Changing from mags to spokes on my '82 GS750?

[Loose Seal]

Hello all-

I’m sure this question has been asked but I haven’t found anything in my various combinations of searching.

Wondering if there is an equivalent GS spoked wheel available that I could swap out in place of my mags. If not, off to the powdercoaters the mags go.

Thanks!
-Keith

[Pete Logan]

There has to be - I'm certain Suzuki didn't change the fork or swingarm spacings when they went to mags.

Someone here will know.

[Agemax]

i would stick with the mags mate. usually lighter than spokes and a dam sight easier to clean. powder coated they look nice

[Baatfam]

Please find out and then do it....and post all the info.

I want to do the same thing to mine....spokes are just way, way cooler.

I run spokes on my drag bike....

Later,
Bob T.

[Pete Logan]

i would stick with the mags mate. usually lighter than spokes and a dam sight easier to clean. powder coated they look nice

You clean :-?:-?:-?

I ride - God cleans

Edit: It's a Brit joke

[Agemax]

You clean :-?:-?:-?

I ride - God cleans

Edit: It's a Brit joke

when you live in britain you gotta clean, constantly. we aint blessed with nice sunny weather like most of you.we get acid rain and salt on roads!

[tkent02]

Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS.

[tkent02]

Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.

[hampshirehog]

The spoked wheels were actually lighter than the early mags, and if you can find some with alloy rims lighter still.

Early GS750 / 1000 will fit straight on or you could use a front from a 550 (rear no good as the hub is for a drum brake).

[Agemax]

Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.

the standard spoke wheels are heavier than the mag wheels, thats why suzuki changed to them. you could have lighter spoked wheels if you changed them to ally rims and lightweight racing spokes.
trouble with spoked wheels is they need more maintenance to keep true and the spokes evenly tensioned etc. and obviously need inner tubes which means more expense and a smaller selection of tyre choice

[hampshirehog]

The spoked wheels I got from a 750 were quite a bit lighter than the mags on one of my old 550s - I weighed them to check. This was a few years back during my quest to make the 'lightest 550 known to man' so I went further and got some akronts which were about half the weight of the originals.

Those early mag wheels were about style, copying the race boys who had proper magnesium wheels and not the aluminium we got for the road bikes. I remember the Honda works team really suffered for a season as they had to race with aluminium Comstars so that their road bikes looked good.

It was only when we got to the later GSX models with the double 3 spoke alloys that the wheels got lighter.

You're right about higher maintenance of course, though have you seen the new BMW GS with the spoked wheels - running tubeless? Only the Germans could think of putting the spokes on the outside of the rim (outside the tyre) - you can effectively change a spoke without having to even let the tyre down.

[Pete Logan]

when you live in britain you gotta clean, constantly. we aint blessed with nice sunny weather like most of you.we get acid rain and salt on roads!

I know - I am a Brit

Try the A1 - overnight - in freezing rain.

She was worth it

[Baatfam]

...trouble with spoked wheels is they need more maintenance to keep true and the spokes evenly tensioned etc...

Nothin' to it....I actually find it rather relaxing and somewhat musical....

[Zooks]

I know - I am a Brit

Try the A1 - overnight - in freezing rain.

She was worth it

We've all done crazy things like that before.
Love (and lust) is blind. :-)

[Loose Seal]

Spokes are light, they fit the same.
Look a lot nicer than the mags these came with.
Get a set from a 1977 or 78 GS 750 or 1000.
Try to find a straight set.

Thank you sir! The quest is on...right after I come down from this K&N air filter cleaner high. wooooo....