Looking to finally get back to building my voodoo vintage chop project savage. Im looking to get a new larger rear rim for it now. Either new or used. Whats the best options out there for either? I kind of plan on buying a rim and having a local shop lace up my stock hub assembly as i'm told thats really my best option. Thinking 17 plus for ground clearance now that i'm chopped. Thanks guys!

I used Woody's Wheel Works in Colorado. They built up a 2.5x18 rear wheel with alloy rim and did their tubeless conversion thing, as well as stainless spokes and nipples.
Nice folks

do you have any idea how much they charge for drilling a 3.50x18 rear rim for a LS 650 rear hub

The stock Savage suffers from having to wide a rear tire, 130 -90-15 tire would allow it to turn into curve better, the other problem is it's neck angle of 35degrees ,where most sport bikes, are more like 27-29 which gives faster turning and shorter wheel base , You can improve a stock bike 's handling by use of the 130tire, taller and  better shocks,and a fork brace.

MMRanch and Oldfeller have proven the Savage can corner really well in the twisties.......it is not all that good at high speed sweepers and tends to wander a bit when the speeds increase.  It is not a great handling bike or fast in the corners compared to a dedicated sport bike with a good rider.....but it does a lot better than most of the bigger cruisers.

The 140/80 and 140/90 tires are heavy - the 130/90 is a good fit on the bike if you want to keep the rear rim size.  Using a "cruiser" 15" rear rim diameter really limits the type of tire you can buy.....you cannot buy a sticky performance tire.

Changing to a 17" or 18" rear rim will dramatically change the type of tire you can buy - you will be able to find tires with multiple compounds and modern tread styles.  If you use a common vintage 2.50" wide rim you will be limited to something around a 120/90 tire - changing to a 3.50" rim will allow you to use a more modern  130/70 tire and make the tread profile much better.  I have run the Pirelli Sport Demons or Bridgestone Battlax BT45 - both of them wear out in 6,000 - 8,000 miles if you ride around corners briskly.

If you change the bike to a Cafe' or Tracker style bike it drops the forks, raises the back, and the result is the fork angle steepens, you get more weight on the front wheel, and the trail in the forks decreases - the bike steers less like a cruiser.....it is still not a sport bike but steers very nicely.  

Suzuki DR750 with drum brake has the same hub and and 2.5x17" rim. That's the cost effective way, can be bought for 100 euro or less.

Good info thanks everyone. Trying to decide if 17 or 18 inch would be best to go with and what width. This is all new to me being my rear end now is a voodoo vintage hard tail now. Kind of a guessing game at this point ha.

Dave wrote on 04/26/18 at 18:34:18:



Yeah I have been. I haven't found much yet for rear rim info set ups honestly.