will an 850G wheel fit a 650G?

[boathead]

i need a new front tire on my 82 650G. i have an entire wheel, with a brand new tire from an 82 850G.

the tire sizes are the same. do you think the entire wheel could just swap out? i went to a few on-line sites for the schematics, but it doesn't really give me much info.

the part numbers are a bit off, but the difference might have nothing to due with fitment. (is fitment a word?)

[SqDancerLynn1]

As far as the front wheel, my guess is that it will fit

[Grandpa]

An 850G front wheel has two discs. The 650 has only one, doesn't it? Not sure about this.

This may or may not be an obstacle; just remove the one disc.

"Fitment" is a word.

[boathead]

it's got two...visually it looks the same. i measured the distance between the rotors, and it's the same for the two wheels...

i am gonna give it a try if i can figure out how to get the fronts off the ground...any suggestions? i don't have a lift. am thinking about rigging a pulley system from a rafter, and then blocking under the engine case.

would love to hear suggestions on this...some american ingenuity.

[Nessism]

Put bike on centerstand and a jack under the engine (I use two jacks, one under each frame rail).

[Nessism]

Front wheel on my 850 has some deep metal pitting around the valve stem so I think it's shot. Did some checking this morning by comparing part numbers on different Suzuki front wheels and it seems they made two different widths.

1982 650/850GL/1100GL all take a 19xMT1.85 wheel - 2nd generation aluminum wheel

1982 850G/1100G/1100GK take a 19xMT2.15 wheel which is wider - 2nd generation

I thought they were all the same but apparently they are not.

[Grandpa]

Front wheel on my 850 has some deep metal pitting around the valve stem so I think it's shot. Did some checking this morning by comparing part numbers on different Suzuki front wheels and it seems they made two different widths.

650/850GL/1100GL all take a 19xMT1.85 wheel

850G/1100G/1100GK take a 19xMT2.15 wheel which is wider

I thought they were all the same but apparently they are not.

They aren't the same, but they are interchangeable. When I had the GK, the stock front wheel would alternate use with a wheel off my old 1980 GS850G, the "pentagram" wheel that is 1.85.

Let me correct you on one item: The early GS850G's and GS1000G's came with the 1.85 front wheel. The later GS850G's and GS1100G's and GK's came with the 2.15 front wheel.

The 2.15 front wheel is labeled tubeless, whereas the earlier ones are not.

[tkent02]

would love to hear suggestions on this...some american ingenuity.

Sometimes I put it on the centerstand and lift the center of the bars from a garage door track or porch beam with a ratcheting tie down.
It's only lifting a small amount of the weight, maybe 60 lbs or so?
It gets more solid when the rear tire hits the ground, but don't go so far as to take much weight off the centerstand.
Lift from a point behind the bars, so the pull is back, to help keep the bike from moving forward off the stand.

Depending on what area of the bike you are working on, it may be less likely to tip over than using a jack under the front of the frame.

Works well for anything on the front end, tire, etc.

[Nessism]

They aren't the same, but they are interchangeable. When I had the GK, the stock front wheel would alternate use with a wheel off my old 1980 GS850G, the "pentagram" wheel that is 1.85.

Let me correct you on one item: The early GS850G's and GS1000G's came with the 1.85 front wheel. The later GS850G's and GS1100G's and GK's came with the 2.15 front wheel.

The 2.15 front wheel is labeled tubeless, whereas the earlier ones are not.

Thanks for clarifying, forgot to mention I was checking the second generation wheels.

Interesting thing to me is that the L model front wheels are narrower than the regular G model, again, on the 2nd generation wheels. L model rear wheels are wider, but smaller diameter.

[boathead]

i know i know, i am slow...everything i do is a first...but i finally got the front end off the ground. used two car jacks on the frame rail (thanks nessism), raised it up, slid a lift on a ledge in the engine just above the filter case, and lowered it back down.

i couldn't figure out how to block it at the bottom, what with the exhaust pipes there.

tomorrow i'll actually take the wheel off. but it's nice to have this bike...the 850 is a parts/project bike, where it will remain for the winter, off the ground in a barn where i can start putzing.