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Wheel Interchangeability

  • Thread starter Thread starter mdunn
  • Start date Start date
M

mdunn

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Hello. I am new to the Suzuki world and need your help. I just purchased a 1978 GS1000. I would like to modify this bike maybe to look like a Wes Cooley Replica. Currently the bike has spoke wheels on it and I would like to change to the "star" shaped wheels. Does anyone know if the 1980 GS1000L wheel will fit on my '78 without major modifications? I appreciate your help!
 
mdunn said:
Hello. I am new to the Suzuki world and need your help. I just purchased a 1978 GS1000. I would like to modify this bike maybe to look like a Wes Cooley Replica. Currently the bike has spoke wheels on it and I would like to change to the "star" shaped wheels. Does anyone know if the 1980 GS1000L wheel will fit on my '78 without major modifications? I appreciate your help!
Click to expand...

I've been asked this before. :-D The "L" wheel's will fit. The front bolts right on. (I have a '79 "L" wheel on the front of mine) I wouldn't use a 17" rear though. The "S" used an 18" rear. PM me if you need any more info.

Dan Ruddock said:
Does anybody know which wheel would make an easy swap. Then I can run 120/90/18 hi max in the rear. Dan
Click to expand...


A 18" mag off of a GS750 will work fine. It's 18 x 2.15 and uses the same bearings and spacers.
It's the same part # as the one used on the 79/80 GS1000S.

You can also use a rear rim from a GS550 with rear disk brake. (again, same size, same part #) You'll need the spacers from a GS1000C (spoke rims) as well as wheel bearings if you use a 550 rim. (20X47X14) You'll also have to space the the caliper inboard about 3mm or so at the mount.
Finding the wheel spacers for a GS1000S would be ideal but alas, they are discontinued.
Here's what it looks like on the bike. (this is a 550 wheel with an 1100 swingarm on a 1978 GS1000)
DSCN1727.jpg
 
Spoked wheels

Spoked wheels

If you do go for the mags on your bike, I would be interested in buying your spoked rims for an upcoming project.

PM or email me.


Sent from my iPhone
 
I have a set of "78" GS 1000 spoked wheels, that I sometimes run on my "83" GS 1100 E. The only change to make is the spacer, that goes between the right side of the wheel, & the brake caliper. When I install the spoked wheel, I must use the spacer, that was originally designed for the spoked wheel. Years ago I used these same wheels on a "79" GS 1000 S. I only remember, where the spoked wheel goes, the spacer for the spoked wheel had to go with it. I don't move the caliper, on the GS 1100 E, whether using the mags or the spokes, & I don't remember moving the caliper when using the spokes on the GS 1000 S. If you put mags on the "78" GS 1000, You will need the spacer that was made for the mag wheel. 8trackmind is probably right, about moving the caliper, cause it looks like he's done it, but I can't ever remember moving mine.
 
Whew, let me see if I can explain this a little better.
You can use any GS rear wheel as long as you have the correct bearings, and the correct spacers. The sprocket carrier, as well as the axle is the same for the 17" and the 18" rims.
Swapping a 17" wheel is easy. Simply use the whole assembly from a 1100E, 1000E etc. The axle spacers from your spoke rim will not work with the 17"x 2.50 mag. You with me? :-s So far so good.

Swapping an 18" mag is where the mods come in. The 1000S was the only eight valve 1000 to wear the 18"x 2.15 mag. The 550, 650, and 750 had 'em.

On the 1000C (18"x2.15 spoke rim) There is a metal spacer that goes between the hub and the rotor. You can not use this spacer on the 18" mag because the register is not wide enough to center the spacer, and the rotor. 8-[

"So, why can't I just use 1000S spacers like Mr. Phillips" You ask? Good luck finding some. The 1000S spacers compensate for the rotor being roughly 3mm closer to the hub. They space the caliper hanger in so it will line up with the rotor. As far as I know, the axle spacers are no longer available from Suzuki.:cry: You may be able to use the spacers from a 80 to 83 GS750...I haven't tried that first hand, but it looks good on paper. Better yet, chuck some metal up on a lathe and make us all some! (just kidding)

The fix for using the 18" mag in this application, is to use all the 1000C spacers, and space the caliper about 3mm inboard.

Tune in next week for "all about brakes". Class dismissed. :-D
 
Last edited:
Thanks 8track, I was confused. I still have the wheels for the 1000 S, & 1000 C, but always kept the spacers with the wheel they were made for. This explains why I didn't need to move the caliper. Thanks, I'll be sure not to get them mixed up.
 
Thank you for everyone's help (especially 8track). I have a chance to buy a complete set of "L" wheels cheap, so I might do hat for now until I am ready to switch to the 18" on the rear. If any of you have an 18" setup ready to bolt on that they want to part with, let me know! Thank again!
 
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