GS850 rear wheel swap... thoughts?

[Guest]

So while surfing the "interwebz" for ideas of different setups, I stumbled across this video... what are your guys' thoughts?
I had two thing that came to mind.
1. Impressive
2. How safe is this....?

Here's the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zluRuxHou00

[GS1150Pilot]

Very cool, lots of fun being had, and love having been lavished. Beautiful custom. Kosman welds wheels all the time ...

Plus, I love the Offspring.

[Sebastian24]

so just get a gsxr rear wheel, 18", then put the hub from the gs850 in there, and do a gsxr front end swap and should be good to go?
I thought the shaft gets in the way of wider wheels?

[Datsa Noydb]

I thought the shaft gets in the way of wider wheels?

The wheel itself will have to be quite a lot wider for the shaft to get in the way, but tires are another matter. The stock tire on an 850 is a 130, and there is not much room between the tire and the swingarm. You MIGHT be able to squeeze a 140 on there, but the narrow wheel will force the tire into a tighter radius (from bead to bead) and actually give you a smaller contact patch.

Since you are considering adding the wider rim, you could see if there is any extra room on the right side of the swingarm and maybe offset the hub a bit to center it in the swingarm. If you offset it more than a couple of millimeters, though, it would likely upset the balance and handling of the bike.

Many here have asked about changing a shafty to wire spokes, this is the first I have seen a hub change to a cast wheel. Not bad, but a LOT of work (money, time, etc.).

[Sebastian24]

That does sound like a lot of work...
How about this? Is there a chain driven gs 1000 that the swing arm would fit the frame?

[kingofvenus]

That does sound like a lot of work...
How about this? Is there a chain driven gs 1000 that the swing arm would fit the frame?

No, totally different. If one were really needing to go this route, i'd go with sending a wheel and a large check to Kosman. I had a wheel on a cb1100f they did. I've got a 16in. 850l wheel on my '79, 1/4 in. wider than stock with a 130 tire and i think it's plenty wide enough for an 850. Then again i think the 160/17 on my '83 750 is plenty big enough so, what do i know anyway.....

[80GS850GBob]

Suzuki savage rear wire wheel?

[hillsy]

Suzuki savage rear wire wheel?

Why not use an Intruder? They are already shaft drive.

[80GS850GBob]

Why not use an Intruder? They are already shaft drive.

Ooops, that the one I meant...not the savage {don't know what that has for a drive}. The only problem with the intruder is the small rim, but "if" the drive hub swaps, one can opt for a relace and larger rim.