cheapest wheels?

[fm67gt]

What is your opinion on the cheapest way to get modern rubber on my 89 if I want a 17 in the back and a 3.5 on the front?
Can I use existing brake hardware? I plan on updating only the front springs and brake pads for now.

I know this has probably been discussed at length before but my search skills are not good.

[Pat Conlon]

1) GSXR rear rim and a
2) '87-'88 FZR1000 or FZR750 front rim will fit nicely on your '89. The FZR front rim is a direct swap as in plug and play..

[fj johnnie]

 If you want your rear wheel centered in your swing arm then a YZF600R rear is also an option. All you need is the entire rear wheel, axel rotor, caliper, and spacers. Then a little bit of machining and it is perfect.

[rktmanfj]

A YZF600r front is also an option...   

[Urban_Legend]

Don't forget there are some hidden costs. You are buying second hand wheels. Do they need new tyres.  while they are off the bike, you should probably replace the bearings, and new brake pads. If going for a.GSXR rear, don't forget the suzuki brake line. Might as well upgrade to braided lines while you aren't it. Are the wheels matching colour?

It all adds up.

Mark

[fm67gt]

Thanks guys!
Yes, I need tires, so I am at least planning on that "hidden" cost.
Can any of you point me in the direction of a good aftermarket sprocket/chain combo package as well that does not break the bank.

[FJmonkey]

Please don't go cheap on a chain... The FJ is hard on the chain when enjoying the journey from 1st gear to Kookaloo. Imagine the chain breaking and letting all that energy whip off the sprocket, your leg may be in the path. More often it binds up in the CS sprocket and decides to occupy the same space as the case. The case being very polite and really having no choice, breaks and moves out of the way of the chain. While this has one benefit, the chain did not lock up the rear wheel due it choosing to bear-hug the CS sprocket. However, the oil in the case needs someplace to go as the case has abandoned one of its important duties of keeping the oil inside the engine. As you are traveling forward the oil is dropping and not going forward leaving a hot oil slick for your rear wheel to find while you are looking for the brakes to arrest your forward speed. Not a pleasant story.

To avoid this I am using the EK-ZZZ.

[Bill_Rockoff]

A 120/70-17 modern radial front is probably better on a 3-1/2" front wheel, but I bet any sport-touring radial you're considering will work better on your existing 3" front than any bias-ply street tire.

For chain/sprockets, the purchase price may be lower for a less-robust setup, but a high-quality x-ring chain and two high-quality sprockets last me 20,000+ miles.  The difference between "cheap" and "expensive" pretty much comes out in the wash.  Someone who uses high-octane gas all the time and could get away with medium or low octane gas in cooler weather would save more by doing that for 20,000 miles.

And if you pay to have tires mounted and balanced, you'll save more in mounting/balancing 6,000-mile tires than you'll spend on radials and good chain/sprockets.

[movenon]

Echo from above... Don't cheap out on the chain. Save money in other places.  If the engine is the heart then the chain is the life blood.  

On the wheel shopping,  what ever wheel or wheels you decide shop carefully and know exactly what wheel you are looking for.  LOT's of misrepresented stuff on e bay. Shocking at times.
George

[aviationfred]

This wheel is a perfect example for the rear wheel swap.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-1989-GSXR1100-GSXR750-Rear-Wheel-Rim-MT-5-50-x-17-1990-1991-64111-07D00-/400428451724?hash=item5d3b65478c&vxp=mtr#ht_1366wt_916

This is a possible front wheel. Because of the dates he listed it may be a '89-'90 wheel which uses different bearings and speedo drive. It does have the "F-42" cast mark which my '88 FZR750R wheels has.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1986-1990-Yamaha-FZR1000-FZR-87-88-89-Front-Wheel-Nice-Powder-Coated-/301735475794?hash=item4640d5fa52&vxp=mtr#ht_38wt_1153

Fred

[Mark Olson]

A good source is your local wrecker . often they have fj's that already have upgraded wheels on them and they don't know it.
So ask to see stock wheels and you may get a surprise. Check pics to make sure you know what you are looking for.

[ezunix]

Why does the GSXR 750 back rim need to be from '90-95? Axel size?

[Urban_Legend]

Why does the GSXR 750 back rim need to be from '90-95? Axel size?

Yes. After 96 suzuki Went to a bigger axle.

[Arnie]

Why does the GSXR 750 back rim need to be from '90-95? Axel size?

No, the axle size, at least for the older 750 GSXRs was also 20mm, but they used a 5 bolt pattern for the sprocket that is very difficult to find sprockets of less than 42 teeth.  Also, they are 4.5" not 5.5" wide so a 160 or 170 is the largest tire you can fit.