Swapping a rear disc to rear drum on a 1000G {going to wire wheels} big difference?

[80GS850GBob]

I love my spoked wheels! I say go for it Plus, with the shaft drive, they'll stay a lot cleaner than a chain drive.

Nice! Like the Excels...I'm looking at Warp 9 rims at the moment but am still trying to figure out allowable rim width at a 17" rim. I have to clear front calipers and rear inner swing arm width...

[80GS850GBob]

Got both my new rear hub assemblies in today....'95 VS800 whole wheel {but has 56 spokes} just for the cable actuated drum and an '04 VL800 hub with the needed 36 count spokes. Under $100.00 for both...nice.
The front wheel assembly is centered so that will be an easy enough build once I have the rim and spokes but the rear, as I figured, is offset and will add an extra challenge to figure out both spoke lengths...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/152580924@N08/38627177015/in/dateposted-public/

[storm 64]

Is it possible to shift the wheel over to center the wheel by adding/subtracting wheel spacers?(maybe not cause of the shatf) It looks like you are going to have to mount the hub (without rim) and start taking measurements. I had to respace my rear wheel on my 1000e. Ended up having to space the brake rotor out 5 mm... It was a pain in the neck, but I finally got everything happy. Good luck, I'll be watching what you do. 👍

[GS1150Pilot]

Not a big fan of wire wheels, but as far as the reduction in braking goes, the rear brake isn't a dominant brake anyway, so I say go for it.

[gsrick]

Not sure where to find one, but the Madura rear would make things so much easier.

[80GS850GBob]

Not a big fan of wire wheels, but as far as the reduction in braking goes, the rear brake isn't a dominant brake anyway, so I say go for it.

Exactly.....and I think it lends to a cleaner look as well.

[80GS850GBob]

Not sure where to find one, but the Madura rear would make things so much easier.

If for some reason this set up doesn't pan out I will keep your lead in mind - Thanks!

[storm 64]

Also Bob, if you need any spacers, shims, or washers machined I'd be happy to help you out.

Here's what I had to come up with...

[80GS850GBob]

Also Bob, if you need any spacers, shims, or washers machined I'd be happy to help you out.

Here's what I had to come up with...

Thanks!
Starting to rethink the rear rim width...I could go almost another 1/2" wider towards the shaft tube side but that'd be it.....brake side has all sorts of room to go wider. Original plan was something of a 4 1/4" wide rear rim at 17" round, but it looks as though an 18" rear hoop would yield a slightly better width area for me. Time to do a lot of measurements!...and I need to relocate the online spoke length calculator I saw too....shoulda saved it...ugh.

[80GS850GBob]

Also Bob, if you need any spacers, shims, or washers machined I'd be happy to help you out.

Here's what I had to come up with...

Hmmm...my new rotors came in almost two weeks ago. 22mm offset but that's not enough "spread" for my needs {narrow GS/GT hubs}, just as much as was allowed via manufacturers. I need more width.
My measurements come up with my needing two .420 thick spacers to move the discs into dead centering with the calipers. My dilemma is that the early blackbird 6 bolt discs have a different circle pattern, and, smaller bolts than stock GS hubs. Oem GS hub is a 77.75mm bolt hole center line with M8 bolts and the blackbird rotors are a 74mm center line with M6 {smaller-wow!} bolts.
{If my measurements are correct- bolt hole OD across sans ID across spec-add half spec to ID= center line}
I figure that a pair of .420 thick adapters with one counter sunk GS pattern holes and another set of Honda holes in M6 {1.25 thread} "should" work....sunken head bolt thickness wise. Also, the oem Honda blackbird rotor bolts list as 6x17mm and the adapter would only be .420...rotor center base thickness is 6mm, and with the oem asked bolts being 17mm long that would require .433 worth of depth...I'd be shy .011 so I'd have to run slightly shorter bolts.
Would this be do-able in your opinion?

[sharpy]

Is it possible to shift the wheel over to center the wheel by adding/subtracting wheel spacers?(maybe not cause of the shatf) It looks like you are going to have to mount the hub (without rim) and start taking measurements. I had to respace my rear wheel on my 1000e. Ended up having to space the brake rotor out 5 mm... It was a pain in the neck, but I finally got everything happy. Good luck, I'll be watching what you do. 👍

Spacing out dics on a spoke wheel is common with some set-ups. theres a 5mm plate that comes with some bike from factory but cant recall what model........ https://grabcad.com/library/suzuki-g...wheel-spacer-1

[80GS850GBob]

I just got the info back from Warp 9 on actual rim widths per tire/rim specs-
3.5 rim comes in at 4.25 actual width
4.25 rim comes in at 5.00 actual width
A 4.25 17" rim would only leave me an 1/8" gap, rim outer edge to the inner swing arm tube...too tight.
A 3.5 17" rim would give me 1/2" of gap to the inner swing arm tube...I could live with that.
These two specs are per what the current oem rim width is, on center to outer edge, compared to the possible new rim center to outer edge specs.
The swing arm tube gets a tad wider gap further out since it's configured for a taller tire ratio's clearance. {130/90 x 17"}

Now to head back out and see what a reconfigure to an 18" rim would yield for gap...given the added 1/2" of diameter...to measure is to know!

[80GS850GBob]

Spacing out dics on a spoke wheel is common with some set-ups. theres a 5mm plate that comes with some bike from factory but cant recall what model........ https://grabcad.com/library/suzuki-g...wheel-spacer-1

Oh sure...they have REAR spacers but not front. And besides, even with two of those it'd be short in thickness for me...lol
But, it's good to know some of these things are out there already.

[80GS850GBob]

Not sure where to find one, but the Madura rear would make things so much easier.

Figures...a while ago I had a line on one...now there's nothing out there for the last few weeks. While the drop in aspect is nice, the higher spoke count per that rim kind of takes away from it...and simply not finding one available too.
That's a 15" rim...right?

[Grimly]

One thing I will add is that the stock rear disc on the 850G isn't all that powerful...imho. Yes, it's probably running organic pads, but I have to hit fairly hard to lock up the rear on that one - not that I'd want to ever really do that for lack of loss of control...just saying it, to me, is lackluster.

Really? I've found the GS850 is over-braked on the rear, when the rear caliper is working properly. It being a crap magnet, it doesn't take long for it not to work at maximum effectiveness, which is actually better for me.