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Author Topic: 18" Front Wheel?  (Read 1112 times)

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Offline Maxacceleration

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18" Front Wheel?
« on: November 18, 2008, 05:15:25 PM »
Anyone put a 18" wheel on the front of their 550?
Should have the same effect as longer shocks plus maybe slightly quicker turning?
At least I was thinking that.  ;)
Just curious as a lot of restore jobs have gone to smaller diameter, more modern front (and rear) wheels.
Well?
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Olden is Golden
CR550F RD400 KZ550 KH500

Offline hapsh

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Re: 18" Front Wheel?
« Reply #1 on: November 18, 2008, 05:47:07 PM »
I put a 18" front on my 550 and I love it.  Handles great and has a lighter feel.  I also went with twin leading shoe on the front.  Its also seems a bit easier to find more modern tires for a 18 rim.


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'71 CB500/550, '72 CB450, '79 RD400 Daytona, '90 FZR600R

Offline MCRider

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Re: 18" Front Wheel?
« Reply #2 on: November 18, 2008, 06:23:40 PM »
Quote from: hapsh on November 18, 2008, 05:47:07 PM
I put a 18" front on my 550 and I love it.  Handles great and has a lighter feel.  I also went with twin leading shoe on the front.  Its also seems a bit easier to find more modern tires for a 18 rim.



What did you do for a fender? The one in your pic looks to fit better than a 19" would.
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1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
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Offline Really?

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Re: 18" Front Wheel?
« Reply #3 on: November 18, 2008, 06:26:17 PM »
I was thinking the same thing
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I don't have a motorcycle, sold it ('85 Yamaha Venture Royale).  Haven't had a CB750 for over 40 years.

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The Kid's Bike - 750K3

Offline Maxacceleration

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Re: 18" Front Wheel?
« Reply #4 on: November 18, 2008, 06:35:12 PM »
Looks good MCR! (OOPS, I meant hapsh)
I've been thinking twin leading shoe also.
But I will probably go twin disc instead and forego a bit of 'classic'.

There is about a bazillion ways to mod these bikes!  ;)
« Last Edit: November 19, 2008, 06:15:48 AM by Maxacceleration »
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Olden is Golden
CR550F RD400 KZ550 KH500

Offline hapsh

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Re: 18" Front Wheel?
« Reply #5 on: November 18, 2008, 09:20:28 PM »
Quote from: MCRider on November 18, 2008, 06:23:40 PM
Quote from: hapsh on November 18, 2008, 05:47:07 PM
I put a 18" front on my 550 and I love it.  Handles great and has a lighter feel.  I also went with twin leading shoe on the front.  Its also seems a bit easier to find more modern tires for a 18 rim.



What did you do for a fender? The one in your pic looks to fit better than a 19" would.

I lucked out and got it off ebay.  The guy selling it didn't know what it came off of, but it looked right.  It was NOS in the original packaging, but had no part number.  It isn't Honda, maybe Suzuki or Kawa.  Anyway I cut it down to the way I liked and had to drill two holes in the mounting bracket.

One of the benefits of the front drum is it really cleans up your handle bars (no master cylinder or brake line). Still plenty of power if adjusted correctly.  The only problem I would foresee would be fade when used on the track, but I have not had any issues on the street.
I also went with CB360 instrument gauges, about half the size as the stock 550 ones, so they are much more compact and tidy.
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'71 CB500/550, '72 CB450, '79 RD400 Daytona, '90 FZR600R
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