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Rims for GS400....

  • Thread starter Thread starter dyslexic
  • Start date Start date
D

dyslexic

Guest
looking to upgrade the front and rear rims to squeeze a little bigger tire on...don't want to get the "bulge" by squeezing them on...gunna relace.....any recommendations as to where to get'em? also, if I throw some 19 inchers on the front will it bugger it up? LOL....may have a lead on a 1977 GS550 set.
 
If you find a set give me a heads up on the 400 wheels. Might be in better condition than my 82 model.

Which year 400? TIA.
 
The only reasonable way to add wider wheels on your bike is to get some spoke wheels and then rebuild them and add wider rims. 550 wheels aren't going to help much.
 
Nessism said:
The only reasonable way to add wider wheels on your bike is to get some spoke wheels and then rebuild them and add wider rims. 550 wheels aren't going to help much.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering....I'll end up doing that....rebuild with wider rims.....2.15 X 18 - 36 spoke....
 
dyslexic said:
That's what I was wondering....I'll end up doing that....rebuild with wider rims.....2.15 X 18 - 36 spoke....
Click to expand...

Why not go wider? 2.5 on front and 3.0 on back? That sounds good to me anyway...
 
not sure about '77 but front fender fit? the 81 gs400E has 18" wheels-yes 19" from other 81-82 works fine, but needs a fender from a "T" or L

rear wheel is problematic per extra width...on '81T 's the swing arm gets pretty tight with 130/90 on a 17" wheel. Lower profile (/80) perhaps? I am just saying you need to watch this.
 
Does anyone have a source for reasonable rim and spoke kits? I need to relace hubs to 17" x ? on the odd ball 16" & 18" wheels...
 
Not even sure yet. It will depend on what I settle on/find for wheels. Which is harder, since you have to match hubs etc. I am doing a baby Nighthawk, so don't want to derail the thread. But was just curious what others use. I've scanned Feebay a few times and the options are weak.
 
Nessism said:
Why not go wider? 2.5 on front and 3.0 on back? That sounds good to me anyway...
Click to expand...

I was contemplating that as well. Any ideas what kind of rim I can use? Lots of choices from what I can see out there!
 
dyslexic said:
I was contemplating that as well. Any ideas what kind of rim I can use? Lots of choices from what I can see out there!
Click to expand...

quick update....over at MIKESXS he sells 2.15-x-18-x-36-hole-shouldered-aluminum-rims....this may be the solution....still noodling on the wider rims.....stay tuned....waiting for some other parts before I move onto this next step.
 
JamesWhut? said:
Not even sure yet. It will depend on what I settle on/find for wheels. Which is harder, since you have to match hubs etc. I am doing a baby Nighthawk, so don't want to derail the thread. But was just curious what others use. I've scanned Feebay a few times and the options are weak.
Click to expand...

Going to a 18" front wheel to 17" almost guarantees either a way wider tire which probably wouldn't fit, or ending up with a smaller diameter which will shorten the trail. Going larger diameter at the front may make the handling slower which is usually not dangerous. Going smaller, you're on your own.

My advice is to find the tire you want to use that will fit and work and then build a wheel to fit it. And remember that, unlike cars, bikes have only two wheels and are hinged in the middle. Stability is not guaranteed.
 
Its not ma' first rodeo. ;)

I do want to shorten the trail and quicken up steering. Stock the CB250 handles like crap for as light as it is. Or rather it is designed to be a highly stable trainer that simulates the handling of bigger bikes for novice riders. Also the tire choices for 17" are much better than 16/18", unless I were building a off road bike, which I'm not.

But thanks for the warning. I know what you mean.
 
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So i have another question - and I hope this isn't too dumb, but can I fit Suzuki GT550 wheels on the GS400....I can get a set with drums in the rear, the front has the disc, but I can maybe pull the GS400 disc off the GS400 rims and put'em on the GT550 (although the front wheel is a 19 inch)? Just a thought....any ideas? I'm in Canada so shipping new rims here is stretching the budget a bit....

edit: All Balls Racing Wheel bearing kits are the same for the GT and the GS......I suppose width of the forks for the bolt is the issue, or i could swap.
 
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dyslexic said:
So i have another question - and I hope this isn't too dumb, but can I fit Suzuki GT550 wheels on the GS400....I can get a set with drums in the rear, the front has the disc, but I can maybe pull the GS400 disc off the GS400 rims and put'em on the GT550 (although the front wheel is a 19 inch)? Just a thought....any ideas? I'm in Canada so shipping new rims here is stretching the budget a bit....

edit: All Balls Racing Wheel bearing kits are the same for the GT and the GS......I suppose width of the forks for the bolt is the issue, or i could swap.
Click to expand...

As far as I know there was no difference to be worried about. That said, I haven't done it, but a friend of mine just picked up a GT550 and wants me to have a look at it.

The only problem is that you'll need a 19" front fender - assuming you're into front fenders ;-). The brake discs all use the same bolt hole pattern, from what I've seem. The '77 style brakes with the round pads were pretty feeble as I recall, but the newer style calliper and disc bolt on and work considerably better, plus pads are easier to source.

A 3.00 19 is about 650mm diameter. I'm running a 3.50 18 front and it's also about 650mm and it's the best handling I've had. I think they should have either specced a 3.50 18 and 1.85 rim or just used a 19" and a 3.00 which they already had on the shelf. A 90/90 19 would be a really nice way to go on a 400?
 
I just went through this with a GT250 cafe project.


Stock rims are the same as your GS400: 1.6-18 F & 1.85-18 R
Am upgrading to: 1.85-18 F & 2.15-18 R
Tires will be Avon RoadRider 90/90-18 F & 110/80-18 R


I got a nice used GS450GA front wheel.
It has the same hub & spokes as the GT250, but has a 1.85-18 rim


The T500 & larger two strokes have a 2.15-18 rear rim + drum brake.
I had a spare T500 rear wheel that I?m using.


Also am going to powdercoat the rim + use NOS spokes to spiff up the wheels for the cafe build.




For your GS400?
The GS400 & all of the GT-series two strokes have front disk / rear drum brakes.
To get the correct spoke angles you need to select rims designed for use with a hub or drum.


The GS450GA front rim is NLA, but is available used.
An new alternative is a TU250 front rim.


GT-series rear rims are available NOS & used.
The TU250 rear rim is available but its larger (MT2.5-18).


The TU250 is a current model, so you can take a look at the rims on the bike at your local Suzuki dealer.
 
dyslexic said:
So i have another question - and I hope this isn't too dumb, but can I fit Suzuki GT550 wheels on the GS400....I can get a set with drums in the rear, the front has the disc, but I can maybe pull the GS400 disc off the GS400 rims and put'em on the GT550 (although the front wheel is a 19 inch)? Just a thought....any ideas? I'm in Canada so shipping new rims here is stretching the budget a bit....

edit: All Balls Racing Wheel bearing kits are the same for the GT and the GS......I suppose width of the forks for the bolt is the issue, or i could swap.
Click to expand...
Suzuki used the same front hub on the GS400 & all of the GT-series two strokes. So you can mount any of those wheels as along as the tire fits. Just use your brake disc.
(Check the part numbers to make sure.)


Suzuki upgraded the GT550 rear drum brake for the later model years. The GT750 drum is larger for all years.
You may be able to use the GT550 wheel with your GS400 brake panel.
Check the part numbers for the wheel you are looking at to make sure.
 
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