'79 850 Wheels

[kingofvenus]

Parts diagrams show that they have tubes in them till the '83 models, are they tube only style wheels, or was this just the way they came (cheaper tube style tires) from the factory.

[Nessism]

This issue is well covered in the archives but in a nutshell, tubeless wheels have an extra lip which keeps the tire seated on the bead in case of deflation. The '79 - '81 850's came with a mix and match of tube type and tubeless type wheels over the years in a grab bag sort of application - look for "tubeless applicable" cast into the wheel, since there is no consistency in what any particular bike has. Some people go tubeless with tube type wheels by changing to a tubeless valve stem, doing this is somewhat controversial though so you might want to check the archives for both sides of the story.

[tas850g]

my '79 front/rear wheels are stamped tubeless. I've read some '79's rears are tubeless and fronts have tubes so i checked to confirm my case.

[Nessism]

my '79 front/rear wheels are stamped tubeless. I've read some '79's rears are tubeless and fronts have tubes so i checked to confirm my case.

You got lucky. It's not often that both front and rear were tubeless.

[Grandpa]

The front wheels off later 850's (82 and 83 GS850GZ and GS850GD) are interchangeable with those on the earlier 850's.

It's possible that the wheels on tas850G's bike are those from the later 850's. The later 850 front wheel is clearly marked as tubeless.

By the way, any front wheel on any GS850G or GL, GS1000G or GL, or GS1100G or GL, or GK, will interchange.

They are not the same, but they'll fit any 850, 1000, or 1100 shaftie with no modifications.

Nick Diaz
Middletown, MD

[Steve]

By the way, any front wheel on any GS850G or GL, GS1000G or GL, or GS1100G or GL, or GK, will interchange.

They are not the same, but they'll fit any 850, 1000, or 1100 shaftie with no modifications.

True enough. Two differences that I know of are the pattern and the width.

Up through '81, the shafties all had the "star" pattern wheels. Starting in '82, they had the "spoke" pattern.

Not sure where the change came in regarding width, but I am sure that the 1000 and 1100s had a 2.15" wheel,
the smaller bikes (yeah, at least down to the 650) had a 1.85" wheel.

For those that don't know the difference in the pattern, compare the pictures in my signature.
"Freebie" has the "star" wheels, #2 son's bike has the "spokes".
They are both '81 850s, but we got a set of wheels off an '82 1100 for #2 son. (That includes the 2.15" front wheel. )

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[Nessism]

The '82+ G model 850 and 1100 have the tubeless 2.15" spoke front wheel but the GL and 1100E both have a 1.85 front. Guess Suzuki gave the larger wheel to those bikes that were apt to be loaded with a fairing. As for the star pattern fronts, I don't think they made a 2.15 wheel, and the parts fishe supports this thought.

[Steve]

I am inclined to agree on all points. My wife's '82 850L has the "spoke" pattern and is 1.85" wide.

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