78 GS1000 wheel spoke/mag swap problem???

[Billyboy]

OK, I'm not a newb, don't flame and yell "Search engine!"

Mine:
1978 GS1000C
OE: Wire spokes, 130/90-18
Donor wheels:
1978 GS1000L
Mags, 17 inch rear
150/70R17

I swapped my set of spokes for a set of mags. Sweet deal I thought. The mags are pretty hot. But when I tried to mount them up things went weird.
It seems that the swingarm is too narrow for the OE spacers and all that. I kept my drive hub, spacers, caliper mount, everything. We just traded wheels.

Are these wheels wider than spokes?
Do I need a smaller spacer somewhere?
Are the spacers i need with my trading buddy?
Should we just swap our spacers back?

As I type it out this seems about right. Please confirm or blow my reasoning apart.

I haven't even tried the front yet.

[TheCafeKid]

Spokes and mags had different spacers on the brake side. I believe it's the one outboard of the caliper hanger. You'll need to find an OE spacer for mag wheels or make one up with some washers. Find washers that have the ID large enough to fit the axle and stack as many as you need, making sure you leave enough "squish" int the swingarm to synch everything up tight. In otherwords, even .005" too much might be too much.

[Nessism]

Your 150 tire is way too wide for the stock OE 2.5" wide wheel. A 130 bulges pretty bad as is.

[albertaphotog]

I am the recipient of the spoked wheels and I'm as happy as a clam. Hopefully just trading the spacers will sort things out.

[Big T]

The hubs are different and the spacers are different

Go to www.alphasports.com and check the parts fiche for the bikes involved

Are you trying to improve looks, or handling? That big fat tire will ruin your handling

[Billyboy]

Looks and handling.
The bugger of it is that I just bought two new tires for the spokes. But the rear was bought for the 18".
I think I have the solution to that, though.
I have an 18" rim from an 81 GS750. It looks identical except it is actually an 18". (And has been painted blue.)
I know it fits because I ran it as a spare when I had a flat.

So, I suppose my next question is, how do I remove that nasty paint without messing up the coating?

[Big T]

The 17" with a 150 will give you worse handling due to the pinched tire cross section

What's wrong with your spoke wheel?

The other 18" wheel will keep you on the road

[Billyboy]

Nothing wrong with the spokes. I just want mags. I also want to run tubeless.
I got a buddy that's going to blast the paint off the 18.

[Nessism]

That 18" rear is only 2.15" wide so the maximum recommended tire size is 120. The 17" rear is 2.50" wide so you can go with a 130. I wouldn't go wider than these sizes...although some people do and live to tell about it regardless.

[Big T]

Nothing wrong with the spokes. I just want mags. I also want to run tubeless.
I got a buddy that's going to blast the paint off the 18.

Okay

That 18" rim is marked tubeless, right?

Not all mags are for tubeless tires

[Nessism]

Okay

That 18" rim is marked tubeless, right?

Not all mags are for tubeless tires

I don't think the 18" Suzuki "star" pattern wheels came in a "tubelsss" version, although that doesn't stop some people from running them tubeless anyway.

[Billyboy]

Well, crap, there goes that idea.

[salty_monk]

Get yourself a 17" x 2.5. They are common enough... Or go for a 3.5" 1150 wheel which will fit (but maybe only with an 1100 swingarm) & then you can run your 150 (or a 140).

Dan