SuzukiSavage.com - Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?

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Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?
Reply #15 - 05/08/12 at 06:46:36

Changing over to an 18" wheel can be done relatively cheaply.....if you are willing to scrounge parts or watch for a deal. Almost any 18" x 2.50 or 18" x 2.75 rim will work....steel or aluminum as long as it is a 36 spoke wheel. The spoke kits are about $ 100 for stainless....less for zinc plated spokes. It may be that spokes for a GS550 or similar bike will work......it needs to be researched. You will need a rear hub that is compatable and it can be the orignal LS650/S40 hub. The rear tire will have to be something similar in size to the one RYCA uses if you inted to use it without modifying the swingarm - personally I think the changes to the stock swingarm would be easier than trying to adapt a swing arm from another bike.

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skeebo Senior Member Offline Ride It Like U Stole It........ Posts: 328 Fresno, Cali Gender:	Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere? Reply #16 - 05/08/12 at 08:50:29 One thing to keep in mind, being a 36 hole rim does not insure a fit, the spoke hole has to be drilled at the proper angle so the spokes dont look like bananas when you lace it up.
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Dave

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Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?
Reply #17 - 05/08/12 at 09:22:13

skeebo wrote on 05/08/12 at 08:50:29:

One thing to keep in mind, being a 36 hole rim does not insure a fit, the spoke hole has to be drilled at the proper angle so the spokes dont look like bananas when you lace it up.

Yes....sorry. If you get a rim from an used bike or a new one made for another model.....get one that has a brake drum similar in size to the LS650.

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Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?
Reply #18 - 05/09/12 at 11:06:07

OP-

The RYCA guys use an Aluminum 18x2.5 36h rim. The S40 stock rim is chrome and 2.75 wide.

You can find 18x2.15 36h rims all day long (and 3 in for that matter) in either alum or chrome. Finding one in a 2.5 width is not easy at all. Ive heard you can buy them out of Europe for about $140.

The alum 18x2.5 generally used is from KTM dirtbikes.

I personally dont like the way the rim is spoke'd by the known 18 inch kits. Ive got a rim and hub that I am going to experiment with and try shorter spokes with a straighter pull.

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WD

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Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?
Reply #19 - 05/09/12 at 17:28:09

Look at KZ400/440 parts. Especially KZ440 if you want to stay with a belt drive... But you may only find 16" wheels... Also look at KZ750B (twin) and other chain driven KZs.

Want to stay all Suzuki? Look for a GS750T or GT380 wheel. Be ready to spend big bucks for GT wheels, front drum hubbed are worth their weight on gold. Vintage racers want them... Turned down $1500 CASH for my early GT750 19" front...

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skeebo

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Re: Can you buy a 18" rear wheel anywhere?
Reply #20 - 05/09/12 at 20:39:52

WD wrote on 05/09/12 at 17:28:09:

Look at KZ400/440 parts. Especially KZ440 if you want to stay with a belt drive... But you may only find 16" wheels... Also look at KZ750B (twin) and other chain driven KZs.

Want to stay all Suzuki? Look for a GS750T or GT380 wheel. Be ready to spend big bucks for GT wheels, front drum hubbed are worth their weight on gold. Vintage racers want them... Turned down $1500 CASH for my early GT750 19" front...

A 16'' wheel would be perfect for a bobber....You get a TON more tire options without a swingarm mod.

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