Wheel Mod

[Perez]

I have read everything this site has on the wheel mods and I'm a bit confused.

1) It looks like the two popular setups are the FZR600 and the GSXR wheel swaps. There is also a swap where a newer FJ rim is fitted to the older bikes.

2) I assume if you switch to a larger rear wheel, you have to do something to the front wheel too.....Otherwise you have a lop-sided setup.

3) Everyone talks about a GSXR REAR mod, is there a FRONT GSXR mod too or is it only for a rear wheel?

......I am totally confused at to the front and/or back application of these two mods?

Can somebody give me a 20,000 foot overall view of wheel choices for all these mods?

[Pat Conlon]

The intent of our wheel mods is to remove the FJ's oem, pig heavy, narrow 16" rims and install 17" rims, both front and rear.
Along with less unsprung weight, a wide selection of modern 17" tires now becomes available to fit on the new 17" rims.
Motorcycles are all about tires.

Here is some suggested reading:  http://www.fjmods.btinternet.co.uk/

Cheers!

[Perez]

I was more concerned with how to 'mix and match' the front wheel and the rear wheel mod.
Can you do one without the other?......I assume you have to do both or neither of them.

[Fred]

I did the front first. Ran it for a year that way, after all later models came stock with a 17" wheel. YMMV

[Perez]

I'm surprised that mis-matched diameters are compatible.
They've neen doing it or dirt bikes for years I suppose 18" rear / 21" front
But at high speeds like on a road bike that may be a different thing.....I guess not.
I just like the matching red color rims that are on the bike now.
While I realize I can paint, I'm not too keen on having a mish-mash set of rims on the thing that don't match

[SlowOldGuy]

There's nothing in chassis geometry that says the wheel must match.  Many bikes have differing front and rear wheel sizes.  The difference in a 120/60-17 and a 190/50-17 tire is almost 2 inches in diameter, so there's a pretty good "mismatch" just in the front and rear tire sizes for the typical modern 17" wheels.

The 17" front wheel upgrade for teh early model FJs is one of the best "bang for the buck" mods you can make.  If you do the math, the 120/80-16 tire and the 120/60-17 tire have practically the same diameter (the 16" wheel/tire combination is actually slightly larger in diameter than the 17" combo).  However, the handling characteristics are incredibly improved with the 17" wheel/tire.

I still consider it the most dramatic mod I've made on my '85.

DavidR.

[andyb]

1) It looks like the two popular setups are the FZR600 and the GSXR wheel swaps. There is also a swap where a newer FJ rim is fitted to the older bikes.

YZF600R, not FZR600.

In the front you can use a later FJ wheel on the earlier bikes, but there's more parts required to swing it.
The YZF600R front end involves replacing everything from the steering stem forwards, but not all with YZF parts.

In the back, you can do a bunch of things, depending on what you can find.  There's a number of GSXR wheels that work, the YZF600R wheel works, and if you're handy you can do the swingarm also. 

Get wheels that are in the same style as each other, and paint/powdercoat them as desired.  They don't need to match in size nor style for any real reason, but do keep in mind the tire selection.. hard to find a good sporting tire if you get into a strange size.