper for me to buy a complete set rather than get a set made .

Prices quoted to me for the individual components:
Rims - $353 (R), $329 (F)
Spokes - $360 (straight stainless) $440 (stepped stainless)
Assembly and truing - $176

That's over $1200 before I add the cost of the hubs and tyres .
I always knew it would be expensive...

Now, where's my eBay login...


Cheers
Paul

 

[sharpy]

You in OZ and if so where abouts. My mate runs Ash spokewheelzs

 

[salty_monk]

I got to about $900 from Buchanan's in Cali if you supply your own hubs... I was tempted but that was a little rich for my tastes.

I was going to get a wider rim size so I could fit radials....

Dan

 

[sharpy]

I got to about $900 from Buchanan's in Cali if you supply your own hubs... I was tempted but that was a little rich for my tastes.

I was going to get a wider rim size so I could fit radials....

Dan

You can use the rear rim on the front and get a 4.25x18 (or 17) for the rear.works like a charm

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Something to remember with the Race Kats is the last year of 1100cc Production Bike racing in Australia was 1983. For the Australian market after 1983 only the 1000cc Kats came with the race tricky bits and wider spoke rim option to allow for a greater range of tyre choice.

 

[sharpy]

Rare spoke wheel 750......

Not really, just what we found lying around in the workshop back then.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Hi sharpy, very tidy looking machine, is it one of yours?

 

[sharpy]

Hi sharpy, very tidy looking machine, is it one of yours?

Wasnt mine but i rode it way back when. more pics here....

 

[pmcburney]

You in OZ and if so where abouts. My mate runs Ash spokewheelzs

Heh, I'm in Brisbane also and that quote is from Ash's Spokewheelz...

I get all my spokies done by them. They're good guys and really know their stuff.

I'm not particularly surprised at the cost. Rims are expensive, spokes are expensive, it's just the nature of the beast.

But, if there's a complete set out there for less, well I'd be foolish to spend the extra...


Cheers
Paul