Topic: Looking for specific rim size for my project, hopefully someone has some info.

[epskate]

So last winter I finished a gsxr front end swap onto my bike, and I used the harley 19 inch narrowglide wheel. I would like to replace this wheel with a smaller sized one, and I am hoping someone out there knows of a bike that the wheel I need originally came on.

I need a 17 inch 40 spoked rim. The width could be anywhere between 1.85" - 2.5"

I will be reusing the hub that I have now so that I can mount the wheel in the front end, which is why I need the rim to be a 40 spoke. Thanks in advance for any help.

[OLD BILL]

   Use a 75-76 GL1000 rear rim,it's 40 spoke / 17'' and lace it to your hub. Or a 750A.
  Bill

[epskate]

Jeez I can't believe I just did that. I totally dismissed the idea of using a rear rim for the front. My rear cb750 rim is a 17" by 2.5"  Thanks for getting my mind back on track.

[Terry in Australia]

The only problem you'll have now is that the spoke angle will be different, due to you using a much smaller hub than was previously laced to that rim. It would be better to get an undrilled rim properly matched to your hub by a professional wheel builder. Cheers, Terry.  

[Retro Rocket]

18 inch is a much better choice for a SOHC/4, most the race guys use them and for that reason, there are piles of great tires on the market for the 18 inch rims front and back. 17's also look to small on the old Honda IMO
 

[epskate]

I will look into the 18's as well. The 19 is just too big for that front end.

Terry: Do you have any suggestions on wheel builders to use?

[Retro Rocket]

I will look into the 18's as well. The 19 is just too big for that front end.

Terry: Do you have any suggestions on wheel builders to use?

The main reason that 18 and 19 inch fronts work better than 17's is because the front end rake. offset and trail were designed to work with those size wheels, 17's on the front can make the bike feel like it wants to tuck in when cornering, Terry may wish to comment on that..

[epskate]

There's less space between the top of the wheel and the bottom of the lower triple with the gsxr front end that I am running. This causes the fender to bottom out against the top clamp. I'm worried that if I do not run a fender, the wheel will hit the trip clamp instead. I just thought that going with a 17" rim would help solve this since the stock gsxr rim is a 17" rim. Does dropping down just 1 inch in rim size to an 18" make a big difference enough?

[Retro Rocket]

Thats strange that your guard hits the top clamp..  What GSXR front end are you using.?

[epskate]

The gsxr front end that I am using is from a 2005 gsxr1000. I had the forks rebuilt, so I know the springs aren't shot. I know the forks have adjustable dampners and rebound control so maybe some more tuning of that can help as well.

[Retro Rocket]

Maybe the front end you have isn't long enough, i have an earlier 1989 GSXR1100 front end on one of my project bikes and there's plenty of room, mine is a right side up front fork set....  If you still have the stock forks see what the free standing lengths are of both front ends...

[epskate]

Hm, good idea. I don't have a set of cb forks but I'm sure I can find someone who does.

[Terry in Australia]

Not wanting to add to your problems mate, but messing with your frame geometry by installing shorter forks with much less rake and trail than standard, along with a smaller front wheel, is a recipe for disaster. I know looks are important, but so is not being spat down the road. Cheers, Terry.

[Garystratos201]

I gotta agree with Teryy on that one. Its not nice to mess with mother nature........Gary

[epskate]

Well I measured my forks and a set of CB forks and looks like mine are shorter by about 1 inch.