what can i do to upgrade tire and wheel sizes on my gs1100

[kevin gs1100e]

I kinda am in a bind, with no cash to spent 3-5k on a newer bike, is there something i can do to add a 16" ft tire with atleast a 130 ft tire, and upgrade the rear to atleast a 150-160 rear tire.

I understand it would probably mean new ft forks and new rear swing arm


what can i do, i ride this bike like a crotch rockett and need to upgrade tire size to support more modern sport tires.


KEvin

[marcovandevelde]

Hey Kevin
Not a lot of response here so I'll try to give you an answer. There are several options to upgrading your wheels, all depending mainly on what you can get cheap. If you are a reasonable handy mechanic there is virtually no wheel you cannot make to fit.
For example I fitted a front and rear wheel off of a '91 FZR 600 on my bike, with a 17''/3"wide front with 120/70 tyre, and a 18''/4"wide rear with 160/60 tyre. They are reasonably cheap and can wear modern rubber. For the front I needed to jiggle a little with the original FZR/GS spacers, but the spindle size is the same, and had to make new mounting plates for the FZR calipers on the turned-around(!) FZR discs.
A more easy route (and to ompliment your riding style :roll: ) would be to fit a complete front end off of any Suzuki (will bolt almost straight on), for example a GSX600/750 or Bandit 600 and take the rear wheel also. Keep in mind that you need to keep the rear tyre smaller/equal to 160 to clear the chain, or you will be into offset sprox.

Want detailed pics? Mail me.

Good Luck!

[robinjo]

I have a 17" 120 wide front tire om my 1100S, inside of the front fender is 130 mm.

Rear fork is wide enough for a 180 tire.



Lots of info on www.oldskoolsuzuki.info

[Anonymous]

tire sizes.

Be careful if you decide to change to a wider tire on the stock width rim.
Installing a "fat " tire may change the chord of the tire, the result may be a smaller contact patch. I have found that using stock size tires with a softer compound works very well.
Good luck though. I have toyed with the Idea of swapping forks and Swing arm for modern parts also, but its all a matter of time and money, lots of time not a lot of money.

[Detman101]

I have a 17" 120 wide front tire om my 1100S, inside of the front fender is 130 mm.

Rear fork is wide enough for a 180 tire.



Lots of info on www.oldskoolsuzuki.info

Are those rearsets? Or did it come like that Robin?


Dm of mD

[robinjo]

Those are not rearsets, the footpegs on a Katana are further back then on a standard 1100.

[Jethro]

You can fit a 180 tire in there without mods to the drive line at all?

[robinjo]

You can fit a 180 tire in there without mods to the drive line at all?

I did not say that

I replaced the brake anchor with a flat one made out of tool steel and fitted an 13 mm offset front sprocket and 530 chain. Lots of info on this in Katmans previous Katana build.