Wrong size rear wheel ???

[Guest]

I have a 1981 GS-650-GL

I needed new tires, and just co-incidentally this thread http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...d.php?t=110430
suggests a brand, and sizes.
90/90-19 on the front (or use 100/90-19) and rear is 130/90-16
I have a clymers and an OEM Suzuki manual, and they concur with the thread on the sizes.
So I shopped around, found the best price and ordered them...

They arrive, and I go out to the bike and look at stuff ...
What the heck !!!
The current rear tire is a 130/90-17, and its a 17 inch rim.
But its a cast 5 "spoke" one just like it should be.

I'm guessing the prior owner changed the wheel ...
does one of the other model GS'es have a 17 inch rear wheel ???
and does it just bolt in as a replacement ...
Are my rear brake's likely not the stock ones either now ???

Does this mean that the rpm's at a given speed are now a few percent lower (actually a good thing on the highway ...) or is the gearing likely also changed to compensate?

So I guess now I am stuck with the wrong tire, Bike bandit will refund the price of $42.12, but I'll be out the $5.95 handling and $6.00 shipping...
bleah ... Live and Learn

Anyone in the Philadelphia/Wilmington area want to buy a brand new
ChengShin Hi-Max C907 rear tire size 130/90-16.
Private msg me if you want it, I'll sell it for what I paid, but you'll save the shipping, I'll eat that ...

[Suzuki mad]

Sorry to say this but I think you ordered the wrong wheel sized tyre.

Nearly every single GS/GSX I have riden have had 17inch rear wheels. (Some GS1000S here in the UK had 18 inch rear wheels.)

Most had 19 inch fronts apart from the 750 ESD/EFE in 1984/85.

Look on the bright side at about $12 it aint that bad. It cost me £150 for a pair for the GS1000 and nearly £200 for tyres on the Bandit. Its not that bad....

Suzuki mad.

[Killer2600]

Have to look at your own bike for tire size, unless the year and model are exactly the same the tire size may be different. I have a buddy with a '82 GS1100G that has a 16in rear but my '82 GS750E has a 18in rear.

[Steve]

I think the 650G has a 17" wheel, the 650GL has a 16". They will probably interchange. Might not change the rpm much, though. I think the 17" wheels use a narrower tire, so the overall height (and rolling radius) of the tire will be pretty much the same.

As for the spoke pattern...the '80 and '81 models had the "pentagram" pattern, the '82 and up had the double spoke pattern. You say yours in an '81, so should have the pentagram.


.

[Nessism]

Suzuki changed around the wheel sizes from year to year and model to model. 17" rear for a 650 doesn't surprise me - most likely it's original.

Regarding rpm's and such, smaller diameter wheels typically use wider tires, with the corresponding tall sidewall, so the overall diameter is similar.

[chuckycheese]

16 inch

The GS750L's have 16" rear wheels but the '81 and '82 "E" models have an 18" rear wheel.:-| The '83 "T" model has a 17" rear wheel. It's a little confusing!8-[

[SqDancerLynn1]

Common for "L" to have 16" You will be fine either exchange the tire or find a 16" wheel for your L model