Rim width question?

[Guest]

Hi all.

I am interested to know if the early 19 inch GS front wheel were all the same width, or did they increase the width over time?

I ask because i have been looking at Avons website and info on the roadrider tire some here have recommended. For my bike (78 GS750E), the size listed is old inch 3.25-19 front. For the later GS1000E for example, the listing is metric 100/90-19.

According to Avons charts, the 100/90-19 is outside of the suitable rim range for my front wheel (1.85).

If i go with the recommended sizes, both front and rear tires will be narrower than the recommended Avon roadrunner sizes that i used before (can't get now). This is based on the pdf chart info on both tires.

Some people here say that the 78 GS750E tire sizes are 100/90-19 front, 120/90-18 rear. Does this still apply with the roadriders?

Regards.

Footy.

[Big T]

Those sizes are a bit large for your bike

Why not go with the 3.25 front and 4.00 rear?

better fit and insignificantly smaller than the 110/90 front, 12/90 rear

[Nessism]

Your front rim is 1.85 so a 100 is fine. The rear is 2.15 so 120 is okay. Tons of GSR folks are running those sizes without issue.

[Footy.]

Thanks for the replies.

I did go for the recommended by Avon, 3.25 front, 4.00 rear roadrunners when i first rebuilt the bike. The Avon spec sheet (and my own measurement confirmed) that the overall width of these was front: 106mm and rear 122mm.

The "same" size 3.25 front and 4.00 rear roadrider tires are listed as, front width: 89mm, and rear: 108mm.

I find this significant difference very odd in tires that are supposed to be the "same" size? ie 3.25 and 4.00.

As the roadrunner "actual real life sizes" are very close to the metric 100 front, 120 rear people use, i will probably go with these.

Thanks.

Footy.

[Steve]

Now let's go back and answer your question:

I am interested to know if the early 19 inch GS front wheel were all the same width, or did they increase the width over time?

No, they were not all the same width. Can't tell you where the dividing line was, but the '82 1100G had a 2.15" wide front wheel. I only know that because that was the donor bike for my son's front wheel. Not sure if it was just the larger bikes or the newer bikes, but I do know that all of the 850s in our possision had 1.85" front wheels when we got them and the '82 1100G donor had the 2.15" wheel.

.

[Nessism]

The '82 850G (not GL) has a 2.15 front. I think Suzuki figured (rightly) that shafty riders sometimes do some loaded touring.

[Footy.]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Footy

[mcycle-nut]

Your front rim is 1.85 so a 100 is fine. The rear is 2.15 so 120 is okay. Tons of GSR folks are running those sizes without issue.

I agree. I have aluminum rimmed wheels from a 1000 on my '78 750, and the rim sizes are the same. I have a 3.25-19 Metzeler ME33 Laser on the front, and a 120/90-18 Metzeler ME55A Metronic on the rear.