Topic: Wider rim up front than in rear? thoughts?

[wiskey]

So i am very close to buying a hayabusa front end and swapping it to my 1977 cb750. I have comstars powder coated black currently and have thought about just dropping in the entire front end off the busa, wheel and all. the wheels currently are a 18x 2.15 on the rear and 19 x 1.85 up front.

I know the front wheel is a 17x3.50 on the busa. and takes a 120/70/17 tire, the rear tire on my bike currently is a 120/90/18

My question would be what would be the potential disadvantages of running a wider rim up front. I have checked and some tire company's make a 120/90/17 tire and i'm not sure if that would be any benefit or not.

Another solution would be to swap the rear rim with something wider, however at this time i am not sure I want to get into swapping swingarms, I would put another rear on if someone knows a suzuki rear wheel that would "bolt on" that is narrower than the 17x6.00 from the hayabusa. I understand some other front ends may or may not bolt up easier but this one is a great deal from a friend if I decide to do it.

[xnewmanx]

It's not that hard to just make an axle and a brake adapter to run your stock wheels...

How much is he asking for the front end?  I installed a gsxr front end on my bike with my stock wheel for about 200 dollars total.

[LesterPiglet]

I've no idea about the rim width but won't dropping the wheel diameter 2" make a big difference to handling?

[wiskey]

It's not that hard to just make an axle and a brake adapter to run your stock wheels...

How much is he asking for the front end?  I installed a gsxr front end on my bike with my stock wheel for about 200 dollars total.

brake spacers I get, but what would I need to do to make an axle? I mean would I have to turn down the busa axle?

$300 is his price.

[xnewmanx]

No.  I'll draw a quick diagram of how I made mine and it works perfectly.

brb

[wiskey]

No.  I'll draw a quick diagram of how I made mine and it works perfectly.

brb

Thanks! Really appreciate it.

[xnewmanx]

OK.  This sketch is WAY more ghetto than how it works out in real life but you can get the idea... i hope

you can buy most of the stuff from mcmaster.com

[wiskey]

thanks. So does that nut just sit outside the forks then?

[Sniper X]

Why would you want to do this? Looks? These old frames weren't designed for the larger width wheels stickier tyres and was was stiffer front forks. Sure it'll look odd and kinda cool but I predict the rest of the suspension and all the bushings will wear out faster and need to be replaced sooner. You might also have some very negative handling effects. or of course it might just work OK! I'd love to see pics and get a report when you do all this work.

[xnewmanx]

Yes. Or if you want to shorten the sliding spacer a bit you could tuck it into the fork cavity.

[wiskey]

Why would you want to do this? Looks? These old frames weren't designed for the larger width wheels stickier tyres and was was stiffer front forks. Sure it'll look odd and kinda cool but I predict the rest of the suspension and all the bushings will wear out faster and need to be replaced sooner. You might also have some very negative handling effects. or of course it might just work OK! I'd love to see pics and get a report when you do all this work.

I'm doing it for the brakes. The improved suspension is a plus as well. Oh and well of course it looks killer.

[Sniper X]

Then you can also get a wider rear rim and widen the swingarm.....

[Retro Rocket]

Why would you want to do this? Looks? These old frames weren't designed for the larger width wheels stickier tyres and was was stiffer front forks.

These "old" frames hold up quite well, go into the HIPO section and read the cycleX thread about their 750F race bike....
I have wider wheels on all 3 of my 750's, as long as you have some understanding of frame geometry and suspension, anything is possible...