17"s........... oooooeeerr !!!

[philpaw2003]

Evening all!!
Look, i know that this subject has been mentioned sooo many times before on this forum. BUT. can one of our learned members let me have the definitive explination of what is required to convert my 2004 GSA to run on 17" rims. Can i get higher pegs for instace??? Do i need higher pegs???
All info greatly received........ cash burning BIG hole in pocket.

many thanx.

phil.

 

[littleredrooster]

Drop the front to 17" and ruin the steering geometry. Increases rake, decreases trail, makes the thing twitchy and spoils an otherwise fine-handling bike. Front-end wants to 'tuck-under' all the time. Put 020s on the standard rims if you think you want more grip than Tourances, but pay the price in reduced tyre mileage.

Go on - somebody make me a liar!!

 

[Possu]

Drop the front to 17" and ruin the steering geometry. Increases rake, decreases trail, makes the thing twitchy and spoils an otherwise fine-handling bike. Front-end wants to 'tuck-under' all the time. Put 020s on the standard rims if you think you want more grip than Tourances, but pay the price in reduced tyre mileage.

Go on - somebody make me a liar!!

Surely a smaller front wheel reduces rake but increases castor.?Trail will be reduced, leading to quicker but slightly heavier steering.

Anyone know the difference in weight between the stock 19" spoked wheel & the cast 17" wheel?

 

[Duncan]

I bought a kit from motoworks, if I remember rightly it was an R1100S rear wheel (I got the 5.5" rather than the 5"), different studs (can't remember if they are longer or shorter, but they are definately different), an R1150R front wheel and a speedo drive to suit.

Oh and you'll need some tyres. I'm running 020's about 3500 miles from a rear and double that for the front.

Yes it does change the steering jommetry and make it feel a bit more nervous, but I've never experienced it trying to "tuck under".

If you aint gonna use it off road (gosh mine has been into 2 fields and assorted camp sites) then I would say it is a good mod to make.

Oh yeah cost me about £600, you pays yer money, you takes yer choice.........

 

[Duncan]

Oh almost forgot, the front mudder looks a bit cr*p and needs sorting.

 

[Paul Young]

This has been round a few times, but, if you want to convert to alloys your options are:

R1150R/RT/RS front wheels (5 spokes) as these take the speedo drive off the wheel hub. A corresponding Speedo hub is a good idea, or you can use a cycle speedo & use R1100S or K series front wheels as well.

R1150R/RT/RS or R1100S or K1200 rear wheels (5 spokes) all fit. Just choose whether you want 5" or 5.5" wide rims (170/180 or 190 tyre fitments). These are all 17" diameter.

These rims all take the GS discs & ABS rings, except for the K series rears where you need to replace the disc with one from an R1100 which is mounted onto a carrier & bolts diectly to the final drive. Much easier to remove the rear wheel as you don't have to unbolt the brake caliper.

A cheaper alternative is to use the 3 spoke rims from R1100R/RT/RS models but these mean that you have to replace all three brake discs & speedo drive.

Advantages are, you get fully floating front discs instead of the semi floaters fitted as originals. The rear is also an 18" so you find the bike is not geared down as it is with the 17" ones. Rolling circumference of the original is 150/70 17" @ 2016mm, a 180/55 17" is 1978mm and a 160/60 18" is 2039mm. Add to this, the quicker turning nature of a 160 compared to the others & this was my preferred route.

HTH,

 

[Paul Young]

Forgot to mention......... LRR, you're a liar

BT020's & the TT course meant great cornering with no chicken strips front or rear. GSXR riders I spent time with were amazed at the wear of the fronts being right off the edge so I'm well pleased.

 

[philpaw2003]

Thanxs...........

It is decided..... I WILL have them changed ......OH YES!!!!
As soon as its done i will post ( if i can suss it out) the photo's

Yhanx 4 all the feedback.

phil

 

[Deleted Member MM]

Re: Thanxs...........

It is decided..... I WILL have them changed ......OH YES!!!!
As soon as its done i will post ( if i can suss it out) the photo's

Seems to work for the GS's, but the GSA's
I fitted them to my GSA with original GSA suspension & then GS Ohlins... had a nightmare of a time arriving at settings that made the Bike rideable..
Fine once it was on it's side & plenty of grip, no real issues with stability on bumpy roads(eventually ) BUT.. downright dangerous entering bends hard on the brakes.. fighting with it all the time & having to let it settle before you could pitch it in.
I know how to set a Bike up.. even let Kais have a go.. same result.
Put the standard wheels back on last week.. transformed.. back to a fine handling GSA.
No doubt others will disagree..

 

[Deleted Member MM]

Re: Re: Re: Thanxs...........

Agree with MM, (although he has no taste and is buying a Girlie Bike)

Girlie Bike? Mmm, maybe you should come up on your Manly GSA & try too catch a certain Girlie on her 1200

As for taste.. well Paragon.. 3rd world countries use Mercs as Taxi's.. Luxury car

Did you work in Management for Triumph, BSA or Norton? Reluctance to accept technology advancement..
tell me you werent part of it.

Joking aside.. had the VFR in '91.. I'm a bit old to be a Boy racer and Georgia will kill me for the first comment

I might not like the 12 but I'm willing to try. Have you ridden one? Probably not.. frightened in case you like it