Rear rim confusion - 83 GS1100E

[Carter Turk]

I cut out a rectangle shape the width of chain adjustment out of my stock round brake arm. Its a bit crude, but allows a 140 on a 3.5 rim to fit. I also had a problem with spacers and had to add one on the brake disk side.

Now I've been wondering if my alignment is off, but its been that way for awhile.

I've been curious how out of alignment my bike would be if I took it GMD Computrack.

 

[graham harron]

The stock brake stay arm on the 750L is also indented to help clear the larger rear tire.

 

[Hoomgar]

All good info guys. Thanks.

The stock 83 1100E rim width is a 2.5. The only reason people say a 140 won't handle as well is becasue of the profile being messed up, pinched by the 2.5" rim. I can attest to that. With a 3" rim the 140 would handle fine, have a good profile and will wear nicely. The 1150 rims are a nice upgrade, I'd make it work if I were you.

Geoff, that is all I needed to hear to clear any last doubts. I'll be modding the stay and making this work with a 140.


Rock on 8)

 

[Jethro]

Good choice. I'd like to do the same so I can run the Dunlop 501's. I loved that tire, but it ain't right on the stock rim.

 

[Hoomgar]

Good choice. I'd like to do the same so I can run the Dunlop 501's. I loved that tire, but it ain't right on the stock rim.

I already have a GT501 on the front rim, now you know where I have been coming from

 

[Carter Turk]

The profile of a 140 is still slightly pinched on a 3" rim. I have a 205 Dunlop on my wife's 1150 with a 3" rim. I have a 3.5 on my Katana 1150 with a 140 Pirelli Sport Demon and the profile looks right comparing the two in the garage.

I had a bad experience with the Metzler Metronic 130 and went to the MEZ2 140 after that. I thought maybe the 130 was the problem, but it probably had something to do with my small member. I was guilty of putting it on a 2.5 rim. More than once. Super pinch.

 

[Hoomgar]

The profile of a 140 is still slightly pinched on a 3" rim. I have a 205 Dunlop on my wife's 1150 with a 3" rim. I have a 3.5 on my Katana 1150 with a 140 Pirelli Sport Demon and the profile looks right comparing the two in the garage.

I had a bad experience with the Metzler Metronic 130 and went to the MEZ2 140 after that. I thought maybe the 130 was the problem, but it probably had something to do with my small member. I was guilty of putting it on a 2.5 rim. More than once. Super pinch.

So the 140 is not a good idea on a 3" rim then?

 

[Billy Ricks]

So the 140 is not a good idea on a 3" rim then?

As long as it's not a radial a 3" rim with a 140 will be fine. Anything from a 2.75" to a 3.5" rim width will work with a 140.
http://www.garageofxanadu.com/Wrench/Tires/tires.html

 

[Carter Turk]

The contact patch while leaned over is noticably less on 3" rim. I've run a 140 for years on smaller rims with no ill handling effects. However, when the straightline tread wears out there's an abrupt contact patch left.

I guess what I'm saying is when the tire wears past its half life the tire doesn't handle as well on a narrower rim.

 

[Billy Ricks]

The contact patch while leaned over is noticably less on 3" rim. I've run a 140 for years on smaller rims with no ill handling effects. However, when the straightline tread wears out there's an abrupt contact patch left.

I guess what I'm saying is when the tire wears past its half life the tire doesn't handle as well on a narrower rim.

I understand that completely, I preach it all the time.

 

[Hoomgar]

So are you guys saying what then? This is a 3" rim. Are you consider it a "narrower" rim or by that are you talking about the 2.5 to 2.75" rims? I just want to have as many recommendations as I can get about tire size. If i put this 3" rim on my bike, would I be best served with a 130 or a 140? I guess what I am asking isn't so much if I "can" do it or not but more "what is the best" size to use for this 3" rim?

 

[Suzuki mad]

As I've said before I run the 130 on a standard 2.50 wheel. If you spend all that time and effort putting a bigger rimmed wheel in why bother putting the standard size tyre on that?

I took it that you wanted more rubber on the road. Now I'm confussed!

Suzuki mad
GS1000E 1981
GSx1100 1983 Nearly back together.

 

[Hoomgar]

As I've said before I run the 130 on a standard 2.50 wheel. If you spend all that time and effort putting a bigger rimmed wheel in why bother putting the standard size tyre on that?

I took it that you wanted more rubber on the road. Now I'm confussed!

Suzuki mad
GS1000E 1981
GSx1100 1983 Nearly back together.

Don't mean to confuse. I think it is still me that is confused so please bare with me. The standard tire size listed for the 2.5" rim is a 120. The standard tire size listed for the 3" rim is a 130. I would like to go wider like you said but just want to know if anyone knows for sure if it is a good idea or should I go with the standard 130 size for this 3" rim?

I am really just fishing to see who has run a 140 on a 3" rim on an 83 to see if it handled well or if that combo suffers from the warped profile issue?

I appreciate 100% of all feedback coming in man.

 

[Billy Ricks]

Mark, you'll be fine with a 140 on the 3" rim. The chart I provided the link for shows you can put a 140 on a 2.75" rim.

 

[Hoomgar]

Mark, you'll be fine with a 140 on the 3" rim. The chart I provided the link for shows you can put a 140 on a 2.75" rim.

I'm going for it. I'm thinking now that I may want to put an 1150 swingarm on? I would like to use my favorite GT501s but in a 17" rear your only choices are the 140/80B17 and the 150/70B17. On their web site they recommend a 3.5" rim for the 140 and a 3.5 or 4" rim for the 150. Smitty is offering me the 1150 3.5" rim and that is why I am now thinking about an 1150 swingarm. I am not sure if it will fit or not though?

 

[rphillips]

The 1150 swingarm won't be an easy swap, they are monoshock susp.

 

[Hoomgar]

The 1150 swingarm won't be an easy swap, they are monoshock susp.

Yeah I don't know what I was thinking there Ron

Well the good news is I got the 3" rim installed. I was able to use washers to get my spacing and then I bent an offset in the brake stay and she is bolted up perfect.

It runs awesome now. The power is the same I swear but I can actually do highway speeds again without high-taching it. Very nice. It handles great! Way better for a guy my size. I was carving out some serious road tonight braking in that tire again. It sat a while and I know YogiB didn't intend for me to actually use the tire but I looked it over and other than a little center line wear it is in really good shape.

I tweaked my suspension a little then. I took the preload on the rear shocks to the second to last spot and set the dampening at 3. At 2 it was bouncy. Weird as 2 should be stiffer than 3 but that is the way it came out. I put about 8lbs of air in the front forks and set the rear tire at 37 lbs warm and the front at 38 lbs warm. Took it for a burn and WooHoo! Man this thing is fast :shock:

Anyway, here are a few pics of it with the 17" rear rim mounted. Looks way bigger and way better doesn't it?

Thanks all you guys for all the advice, tips and help you gave me.

 

[earlfor]

Damn!, that sure is a pretty bike Mark!
Caught yer hair on fire yet? LOL

Earl

Anyway, here are a few pics of it with the 17" rear rim mounted. Looks way bigger and way better doesn't it?

 

[Hoomgar]

Damn!, that sure is a pretty bike Mark!
Caught yer hair on fire yet? LOL

Earl

It's a screamer Earl, none can debate that :twisted:

 

[yogib]

Wow looks gooood Mark!!!That tire does have some life in it,how long it sat I don't know,but it wasn't dried out and had tred.I'm glad it worked for ya!Don