Swapping a rear disc to rear drum on a 1000G {going to wire wheels} big difference?

[80GS850GBob]

I plan on putting wire spoked wheels on my '80 GS1000G because I love the look of it. Of course the shaft drive GS models never came with wire spoked wheels...so this makes for a challenge. Intruder rear disc wheels run 56 spokes on a 15" rim....too many spokes and too small a rim. I'm running a 36 spoke GT750 front hub with new bearings and twin 310mm rotors - I wanted the spoke counts to match front to rear.
My plan is to remove the oem rear wheel assembly / sans drive hub, install a VS800 rear wheel w/drum and swap the 36 spoked 15" rim to a 17" spoked rim...probably something in the 3"-4" wide range for the rim with radial tires - as big/wide as will fits in the oem swingarm with out rubbing. Aside from the GS drive hub assembly fitting nicely onto the VS hub{same spline plate part number though}, total width fitment of the drum/drive assembly, and needing to install a cable and bracket for brake actuation instead of a rod.....
So, my question is will there be that much of a difference in GS rear disc to VS rear drum braking? I expect a little less effective, but will it be worse than that?...keeping in mind the fronts do most of the work and my new front end set up will be better than oem was.

 

[Steve]

Good luck with the swap. :encouragement:

Many have asked about putting wire wheels on a shafty, but the very few spoked wheels with disc brakes were making the job nearly impossible. The fact that you don't mind the extra work to switch to a drum brake might make it more possible. Personally, I think you are a bit daft. Firstly for going to wire wheels and secondly for downgrading to a drum brake, but it's all about "choice", and that is what you have chosen.

A well set up drum brake is about as effective as a disk. The advantage is in how long it stays that way. There are no major mountains in your area (I know the area reasonably well), so brake fade should not be much of a problem.

As far as your "widest tire" quest, ... most of us are running 130s on the stock wheel. I have seen a 140, and there was VERY little room. Add the wider wheel, you might be pushing the sidewalls out to the point where they touch the insides of the swingarm. If you are going to a radial tire, go with the widest rim you can, then choose the tire to fit the rim. Radials like wide rims for support.

Please be sure to get lots of pictures and document your adventure. Even if it doesn't work out, we can at least use it as proof that it's not possible, but it would be nice if it works.

.

 

[GSXR7ED]

Well said, Steve.

OP, please post pics of this quest.

Ed

 

[80GS850GBob]

Steve, true on multiple counts...{possibly the daft thing too...lol}.
The Suzi Intruder1400 rear wheel has been done by a gent on this forum...rear shot only for reference sake, but it ran the 15" x 4" wheel. However, when the rim diameter goes up in diameter the width possibilities shrink inside the GS shaft swing arm. A small 15" rim can fit a 140-150 tire in there....150 would be max I'd bet....but that'd look like a huge tire from the side for me{chopper-ish}...not the actual look I'm after.
My issue is spoke count for said above rim...56 when compared to the normal 36. Finding a hoop that can take 56 spokes becomes an issue as well....36 count is far more mainstream.....40 count a second runner up. The rear shaft hub I'm looking at is a 36 spoke count hub and would match the front spoke count, and the only negative about it is the drum brake...I suppose everything is a trade off- huh?
Me, I'm not trying to fit a 5"-10" wide rim back there....3.5" would be fine for me...4" max if it could be done. If I went to an 18" rim I'd bet 3" wide would be my only usable option. My choice for a 17" rim is for various reasons....not too large and not too small.

One thing I will add is that the stock rear disc on the 850G isn't all that powerful...imho. Yes, it's probably running organic pads, but I have to hit fairly hard to lock up the rear on that one - not that I'd want to ever really do that for lack of loss of control...just saying it, to me, is lackluster.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Well said, Steve.

OP, please post pics of this quest.

Ed

I will...for those to either laugh at or possibly follow in my footsteps.
Right now I'm in acquisition mode only.....GT750 front hub that needs new bearings, no hoops yet but I'm going to do 17's front and rear, new front rotors - 310mm/22mm offset to work with GS hubs...and the GSX-R front end I have for this bike. My 850G will be the stock one...sans Salty Monk front brake upgrade...along with my vetter windstar fairing. My 1000G will be the not so stock one, but still be mostly GS-ish.

 

[dorkburger]

Sounds interesting. Personally, I use the rear brake so little that drum vs disc performance would hardly be a concern.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Sounds interesting. Personally, I use the rear brake so little that drum vs disc performance would hardly be a concern.

Well. the VL800s and VS800s don't have stellar ratings for overall braking, and that's what I'd be using for rear braking...but I do see your point and agree that rear braking for me is just a touch when compared to the fronts effort.

For me, I just have to be different I guess....kinda like some folks who like old scooters....huh?

 

[GSXR7ED]

Good one! About the scooters!


Ed

 

[Steve]

Bob, please keep in mind that I was not criticizing your project, only trying to point out some of the pitfalls other have run into.

I have to agree that spokes can look good, but they are far too much work for my tastes.
On the other hand, if you are wanting spokes, why not go SPOKES?

(This might be the 56 spoke wheel you mentioned.)

GT750 front wheel? 2LS or 4LS?

Sounds like an interesting project, and as has been mentioned (more than once), pictures are MANDATORY. :-\\\

.

 

[Guest]

This is what you need. '85 GV1200 aka Madura. Direct swap and has a rear disc. Guy with the have used GS mags as can be seen in the second pic.

 

[dorkburger]

Well. the VL800s and VS800s don't have stellar ratings for overall braking, and that's what I'd be using for rear braking...but I do see your point and agree that rear braking for me is just a touch when compared to the fronts effort.

For me, I just have to be different I guess....kinda like some folks who like old scooters....huh?

Yep. Different keeps the world from being boring.

 

[storm 64]

I love my spoked wheels! I say go for it Plus, with the shaft drive, they'll stay a lot cleaner than a chain drive.

 

[80GS850GBob]

Bob, please keep in mind that I was not criticizing your project, only trying to point out some of the pitfalls other have run into.

I have to agree that spokes can look good, but they are far too much work for my tastes.
On the other hand, if you are wanting spokes, why not go SPOKES?

(This might be the 56 spoke wheel you mentioned.)

GT750 front wheel? 2LS or 4LS?

Sounds like an interesting project, and as has been mentioned (more than once), pictures are MANDATORY. :-\\\

.

I hear ya on the spokes thing but I think it's worth it and I didn't take any offense to your comments...you merely toss out the facts. Ya lost me on the "2Ls / 4Ls" thing though...sorry.

 

[80GS850GBob]

This is what you need. '85 GV1200 aka Madura. Direct swap and has a rear disc. Guy with the have used GS mags as can be seen in the second pic.

The front hub is in possession - need a rim there and 36 spokes yet.
Back hub attempt is going to be an '04 VL800 drum hub with 36 spoke holes and it's on it's way from Boca...odd part is that we just got back from the other side at Cape Coral...God we gotta move there!

 

[80GS850GBob]

Yep. Different keeps the world from being boring.

Agreed...and add someone on another forum said "it couldn't be done"....so naturally, I have to do it.....

 

[80GS850GBob]

I love my spoked wheels! I say go for it Plus, with the shaft drive, they'll stay a lot cleaner than a chain drive.

Nice! Like the Excels...I'm looking at Warp 9 rims at the moment but am still trying to figure out allowable rim width at a 17" rim. I have to clear front calipers and rear inner swing arm width...

 

[80GS850GBob]

Got both my new rear hub assemblies in today....'95 VS800 whole wheel {but has 56 spokes} just for the cable actuated drum and an '04 VL800 hub with the needed 36 count spokes. Under $100.00 for both...nice.
The front wheel assembly is centered so that will be an easy enough build once I have the rim and spokes but the rear, as I figured, is offset and will add an extra challenge to figure out both spoke lengths...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/152580924@N08/38627177015/in/dateposted-public/

 

[storm 64]

Is it possible to shift the wheel over to center the wheel by adding/subtracting wheel spacers?(maybe not cause of the shatf) It looks like you are going to have to mount the hub (without rim) and start taking measurements. I had to respace my rear wheel on my 1000e. Ended up having to space the brake rotor out 5 mm... It was a pain in the neck, but I finally got everything happy. Good luck, I'll be watching what you do.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Not a big fan of wire wheels, but as far as the reduction in braking goes, the rear brake isn't a dominant brake anyway, so I say go for it.

 

[Guest]

Not sure where to find one, but the Madura rear would make things so much easier.