SuzukiSavage.com - Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?

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Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
12/29/12 at 19:29:46

What 17 inch rear wheel will fit on the Savage? Google and forum searches have left me with nothing other than Ryca conversion parts with no technical details unless I'm searching the wrong words.

I want to put dual sport tires on my Savage and be able to ride on dirt roads and around easy trails without having to buy another bike, a dual sport bike. I want to replace the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel and mount a 130/80-17 tire.

I'm looking for something like this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Wheel-Tire-1990-Suzuki-DR650s-DR-650-/2308059109...
I think that Suzuki would use similar parts in their bikes (although I've discovered that the DR650 and Savage do not share the same motor).

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Cavi Mike

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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #1 - 12/29/12 at 20:55:38

Well right off the bat I can tell you that you'll need to fab up something for a rear brake caliper since that is clearly a disc-brake wheel. As far as drive side, they look the same but without measuring it, who knows.

I really have to bring this up again because this seems to really be lost on most people:
Just because two bikes share a trait does NOT mean that their parts are any more likely to fit one another than something that's of the same class
ie: a DR650 and LS650 have near identical engines but one is a dirt-bike and one is a cruiser. They share nothing but their engines.

Look for another Suzuki cruiser and for christs sake, at least make sure they use the same components.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28781 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel? Reply #2 - 12/29/12 at 22:10:14 You might find a GS series bike with 17" rim. stick with the rear drum cuz the swingarm doesn't have room for a disk. make sure the tire you want is less than 26" diameter or it won't fit either.
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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #3 - 12/30/12 at 13:50:10

I have played with both GS hubs and DR350 and DR650 hubs as well on my projects. The rear hub of the savage is most like a GS hub. A 17" might be tough to find in a spoke. Most GS's if I remember right were 18" when they were spoked. If you check the GS mag rims then you might get there as the larger ones were 17's. I have a GR560 tempter in the garage with mags I can check the diameter. Just checked it is a 16". You will need to stay below the GS750 to stay with the drum brake. The 750 on up had disc. Check out the GN250, GN400, GS450, GS550 and possibly and early GS650. The E and L models were mag rimmed. The rims will get wider as the CC goes up. The crush drive on the chain side all have different offsets to match the countershaft offset but you may be able to drop in your savage crush drive. I am running a savage rear hub with a modified crush to match the sprocket offset of my custom.

Also check the spoked options on a GN250, GN400 and the GS450. They may be smaller diameter being smaller bikes.

Note however all the GS, GN, and GR models listed above ran a standard brake bar that connected to the swing arm (below the swing arm) on the drum side not the extened arm that mates directly to the swing arm like the Savage. That said if the drum depth (width) is the same you might be able to drop your savage drum brake portion in and have it fit. The similarities between models make it nice to mix and match but usually you need to be able to tweak a few things via machining to make them work.

Lastly if those don't work you could look further back to the GT series....similar but you are getting further from the specs of the stock savage hub.

hope this helps

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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #4 - 12/30/12 at 14:45:07

Your other option is to buy the rim you want from a place like Buchanan's and have them make you a spoke set and lace it up on the stock Savage hub. I have a 1974 XS650 rim (aluminum Akront style) laced onto mine with SS spokes.

You will need to make sure the rim has the right spoke count and that the lacing matches what it is drilled for.

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« Last Edit: 12/30/12 at 15:59:53 by smokin_blue »

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LANCER Serious Thumper Alliance Member Online Savage Beast Performance Parts Posts: 10606 Oklahoma Gender:	Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel? Reply #5 - 12/30/12 at 16:10:29 The early '80's Suzuki GS series rear wheels with drum brake hub will work. It is the same brake mechanism, and the wheels came in 15", 16" & 18", in both mag and spoke. They did not use 17" back then. These wheels are direct swaps, quick and easy. I've got a chart somewhere and will post if I find it.
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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #6 - 12/30/12 at 16:19:18

LANCER wrote on 12/30/12 at 16:10:29:

The early '80's Suzuki GS series rear wheels with drum brake hub will work. It is the same brake mechanism, and the wheels came in 15", 16" & 18", in both mag and spoke. They did not use 17" back then. These wheels are direct swaps, quick and easy.
I've got a chart somewhere and will post if I find it.

The one I was thinking of in particular was the GS1000E ran a 17" mag. I agree I don't think the smaller bikes ever ran a 17"

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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #7 - 12/30/12 at 17:29:40

It looks like I have a lot to learn about working on bikes. Everything that I have done to my Jeep I learned from forums, Google, and by doing it myself from rebuilding and stroking the motor to replacing both axles and converting the rear to disc brakes, tearing apart the transmission and transfer case, and a lot more. Now that that my Jeep is near completion (just like a bike a Jeep is never complete) I am going to start playing with my bikes. I can get a 120/80-18 wheel which works to be almost an inch narrower than stock and 25.56 inches in diameter which is still less than the 26 inches verslagen1 recommends as the max. 130/90-16 is also an option, but only one dual sport tire exists in this size at denniskirk.com so replacing in the future might not be possible.

Lancer, please help me out with the chart, I would appreciate it very much.

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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #8 - 12/30/12 at 17:33:15

Here's a list for you... all 17" rear rims
courtesy of ozzy chopper forum

CC YR MODEL FRONT REAR BATTERY
250 82-85 DR250 3.00-21 5.10-17 N/A
250 80-81 GS250T 3.00-18 3.50-17 CB10L-A2
250 82-85 SP250 3.00-21 4.60-17 6N4B-2A
400 6-May DR-Z400SM 120/70-17 140/70-17
400 91-93 GSF400 BANDIT 110/70-17 150/70-17 CTX9-BS
450 81-82 GS450T/TX 90/90-19 110/90-17 CB10L-A2
450 83 GS450TX 90/90-19 110/90-17 CB12B-B2
500 88-06 GS500E/F 110/70-17 130/70-17 CB10L-B2
550 80 GS550L 3.25-19 4.50-17 CB10L-A2
550 81 GS550T 3.25-19 4.25-17 CB10L-A2
600 95-99 GSF600S/X BANDIT 110/70-17 150/70-17 CTX9-BS
600 3-Jan GSF600S BANDIT 120/60-17 160/60-17 CTX9-BS
600 0 GSF600SY BANDIT 110/70-17 150/60-17 CT12A-BS
600 88-97 GSX600F KATANA 110/80-17 140/80-17 CB10L-B2
600 98-06 GSX600F KATANA 120/70-17 150/70-17 CTX9-BS
600 97-98 GSX-R600 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
600 92-93 GSX-R600 120/70-17 170/60-17 CTX12-BS
600 99-06 GSX-R600 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX9-BS
600 94-96 RF600R 120/70-17 160/60-17 CTX9-BS
600 94-96 SP600 1985 100/80-21 130/80-17 12N5-3B
650 6-Mar BURGMAN 650 120/70-15 160/60-14
650 90-91 DR650S 90/90-21 120/90-17 12N5-3B
650 92-97 DR650S 90/90-21 120/90-17 CT4L-BS
650 98-06 DR650S/E 90/90-21 120/90-17 CTX9-BS
650 81-83 GS650G 3.25-19 4.25-17 CB14L-A2
650 83 GS650M KATANA 3.25-19 4.25-17 CB14L-A2
650 99-06 SV650/S 120/60-17 160/60-17 CT12A-BS
650 6-Apr DL650 V-STROM 110/80-19 150/70-17
700 85 GS700E/ES 100/90-16 120/90-17 CB14L-A2
750 83 GS750E/ES 100/90-16 120/90-17 CB14L-A2
750 82-83 GS750T 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
750 89-97 GSX750F KATANA 110/80-17 150/70-17 CB14-B2
750 98-99 GSX750F/X KATANA 120/80-17 150/70-17 CTX9-BS
750 00-06 GSX750F KATANA 120/70-17 150/70-17 CTX9-BS
750 88-89 GSX-R750 120/70-17 160/60-17 CB14L-A2
750 91-95 GSX-R750 120/70-17 170/60-17 CB14L-A2
750 96-99 GSX-R750 120/70-17 190/50-17 CB14L-A2
750 99 GSX-R750 120/70-17 190/50-17 CTX9-BS
750 00-06 GSX-R750 120/70-17 180/55-17 CT12A-BS
800 90-93 VX800 110/80-18 150/70-17 CB16B-A
850 79-83 GS850G 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
850 80 GS850GL 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
850 83 XN85 TURBO 100/90-16 120/90-17 CB14L-A2
900 94-97 RF900R 120/70-17 170/60-17 CTX9-BS
1000 6-Feb DL1000 V-STROM 110/80-19 150/70-17 FTX14-BS
1000 78-80 GS1000E 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1000 80-81 GS1000G 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1000 80 GS1000GL 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1000 79 GS1000L 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1000 82 GS1000S KATANA 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1000 1 GSX-R1000/K1 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
1000 6-Feb GSX-R1000 120/70-17 190/50-17 CTX12-BS
1000 6-Mar SV1000/S 120/70-17 180/55-17
1000 98-03 TL1000R 120/70-17 190/50-17 CTX12A-BS
1000 97-01 TL1000S 120/70-17 190/50-17 CTX12A-BS
1100 80-83 GS1100E/ES 3.50-19 4.50-17 SCB14L-A2
1100 80 GS1100L 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1100 83 GS1100S KATANA 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1100 82-83 GS11OOG 3.50-19 4.50-17 CB14L-A2
1100 91-93 GSX1100G 120/70-17 160/70-17 CTX14-BS
1100 89 GSX-R1100 120/70-17 160/60-17 CB14L-A2
1100 90 GSX-R1100 130/60-17 180/55-17 CB14L-A2
1100 91-92 GSX-R1100 120/70-17 180/55-17 CB14L-A2
1100 93-98 GSX-R1100 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
1150 84-86 GS1150E/ES 110/90-16 130/90-17 SCB14L-B2
1200 5-Jan GSF1200 BANDIT 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
1200 97-99 GSF1200S/X BANDIT/ABS 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
1200 00-03 GSF1200S 120/70-17 180/55-17 CTX12-BS
1300 99-06 GSX1300R HAYABUSA 120/70-17 190/50-17 CTX12A-BS
1556 6-May BOULEVARD M95 130/70-17 170/60-17 CTX16-BS
1600 4 VZ 1600 MARAUDER 130/70-17 170/60-17

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polloloco83

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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #9 - 12/30/12 at 18:01:10

verslagen1 wrote on 12/30/12 at 17:33:15:

Here's a list for you... all 17" rear rims
courtesy of ozzy chopper forum

Thanks for the list but now that I've learned that a direct swap is possible I'm going to go for an 18" wheel. I'm a sucker for direct swap mods and my tire choices are still plenty with an 18" wheel.

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polloloco83 YaBB Newbies Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 17	Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel? Reply #10 - 01/01/13 at 11:56:48 Thanks to verslagen's chart I ordered an 81 GS450 wheel. The size is 17 x 2.15 and is the ideal size for mounting a Duro HF904 130/80S17 that is 25.6" diameter. It's not a spoke wheel but the rear wheel is not as visible as the front and it'll be even less visible when I put on the ammo can saddle bags.
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28781 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel? Reply #11 - 01/01/13 at 12:09:20 search a thread titled "whale" for fitment issues. Also, I've kept the old wheels for spares. seems to keep the m/c gods happy.
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Re: Replacing the rear wheel with a 17 inch wheel?
Reply #12 - 01/01/13 at 12:54:52

verslagen1 wrote on 01/01/13 at 12:09:20:

search a thread titled "whale" for fitment issues.

Also, I've kept the old wheels for spares.
seems to keep the m/c gods happy.

This thread covers the front wheel issues and mentions that the rear wheel only needs a couple spacers, am I summarizing this correctly? I plan to keep the stock front wheel and say screw it to the wheels not matching, they'll be mostly hidden anyway.

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