Shaft drive custom wheels? Gsx1100g

[Nuuageslim]

Hello, everyone. I have an unusual question. If this is wrong section please move it to another area, I apologize for wrong area.
I was looking into customizing my gsx1100g, and came to a rut. Shaft drive wheels. The wheels make alot for a bike, and shaft drives really cut down on options, if any.

So I was wondering, has anyone got any ideas or route to take in finding custom wheels. I'm not looking for anything fancy, I'm looking for wire spoke rims that can fit the drive shaft. Or, point me to a company that can make them or ideas on what to do.

I'm sure someone on here has had luck doing a cafe project with a shafty and changed wheels. I would even go as far as using old gs shaftie rims. If anyone coiuld help please let me know.

Thanks,
-slim

 

[bwringer]

I've never figured out why this question comes up so much... :-k

Anyhoo, the splined coupler in the wheel is the same part number on the '79-'84 GS shafties, the GSX1100G, was used on the 700-800cc Intruder cruisers, and is still in production today for the 800cc "Boulevard" cruisers.

So that may be a place to start, assuming you could sort out any spacer issues. It's a 15" rim, but perhaps you could re-lace it with a proper 17" wheel.

However, the thing that trips everyone up and derails these sort of projects is that the Intruder/Boulevard cruisers have drum brakes. You'd either need to figure a way to mount a brake disk on the wheel somehow, or set up the brake pedal to operate the drum.

 

[Guest]

I've never figured out why this question comes up so much... :-k

Anyhoo, the splined coupler in the wheel is the same part number on the '79-'84 GS shafties, the GSX1100G, was used on the 700-800cc Intruder cruisers, and is still in production today for the 800cc "Boulevard" cruisers.

So that may be a place to start, assuming you could sort out any spacer issues. It's a 15" rim, but perhaps you could re-lace it with a proper 17" wheel.

However, the thing that trips everyone up and derails these sort of projects is that the Intruder/Boulevard cruisers have drum brakes. You'd either need to figure a way to mount a brake disk on the wheel somehow, or set up the brake pedal to operate the drum.

Or just get a set of GV1200 Madura wheels. Wires with disc brakes.

Bazinga!

 

[Steve]

Or just get a set of GV1200 Madura wheels. Wires with disc brakes.

Bazinga!

Yep, but ONLY on the 1200 Madura. The 700 Madura had a drum brake.

.

 

[bwringer]

Ah, forgot about the Madura!

Whether it would all mate up somehow, I dunno.

But, since I had both in the garage at the same time for a while, I did verify that a VX800 wheel would engage the splines correctly on a GS850 and vice-versa -- the only issue was that the 150/70-17 tire on the VX made contact with the swingarm on the GS. And a swap would have required some careful attention to the various spacers, as well as a different tire, etc.

In other words, Suzuki NEVER re-designs ANYTHING if they can possibly help it, so there are some surprising commonalities to be found.

 

[Nuuageslim]

So, in essence if I find something that fits an old gs shaftie, I am going to be able to at least have it where it works on the drive shaft. The issues I'll them face or the disc brake meeting up, spacers and tire size to fit? I'm looking for 17" front and rear wheels to match. If you looking gsx1100g on YouTube there s a yellow scrambler that was made perfectly that has the wheel set up I want. I just don't know how to go about the shaft drive rear.

Would there be any companies that specialize in something like this?

Again I am a newbie and young. So the information you have given is awesome, thank you, but I kind of need it dumbed down. Apologize for being ignorant.