Rear Wheel size change

[gregr]

What affect would changing from a stock 18" rear whell with 130/90 tire toa 17" wheel with a 130/90. Would it dramatically change handling or anything. This question is not related to a specific model of bike.

[blowerbike]

i would think that if someone snuck over to your place and swapped the wheel/tires combo's on your bike and didn't tell you......
you would never know that they had been changed.

[sschering]

Is it just me or is a 130/90 on the stock 2.15" 18" rear wheel going to be a bit pinched?

Avon only recommends a 120/90/18 for the GS1000S

Stock they came with a 4.00 tires.. that 116mm wide..

[Nessism]

Theatrically, a 120/90-18 tire and wheel assembly would be about 7mm taller than a 130/90-17. I doubt you would notice.

[makenzie71]

Theatrically...

Theatrically? Really?

Actually there was a BIG difference...and you notice.

I assume you want to use a GS500 or early 90's Katana rear wheel?

[Nessism]

Theatrically? Really?

Actually there was a BIG difference...and you notice.

I assume you want to use a GS500 or early 90's Katana rear wheel?

I seriously doubt anyone would notice the difference in size - from 120/90-18 to 130/90-17. Changing from an old school narrow wheel to "GS500 or early 90's Katana rear wheel" is a totally different comparison.

[makenzie71]

Going from an original heavy 18" gs wheel to an original heavy 17" gs wheel may not see so much change.

[gregr]

i would think that if someone snuck over to your place and swapped the wheel/tires combo's on your bike and didn't tell you......
you would never know that they had been changed.

Blowerbike,
I absolutely loved your response. Made me laugh out loud. Good for the spirits.

Thanks,
Greg

[tatu]

That is exactly what I did on my project 1000S plus a 16" on the front, handling is sweet. It took a little time to dial in the rear shocks but it is really spot on.
I changed the front fork tubes and rear shocks to keep the height as original because I thought that it would change the geometry if I didn't.
I think that I was worrying unnecessarily, though if I hadn't it would'v made putting it on the center stand more difficult. I still have a little messing to do with sprocket sizes as it is revving more (still as quick)
So to sum up no worries.
Just to ask, why do you want to reduce the wheel size?

[Billy Ricks]

If anything you might get a little push up front. If you do just bring the fork tubes up in the triples to compensate.

[tatu]

If anything you might get a little push up front. If you do just bring the fork tubes up in the triples to compensate.

Years ago, I had an 1000'S and that suffered from high speed wobble/weave that I just couldn't finally iron out. I met a man on the island who suggested just that, dropping the height of the front by an inch and that fixed the problem.
This new project bike is just fine and riding it on modern predictable rubber is such a pleasure.
The other thing that goes with sticky rubber and small front wheel is that I can really effortlesly tip it into the bends and if I overdo it, use the throttle or brakes to pick it back up.