1150gs cast wheel conversion, pics.

[KMD]

I fancied doing a cast wheel conversion on my 1150gs for a while, and after recently deciding I was going to keep it and not 'trade up' I thought I'd spend a bit on it and get the mods done. Here are a few pics for anyone considering doing it.

You can see here my 2000 model has seperate ABS rings which bolt onto the hubs.

 

[KMD]

Whereas the cast wheels have no seperate mounts for ABS, therefor new ABS rings were ordered from Motorworks

 

[KMD]

The brake discs from the original spoked wheels fit the alloys, but the bolts are thread-locked in. To remove them you need to apply heat otherwise you risk stripping the threads from the wheel. Be careful not to 'over heat' locally or warping may occurr to the disc.

 

[KMD]

These have probably been in from new, you can see how much thread lock was on it. Although only torqued in to 21nm they would certainly be difficult to remove without heat.

 

[KMD]

So, new ABS rings and discs transferred, wheels went off for some new rubber. Having used Continental Road Attack's with great satisfaction on the original wheels I thought I'd stick with them. Tyre sizes are 120/70/17 front and 170/60/17 rear. Here they are all ready to go on. Or so I thought

 

[KMD]

Having fitted the wheels, with the correct speedo drive the front seemed fine but the rear wouldn't spin. It would turn with some force, but not spin and I could hear it binding. So off with the rear brake caliper and engine on, in gear I could see what the problem was. The wheel was buckled. You couldn't see it by eye with the wheel still, but once spinning there was a fair bit of movement on the inner rim, and it was bad enough to throw the brake disc out of true.

Tyre back off and wheel to Thersby's in Stockton for a repair. I've commented on the quality of Roy Thersby's work in a seperate thread, so suffice to say absolutely superb.

Wheels now fitted it's time to set about ensuring the ABS ring/ sensor gap is correct.

Front:

 

[KMD]

And rear:

 

[KMD]

So how does it ride? Well you may have noticed hidden in the pictures these little puppies:

 

[Steptoe]

You may have ABS problems at higher speeds with the later pressed ABS rings fitted on the earlier ABS.

 

[KMD]

One of the other mods I'd hankered after was Ohlins and she now has them suspenders front and rear. I only completed the job today and by the time I got to get out it had clouded over and started to rain a bit, so caning it on a shake-down was out. But I was still able to get a feel and the early indications are good.

You can feel immediately that there is more rubber on the ground, and turn in is quicker. Although not twitchy by any means, I'm going to see what affect raising the front slightly will do as there has been a considerable drop with the smaller front wheel. The top mounting for the front Ohlins has sufficient threaded rod to accept a shim which may gain some height, we'll see.

So what has this little malarky cost?

Wheels...............£220
ABS rings............£86
Tyres.................£200
Wheel repair........£55

Total..................£561

But the bigger question is has it made five hundred quid's worth of improvement to the bikes handling? So far it's too early to tell. I think I could've done with this conversion prior to a recent Dolomites trip, the tight and twisty Alpine passes would have been a fine test, where a quick hour on new tyres in the wet hasn't been able to show their strengths up yet.

 

[KMD]

You may have ABS problems at higher speeds with the later pressed ABS rings fitted on the earlier ABS.

Yes you're right, this has shown itself up already and I understand a 're-map' can be done to programme the speed differentials into the ABS . It was fine to about 90mph then an ABS warning flashed.

 

[Paul Young]

Someone told me this when I changed my wheels over... & I have had mine "flat-out", quite a few times over the years since I put alloys on it.

The only time that I had an ABS fault was when I missed fully tightening the pinch bolts on the front spindle. There haven't been any incidences since then & I have used 120/70 & even 120/65 front tyres with 180/55 rears.

 

[KMD]

Paul, may be time for me to check those ring/sensor clearances again then, I understand that they are critical measurements. Thanks for that

 

[Coolcarbon]

Likewise, I've had mine on for years and never had a problem with the ABS...

 

[Steptoe]

Someone told me this when I changed my wheels over... & I have had mine "flat-out", quite a few times over the years since I put alloys on it.

The only time that I had an ABS fault was when I missed fully tightening the pinch bolts on the front spindle. There haven't been any incidences since then & I have used 120/70 & even 120/65 front tyres with 180/55 rears.

Likewise, I've had mine on for years and never had a problem with the ABS...

depends on the year of your bike - i've had more than a few throwing up ABS problems after mixing ABS sensor rings - and not just cast wheels, but on bikes with later ADV wheels with the pressed sensor rings fitted onto earlier cast sensor bikes.

 

[Paul Young]

I bow to your superior knowledge & experience, Neil, but I've a similar '00 model 1150. My rear wheel is from an R1100S Boxercup (5.5") & needed a pressed steel ABS ring fitting under the disc. The front is from an R1100R & has the cast ABS ring transferred from the GS wheel onto the floating disc carrier.

I just bolted the wheels in & rode it - never even checked the sensor clearance - & only had the one issue where pinch bolts weren't tight. There must have been a tiny degree of flex, but enough for the sensor gap to move outside its range & throw a paddy.

 

[KMD]

Well I got out on it today for a trip through the Dales over to Devils Bridge, and am now able to say she rides very well. Grip is exceptional, you can really feel the benefit of the wider tyres, and I haven't detected any noticeable negative affect on stability. Feedback is at least as good, and the whole bike has a very 'planted' feel on the road.

I now need to tweak the Ohlins as they feel a little on the firm side, but overall, well pleased with it.

 

[skidave4202]

Well I got out on it today for a trip through the Dales over to Devils Bridge, and am now able to say she rides very well. Grip is exceptional, you can really feel the benefit of the wider tyres, and I haven't detected any noticeable negative affect on stability. Feedback is at least as good, and the whole bike has a very 'planted' feel on the road.

I now need to tweak the Ohlins as they feel a little on the firm side, but overall, well pleased with it.

TOP MAN........
Retired buggers have far too much time......
But i realiy fancy a ride on "HER"
(always fancied the wide wheel option)

BET ITS THE BOLLOCKS !!!

 

[KMD]

Ah.............SkiDave AKA the professional holidaymaker of our Parish. You're back then? Time that trail bike got out !

 

[taz]

My 2000 with alloys trips the ABS accelerating hard to higher speeds 85 to 90 but if more gentle on the throttle is ok upto 110, it also trips at very low (walking pace) and only with the front brake & light pressure and not all the time?? sensors swapped and gap correct.