Author Topic: Radial Tires  (Read 7575 times)

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Offline 736cc

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Radial Tires
« on: May 26, 2012, 06:35:09 PM »
Who has the skinny on running radial tires on a CB750? I've seen a '86 GSXR set-up using those wheels, swingarm and trees (w/ a CB750 stem pressed in the lower tree). That combo left the front end oddly shortened for unknown reasons.



Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #1 on: May 26, 2012, 07:51:39 PM »
The GSXR forks are shorter, I had 2 inch extensions made up for the tubes to retain ride height with my GSXR front end, they also run an 18 front wheel which makes it all that much shorter. I also had the GSXR arm shortened to get closer to stock dimensions, that bike in the pic would steer a lot slower than normal because the GSXR clamps have less offset which adds trail and the long arm will also slow down the rear in turns, needing more effort to get it round corners.
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Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #2 on: May 27, 2012, 06:50:37 AM »
Where on the GSXR forks and how do the extensions get accomplished?  Use another set of GSXR forks? Are 1986/87/88 the only years (750 and/or 1000?) or what?
I would imagine swingarm rod needs shimming/machining; what did you do?
Any pics of your set-up?
Thx
736cc

Offline 754

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #3 on: May 27, 2012, 08:40:08 AM »
 Forks are extended by using a short version of slugs...
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
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Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

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73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #4 on: May 27, 2012, 11:08:53 AM »
Slugs go inside of tube. Cut and weld the top 2'' from the gsxer tubes and use ??  to fill the 2" gap.
Wonder if Forks by Frank can simply make  2" longer gsxer tubes.
GSXER springs w/ a @' pvc tube extender?

Offline 754

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #5 on: May 27, 2012, 01:54:53 PM »
 You thread it into the existing threds, it becomes a cnew taller cap..far as I know.

 Most USD forks are anodized aluminum, dont think Franks does extended Alu forks.. Get a set off a Motard and shorten if need be..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #6 on: May 27, 2012, 03:50:47 PM »
Where the top cap is on the forks i had some 2 inch screw in extensions made, i had an engineering shop make up the extensions, they just screw in where the top cap goes , i also had the damper rod extended so i retained full adjustment. and worked as normal. The early GSXR, f,g,h 750's and G,H,J 1100's swingarms are the exact same width as the Honda swingarm, they just need the monoshock section removed and shortened so it isn't too long. I had mine shortened at the rear but if i had to do it again i would have some removed from the pivot area as well.



Not the best picture but you can see the extensions at the fork tops...
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline 754

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2012, 07:06:42 PM »
 Please tell me they are not steel...

 Just  be careful you dont have any runout, cuz it cocks the forks slightly out of parallel.. pay attention to the fit of the register lip.,
 On a side note I have cut down a few USD tube sets.. not like rethreading steel ones, I hacve to use a steady rest and the friction causes them to gro..making the pitch center  to change.. a bit tricky..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2012, 09:25:31 PM »
Please tell me they are not steel...

 Just  be careful you dont have any runout, cuz it cocks the forks slightly out of parallel.. pay attention to the fit of the register lip.,
 On a side note I have cut down a few USD tube sets.. not like rethreading steel ones, I hacve to use a steady rest and the friction causes them to gro..making the pitch center  to change.. a bit tricky..

What's not steel.? I had an engineer make up the extensions and he had my tubes as well, they have 0 runout, they are as straight as possible and all they need are hard chroming, the steel used is the same grade or better than the original tubes, the guy that made them offered to make me complete new fork tubes if i preferred.... The extensions are fine thread as well, very nicely made.... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline 754

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #9 on: May 27, 2012, 09:38:30 PM »
 sorry I had brain fade there, I was thinking of the USD's I have worked on.. of course use steel on the steel, and Franks probably makes them steel ones.
 No nered to hardchrome yours just nickel them.
 Did he give you a price on new tubes.. just curious, as to price...
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #10 on: May 27, 2012, 09:48:44 PM »
sorry I had brain fade there, I was thinking of the USD's I have worked on.. of course use steel on the steel, and Franks probably makes them steel ones.
 No nered to hardchrome yours just nickel them.
 Did he give you a price on new tubes.. just curious, as to price...

No idea on price mate, i didn't ask. I want to hard chrome them so the can't be seen.....
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline 754

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #11 on: May 27, 2012, 10:28:16 PM »
 clip-ons.. blinker mounts...
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #12 on: May 27, 2012, 11:36:28 PM »
Superbike bars and LED blinkers, i have some nice 43mm aluminum headlight mounts but they are small compared to the Honda ones.

Hijack over.... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2012, 05:11:33 AM »
indeed, stop the hijack guys....

continental is currently pushing 18" radials into classic racing, look into the range of Contiattack 2 for sizes. if you dont mind the modern look of the thread, these shoudl stick

Few guys already racing with them report they are on another league compared to bias, but will have to try first to believe... i am plnning to try the 100 front / 150 rear on my Gpz racer but theres also a 130 rear that shoudl work better on CB's

and BTW, depends what GSXR forks you are talking about, the 1100 where quite a bit longer than the 750 due to clip ons on top of  triple clamps. just happen to own one :)

Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2012, 05:42:23 AM »
Quote
and BTW, depends what GSXR forks you are talking about, the 1100 where quite a bit longer than the 750 due to clip ons on top of  triple clamps. just happen to own one
What year is your 1100? That may be a simpler solution than adding length to a tube.

Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #15 on: May 28, 2012, 06:43:50 AM »
mine is a 1989, 2gen

dont quite remeber if the 1st gen 1100 had longer forks too, I think not but the 1989 surely does

by 90 or 91 they went USD but Bandit 1200 used same 43 diameter and is super long too

you can get a good idea of all lengths here

http://www.tarozzipaolo.com/suzuki.htm

BTW, the diameter for the 89' 1100 is worng, should be 43...


Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #16 on: May 29, 2012, 04:41:25 AM »
well that's really interesitng 'cause the clipons on my 89 1100 cant even 'clip' on the fork tubes, they have only a ear that can bolt to a thread in the top of the triple clamp.... this might be the reason yours werent long enough... in any case, sounds like bandit 1200 tubes should be enough no?

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #17 on: May 29, 2012, 04:46:38 AM »
Bandit forks are definitely longer, my clip ons are similar but they bolt to the underside of the top clamp, not the top like yours...
Learnt something new... ;)
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.

Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #18 on: May 29, 2012, 07:56:06 AM »
well, i seriously suspect somebody modded the way the clipons were put, as i dont think there were "australian variants"s to the basic GSXR1100K model and the parts manual surely shows the bars mounting above (the rubber gasket sitting between clipons and top triple, screws coming form above)

maybe the tubes were slipped down to gain height and there was no other place to put the clipons?

Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #19 on: May 29, 2012, 05:35:18 PM »
The idea is to go w/ 18" wheels front and rear. I was informed only early GSXR's were shod w/ them front and rear (exact years I'm not sure; think up to 1989?).
Bandits and 1990 and up GSXR's use 17's?
I'd like to get Mick's machinist to make me  couple of those extenders.  ;D

Hijacking this thread is fine w/ me, its a discussion of radials for CB750's and experiance with. So far, only Mick has done the mod.
« Last Edit: May 29, 2012, 05:37:40 PM by 736cc »

Offline turboguzzi

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #20 on: May 29, 2012, 09:11:57 PM »
up to 87 750's & up to 88 1100's had 18".

bandits always been on 17"

BTW, the 88 1100 had hollow spoke wheels, quite rare

If you are looking at other 18" options, GPZ750's have wheels that could be a good fit, albeit rear is narrower than a gsxr's, good only for a 130-140.

last comment, those early gsxr 18" rims tended to crack at the spokes, near the rim, pay attention if you are getting some

Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #21 on: May 31, 2012, 06:04:33 PM »
V-Strom runs 19" front radial! Hmmm...I can measure everything ez as its my local bros bike. 19" front and 17" rear monoshock



Offline 736cc

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #22 on: June 05, 2012, 06:28:59 AM »
Re: 1985/86/87 GSXR 750/1100 forks and swingarm (please correct me if I am wrong):
Forks:
Custom machined 2" extensions on the tubes, use the original fork internals (extension is not hollow), 110/80-18 radial tire, swap GSXR steering stem into the CB750's stem.

Swingarm:
GSXR 1985/86/87 750/1100 is shortened by removing monoshock...wow. Or simply move axle pivot foward a couple inches? Please elaborate. Anybody got a pic or write-up?
Pivot bolt and tubes are from the GSXR I assume And needs to be modified or not?
160/80-18 radial tire

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Radial Tires
« Reply #23 on: June 06, 2012, 01:12:03 AM »
The extensions i have are hollow because the spring is preloaded from the top {lots of adjustment}, i also had the spring preload rod extended so they still function like stock, do some measuring, you may not feel the need to have extensions, i want them so i have room to fine tune ride height and suspension settings, i'm a bit anal retentive when it comes to suspension, i like to get it perfect and i have a friend that is a suspension guru. My forks are the 43mm 1989 GSXR forks, the earlier models are 41mm i think and have an anti dive set up on the lower fork legs.  Look at Suzuki Bandit fork legs, they also have a better offset on the triple clamps. I am having custom triple clamps made up, the rearon being, the K model Honda have a 60mm offset, the GSXR clamps i have are 35mm offset, that increases trail and slows down the steering requiring a bit more effort to turn in when cornering, i am having clamps with 50mm offset made up so i am close to stock dimensions with a little more stability, i am using an 18 inch front wheel. The rear swingarm is a bit more involved, i had the monoshock section removed altogether, the arm was shortened at the rear, it is now around 40mm {around an inch and a half} longer than stock, it is a direct bolt in as it is the same width as the Honda arm. Here's a pic of the swingarm, it is from a 1988 GSXR1100J.



That picture is actually in a F1 750/4 frame...
750 K2 1000cc
750 F1 970cc
750 Bitsa 900cc
If You can't fix it with a hammer, You've got an electrical problem.