1981 GS450L wheel conversion

[barnabasantioch]

In the process of my cafe build, and I've decided the star wheels have to go. I'm wondering how easily the GS450T model spoke wheels can be placed on the L model. The front wheels are both 19". My rear is currently 15, but the T model wheel is a 16. Also, could my rear drum be interchangeable with the T model wheel? I don't want to end up having swingarm clearance issues, or problems with my front caliper. I'm ready to pull the trigger on a set, but don't want to have to change my whole front end to do so. I'm sure someone out there has tried this before...

HELP!!!

[pete]

Hey mate, glad to see you made it over here!

If you go to an online fiche like www.alphasports.com you can find your part number for something like your front axle, then do a reverse lookup to see what other models it fits.

Your front axle is the same as heaps of others including 450T's, and the speedo gearbox is also the same as the 81/82 450T's. Front caliper (or cariper according to the fiche ) is also the same...

You may have to mix and match some spacers and things on the rear wheel, but the axle is at least in common as are the brake shoes, but things like the sprocket carrier are different.

I reckon you can probably do it... and funnily enough the 81 L and T swingarms are the same, but they seem to change in 82...

Good luck, let us know how you go, and if you do it we want pic's

[barnabasantioch]

Thanks again, pete.
In my research, I've found that a front wheel conversion would be simple, but I couldn't find any information about the rear swing arm. I found a T model front wheel, but the rear is very hard to come by. I located an A-model rear, but it's only a 16", compared to the 17" on the T.

The headaches continue, but every time I get back on the road I remember why I'm doing this.

[pete]

Good stuff.

I didn't check but there maybe 550 or 650 wheels that work too...