Need "How-To"; laced wheels on modern sportbike.

[inline4]

I REALLY want to have spoked/laced wheels on my Z1A project, but don't have a clue how to go about it.
The front suspension on my bike is off a ZX11C; the back is from a GSXR1100. I'm sure the back end would be the easiest to modify by using (GASP!) a harley-type wheel.
Has anyone ever done this?
Here is the inspiration for the look I want.[:p]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/z1zr7/CoolGermanKZ.jpg

[Matt]

Wouldnt have a clue but good luck with it. Spoked wheels look hot!

[chopaweeza]

Well, Harley have even helped you out by going from 1" axle diameter to 25mm on their 07' & up big twins. Having adapted spoked wheels into a USD set of forks before it's alot of work and was almost as expensive as getting a new replacement that some companies now offer. These are the parts I had to get made to adapt a Z650 wheel to a set of 92' GSXR forks. New axle , end sleeves for the axle , adaptors to use the GSXR discs , blank off the speedo(was too much work to make it work)and get the rim re-laced to a 17" trail bike alloy rim(rear off a KDX200 if memory serves). That cost $1350 to get done as I don't have a lathe or milling machine but the bloke I did it for was stoked .

Now , I've heard that people have had alot of success using Hinchley Triumph spoked wheels with the rear off the Tiger(that ugly road trail type) being pretty simple to adapt to many modern sports bikes. It's alot of hard slog regardless of what you do with it.

I think AMCN did a CB not too long ago and used talon hubs....It was a fair whack tho.
Just for reference the average motard costs about $1700 - $2000.

Give Jeff at eastcoast wheels (US wheel builder) an email, he's a really helpful sorta guy and may know some suitable hubs.

info@eastcoastwheels.com

[Bear]

John Titman racing is the Aussie importer for Talon, Excel and SM Pro - http://www.jtr.com.au/

They even have camo style rims now = woohoo! [:0]:D

Titman could help you out with rims and spokes and may even lace them for you. They're up in QLD/Brisvegas way.

In NSW, Ballards off-road is the agent - http://www.ballards.cc/index.php?module=Website&action=Home
Ballards would know of a spoke lacer too.

A word of warning with the Talon hubs - they aren't cush-drive and they don't allow/adapt speedo drives, They are bare sprocket and brake disc mount only. There may be other hub options I'm sure.

[zedsled]

If you plan on using the bike on the street I do not recommend harley rear wheel. They dont have a cush drive and will shatter a z gearbox in stop start regular street work. Whats wrong with z wheels? A '77 zed 1000 has a spoke rear wheel. It uses 40 spokes like harly wheels, so has a good selection of big rims to choose from. I have machined them out to take 25mm I.D. bearings many times. Still available on US ebay pretty cheap. As for the front hub, I have used a z900 hub on zxr, cbr gsxr front ends and recently put a set of big triumph disks on one just by making apppropriateadapter plates. I can certainly help you out if you want. I will try and dig out some photos.

[inline4]

Thanks for everyones' replies.
I know it won't be an inexpensive or easy endeavor, but I'm going to do some experimenting.
zedsled, I gotta tell you man, I love the look of your Z. It is currently my PC background. [8D][8D]
Any pics or other info you can pass along will be greatly appreciated.
Jim

[zedsled]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/99484395524510.JPG

[zedsled]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/99484395534520.JPG

This is a front hub I did for a honda 750/4 front hub into gsxr front end. Cost- Hub $40, alloy for spacers $15, good quality s/s spokes(40) $165, powder coating hub $20 got the wheel laced and trued $80. Rims will cost anything from $200 to $1000. I used a excel 17x3.5 cost $350 all up around $600. Couldn't find a pic of it finished but it looked fuckin awesome.

[zedsled]

http://www.streetfighters.com.au/forum/upload/99484395534072.JPG

This is a back hub I have just finished machining out for 25mm axel bearings. 40 spoke rims available up to 6.5 inch of the shelf

Sorry to bump this up, but I'm now looking at a GS-750 front hub (same part no as 1000's) for the GSXR into CB thingy. Now from what I can gather the GS hub uses a 6302 bearing (15,42,13).I can get a 6004 (20,42,12) but I'm not too sure whether this would be up to the task. I'm just wondering if you've machined a GS hub to take a 6204 (20,47,14) as this would be perfect for the '89 front end I'm using.If it's any help the id of the GS disc are 58mm. And with a 10mm machined spacer 97\98 Fireblade discs will work without having to relocate the calipers the PCD's are same as the GS's just larger ID on the disc.

BTW if I can get the GS wheel I'm after I have a Yammy XS-650 19" wheel

[zedsled]

I have used a gs750 hub with 6004 bearings on a few projects and found them up to the task. I change front wheel bearings whenever i put a new tyre on any way but have never seen anything that would make me suspicious. In saying that, I am pretty sure there is more than enough meat on the hub to machine it out to take bigger bearings. I have one in the shed (Funny enough, it has fireblade discs on it, as they are the same O.D. as honda fours and z9s and I use them a lot) I'll take a look tommorrow and let you know for sure. If you do go the gs route, I might be
interested in your Yamaha wheel
Cheers, Jason

PM sent mate