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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1692370022 Message started by Bob Scogin on 08/18/23 at 07:47:02 |
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Title: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/18/23 at 07:47:02 I understand it's already been proven to work, so I'm going to lace up an 18" X 2.5" rear rim on my bike using the rim and spokes for an XS650 Yamaha from Mike's XS. Any caveats, hints, or suggestions? |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Armen on 08/18/23 at 08:10:52 I did an 18” alloy rear rim on mine. I have the Kawi front pulley, and it made things a bit tight for the belt adjustment, and impossible once the tire was installed. I had to brace the swingarm, cut the existing brace, and reinforce it. I think it was worth it. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Dave on 08/18/23 at 08:32:38 An 18" x 2.5" rim is pretty narrow by current standards. You will not be able to run any tire wider than a 120/80. If you want to run a 130/70 you should have a 3.5" wide rear rim. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/18/23 at 10:52:16 605B5641505C47415A525F40330 wrote:
For the way I ride, 120/80-18 is plenty of tire for a relatively lightweight, low performance bike. My objective is to get rid of the cruiser styling cues and build what we used to call a "standard" or "roadster" style bike. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Dave on 08/18/23 at 12:00:22 Yep - You won't "need" more tire for the Savage. I had a 110/90-18 Bridgestone Battlax BT45 on my 2.5" rim, and it worked just fine until it was worn out. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by ohiomoto on 08/18/23 at 18:24:41 You need to keep your tire diameter under 26" with the stock swingarm. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/18/23 at 18:36:56 0E09080E0C0E150E610 wrote:
Thanks for the input. It was your build that inspired me to take a Savage from cruiser to "standard" retro style. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Ruttly on 08/18/23 at 18:47:53 Super important to jig both ends of swingarm as Armens pic shows before any cutting I run a 120/90-18 on a 2.5 hoop fills that modified space quite well ! |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by zipidachimp on 08/18/23 at 20:27:11 Bob: my 'standard': 16" rear, 18" front. 1 tube is better than 2 tubes ! https://www.flickr.com/photos/196818005@N02/53012325400/in/photolist-2oLu5P5-2oLwx9c-2oLw2qm-2oLw2Ds-2oLuUFA/ Handles like a dream. What Suzuki shoulda built! Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/19/23 at 06:03:13 1A09100904010308090D10600 wrote:
Nice build! What is the rear shock length? Looks longer than stock. I'd like to reduce the effective rake by raising the rear and lowering the front. Any suggestions on converting to the 18" front" |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by zipidachimp on 08/19/23 at 10:16:46 12.5" sportster shocks, not the best, but they work. Lowering the front has proven controversial here, depending how it's done. Mine works for me, but I'm not a speed demon. The 18" front may be enough! Cheers! 8-) |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by ThumperPaul on 08/20/23 at 13:14:22 Probably obvious, but raising the rear will probably affect fuel flow out of the tank through the petcock valve. Like riding downhill on low fuel... |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by ohiomoto on 08/20/23 at 17:14:43 373A3726363A323C3B550 wrote:
Thanks for the input. It was your build that inspired me to take a Savage from cruiser to "standard" retro style. [/quote]---------------- Cool! Looking forward to seeing how it comes out. Good luck! |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/21/23 at 07:45:26 Here's a preview. My objective was to provide a more "standard" riding position while keeping as many original parts as possible (for now). I shortened the risers and added bars from a 2008 Bonneville. The seat came from 4into1.com and was mounted on a subframe to which the usual filler panels are attached. No permanent frame mods are going to be done. All bolt on. Next up is the 18", 120/80-18 rear wheel, then I'll probably change the foot pegs/controls to a more standard position with guidance from those that have gone before me. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by zipidachimp on 08/21/23 at 13:48:45 This may seem counter-intuitive, but on a ride Saturday, I noticed that from my kneecaps to my ankles, my lower legs are vertical, in spite of the forward footpegs. Very comfortable, no need for me to change them. Your mileage may differ! Cheers, and good luck! 8-) ps: Is that megaphone loud? Brand? Looks good! |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/21/23 at 15:54:02 I could live with the forward controls but I'd prefer mids. When I take off from a stop, I intuitively pick up my feet and want to place them in the "standard" location, but the pegs aren't there. I'll ride it awhile with the pegs in the stock location. Maybe I'll get used to it. The 18" wheel will be spoked up and installed next, then maybe the pegs. The megaphone is an EMGO. It has a fiberglass wrapped core, but it's still pretty loud if you twist the grip on the right side of the bars hard. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by ohiomoto on 08/21/23 at 16:23:11 Looking good Bob. I also did a few rides with the forward controls with the standard seat and bars. It was okay but feel trapped on a bike with forward controls. I want to be able to stand on the pegs if needed. Probably from all of the motocross I rode when I was young. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by LANCER on 08/21/23 at 17:32:13 I can stand with my legs while pulling up on the bars. It’s ok for a second or two for a bump/hole coming up in the road. No biggie for me. Up, and then down, about that fast. For long legs on a 6’+ framed human, I don’t know since I don’t have a 6 footer frame. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by verslagen1 on 08/21/23 at 21:29:12 yeah I can do that too. probably wouldn't be that hard to move the pegs back 4 to 6" back if you extended the pegs back the same they're pushed forward. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by TheSneeze on 08/22/23 at 13:10:03 I have 18" wheels front and rear on my tracker. Still inching along on the motor rebuild, so I haven't ridden it yet. Notched swingarm, front lowered by using a modified bottom triple clamp as an upper triple clamp. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 08/30/23 at 08:36:18 The de-cruiserization continues. Got my 18" rear wheel finished. It'll get a 120/80-18 Shinko 705. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 09/03/23 at 15:27:46 18" wheel conversion done with Mike's XS rim and spokes, 120/80-18 Shinko 705 fitted with about 1/4" swingarm clearance as predicted by ohiomoto. Observations: The nipple holes in the rim could have been drilled at a slightly greater angle. Noticeable to the trained eye but not off enough to cause a problem -- I think. The slightly greater diameter raised the rear enough to make a noticeable , positive difference in the steering geometry. I'm encouraged that longer shocks will help even more. I like the change. Now on to the foot pegs. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by TheSneeze on 09/03/23 at 16:33:27 You seem to have an affinity towards red vehicles... ;) |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Bob Scogin on 09/03/23 at 18:33:00 425D787F757C70637A110 wrote:
Lol! Good observation, but mostly coincidence. The 2016 Dodge Challenger R/T was bought at the end of the model year for 20% off the sticker, the truck was a company truck that became mine upon retirement, and the Suzuki was a great deal that just happened to be red. Motorcycles in my care and custody have a way of changing colors, however. |
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Title: Re: 18" rear wheel conversion --tips? Post by Ruttly on 09/03/23 at 22:31:19 Nice looking bike , 18” looks great and loosing the eye brows lets more of the red show. Good job ! |
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