Change 17" rim with L model 16 " rim

[joe penoso]

Can I.....
Change 17" rim with L model 16 " rim? Any gotchas to watch out for??
This is contemplated for a 1979 GS 850 GN
Joepenoso

[1948man]

I did it with a 1983 1100GL and had no problem. I used a 1983 1100G wheel. I tried it with a 1979 850 G 17" wheel and it didn't match up right. The 17" G wheel you use will probably need to be from 1979, I think.

[1948man]

https://www.thegsresources.com/_foru...t=wheel+offset.

So, looking back, I guess it was a 1980 wheel I was trying to substitute. At any rate, you should be able to swap wheels if you get a 17" wheel from '79 and maybe even from some other years but there are probably some 17" shaft wheels that won't fit. As I reread your original post, maybe your are wanting to put a 16" GL wheel on your G whereas I was wanting to put a 17" G wheel on my GL.

[1948man]

I'm changing my answer to "I have no idea." I see there was no 850GL in 1979 and the 750L of that year was chain-driven. The part number for the G wheel of '79 is different from the part number for the '80G wheel so maybe there is some significant difference between those 2 yrs.

[Steve]

Yes, it's possible, but why are you wanting to do this?

I changed the 17" wheels on my '80 850G and my son's 80 1000G to 16" wheels from a couple of GL bikes.

The only "gotcha" is the spacer for the caliper. The stock spacer is too thick, I used a couple of washers that fit over the axle instead of a single-piece spacer. I don't remember the size, but you can take the axle to a hardware store to find what fits over it. I used two washers, but you might get a third one, just in case your washers are a bit thinner. You are looking to line up the caliper to get it centered over the disk.

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[sam000lee]

I did it on my GS450L with the 18" wheel from a GS450S. They both have drum brakes and it dropped right in

[phydeauxmutt]

You are comparing apples and oranges, sam000lee.

The shafties are a 'whole 'nother breed than the chain-driven stuff.

[joe penoso]

That's why I'm asking.
16" tires have more variety.
Rear 16" wheel is from 1981 850 L
My bike is 1979 GS850 GN

[Steve]

If you are simply looking for more "variety", go for it, even though there is PLENTY of "variety" in 17" tires.

Of course, it depends on what you are looking for.

My reason for the 16" wheels on our bikes was to get some LONG-distance tires so we would not have to change the tires on the trip we had planned for a couple of years ago. We got started on the trip, but did not make it very far before we had other problems.

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