Has anyone done this conversion?
Was it easy/hard?
Was it easy/hard?
17" alloy wheels conversion on 1200GSA
- Thread starter red1
- Start date
Shep
Shep of the Dessert
JMO but it looks ridiculus on most, if not all, GS's. And the one 12GSA i've seen with the modification looked the most stupid
Shep
Shep
haga lout
Registered user
1200
got all bits will be fitting shortley
got all bits will be fitting shortley
Doodle
Registered user
FWIW, Motorworks do a "kit" using R1200S wheels. I'm tempted by it, but thought it best to sort the suspension first and then re-assess.
Spewboy
Guest
I agree and with Dunlop Roadsmart soon to be available for the GS, finding good bitumen tyres should not be the issue that it has been.
I would be worried that fitting a 17" front without making any other modifications to the bikes geometry may result in the bike being nervous at speed in a straight line due to the steering being a bit quicker.
Mick
Rod
Registered user
I did it on my last GS, see pic. & really improved the handling. I also fitted a special front fender. The bike felt much more planted in the corners. I even tried it out at a Brands Hatch track day, as well as all over the Swiss mountain passes. Lots of people in the US have done this, and I'm sure if you do a search on here you will find lots of info. One of the UK dealers did the same conversion & it had great write ups in the press.
I used Pirelli Scorpion Syncs on mine (same as the KTM 990SM) & they were really great. I tried Michellin Pilot 2's & the bike did not like them at all, at speed you got a weave.
You can see these wheels & conversions on the Boxer design web site.
As the wheels won't fit on my new 1200GS, due to tyre sensors, they might be for sale, complete with discs, ABS ring & nearly new tyres.
One note, you have to use a non std. exhaust for the wheel clearence.
I used Pirelli Scorpion Syncs on mine (same as the KTM 990SM) & they were really great. I tried Michellin Pilot 2's & the bike did not like them at all, at speed you got a weave.
You can see these wheels & conversions on the Boxer design web site.
As the wheels won't fit on my new 1200GS, due to tyre sensors, they might be for sale, complete with discs, ABS ring & nearly new tyres.
One note, you have to use a non std. exhaust for the wheel clearence.
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Big Lee
Registered user
I like the look of that especially with the front guard although for the cost of wheels etc personally I`d spend it on a suspension upgrade 
haga lout
Registered user
Rod
Registered user
Front fender also comes from Boxer design, made for the GS.
My 1150 (2k single spark) has both 17" Alloys and original spoked wheels. I've got BT020/021 combination on the alloys and Distanzas on the spoked. I put the spokes back on just before Xmas and the difference is very noticeable. The handling is FAR superior with the alloys (not that there is anything at all wrong with the 'normal' handling), it steers quicker in a very positive way, you only have to 'think' about dropping into a bend and it's there, but never in an alarming way. I've had no stability issues at motorway speeds, solo or two-up, but I haven't tried it fully loaded yet. Personally I think the bike looks great whichever wheels are on it, the only slightly odd looking things are the spacers under the fork brace which drop the Carbon Fibre front mudguard down closer to the wheel, although they're not too noticeable at first glance. Still uses the standard exhaust on the 1150. I haven't checked the speedo against my GPS to see if it makes any/much difference to the calibration, if anything it should read fast with the smaller front wheel on.
All in all a very worthwhile conversion IMHO
All in all a very worthwhile conversion IMHO
Rod
Registered user
Speedo reading on my 1200GS was correct after the wheel change. Something to do with where the reading is taken from.
Doodle
Registered user
IIRC 1200's read from the gearbox, not the wheel.
Fanum
Toubab
If the rolling circumference of the wheels is smaller, where the reading was taken from is irrelevant....smaller wheels=higher revs for given speed.
You'd have to fit a different ratio drive to the speedo take off to reset the speedo- fairly easy on a hub driven unit but I've no idea on a Gbox driven unit.
Doodle
Registered user
It shouldn't be too bad, as there's is only a small change in size for the back wheel (which would be the relevant one for a box-driven speedo). The theoretical difference between 150/70 and 180/55 is only -6mm sidewall height. Run the numbers for the circumference and the difference ends up at under 2%.
This is assuming a "perfect" tyre - I'm sure there's more variance than that between brands.
This is assuming a "perfect" tyre - I'm sure there's more variance than that between brands.
Rod
Registered user
Before I changed my wheels I asked about speedo reading at the dealers & they said it should read correctly. I have used a Garmin GPS a lot & didn't notice any difference (apart from the usual discrepancy of a speedo).
Anyone considering doing this should do a search on adventurerider.com
Anyone considering doing this should do a search on adventurerider.com
Big Lee
Registered user
You could say that about most things people do from getting married to parachute jumping.
I prefer "why not"
Wasp
Registered user
Are those bits still for sale. Would be interested if they are.
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