Ground Clearance Issues With 17" Wheels?

[Anonymous]

I know this has been discussed before, but that was relating to bump clearance and I am more interested in cornering clearance.

So, does anybody who has done the GSXR USD front end with 17" wheels have any issues with a typical 4-1 header like the V&H (the regular pipe, not the sidewinder ones)? This would be for the 82-83 GS1100E models in particular. I want to know because I like to crank it over from time to time and 80's bikes didn't have clearance like new bikes do any way. Once it sits lower and has sticky 17" rubber on it, the temptation to let it rip will be even greater and the clearance will be less. Any major troubles with this? Also, what hits first, the engine cases or footpegs/exhaust system?

Mark

[Hoomgar]

I don't know how much of a sacrafice you will experience as a result of the aforementioned mod but I can tell you that I have a stock bike other than the V&H (non-sidewinder) pipe like you mention and when I hammer it in a turn I have drug all the above already. I can't really recall what drags most but I do know that even with the stock configuration (wire wheels, shocks, front end) I can lay her down to what seems almost horizontal to the world and get a lot of bike parts to drag. The only thing that may be adding to that for me is I am big and heavy. I am sure that makes it a lot different than it would be for someone who weighed 100 lbs less than me like a lot of other guys.

I would think that if you made the bike even lower and put sticky-er tires on it that you are going to experience a lot more drag as you hot dog around.

[Billy Ricks]

I'm running the '88-'90 cartidge style fork with the 17" and have no problems dragging anything. But then on the 700 pegs were already mounted fairly high and I've installed GSXR rearsets higher and further back than stock. My pipe exits high and close in the rear so the canister will never touch down. The 700 came with a 16" wheel and the 17" with a 120/70 is actually a little taller than the 16" with a 100/90.