Wire Wheels and a 150 Rear - Virago 700 style!!

hi folks,

thinking about a spokes wheel too, going another way, crazy maybe but here it goes...

what about just keeping the XJ hub, cut off the rest of the wheel, put it on a lathe to be sure I have a perfectly round hub, make an aluminum ring with holes in it for the spokes, weld that ring to the hub, you see where this is going...

possible ? day dreaming?

thanks for your input

 

...anything is possible, without daydreams we would still be living in caves. Given enough time, resources and money it could probably be done, but the question would be why?

 

maybe because those XV700 spokes wheels are so hard to find, never seen a spoked XV in Europe !

 

What about trying a set of spoke rims from a V-Star, a Shadow, a Vulcan or a Suzuki S series.

 

well I looked around, on this forum and others dedicated to XJ, and it seems that the only possible 100% sure swap are the 84 XV700L, and 86 XV700SS period !

I found another guy who did it with a XV535 wheel, that`s easy to find therefore cheap, but he did it on a hartailed XJ, so he wasn`t sure the drum cover would fit in a stock XJ900 frame because it`s wider + there`s a lot of machining too so...


and in both cases I`ll have to relace and change the rim, all those spoked XV are in 15' waaay too small !

 

Whatever you decide to do, it's not going to be simple. You may end up using a whole swingarm assembly and making it fit.

 

Hi Cowboy
The wire wheels I'm using are off an XV 1000 Special only available for 1 year here in Australia. The beauty off them is they are a tubless rim as well.
I found them on ebay, & when I search ebay I search different countries as well. Germany has a lot of XJ900 stuff more than any other country as an example. Got 2 new Belly pans from Poland for the same price as buying a second hand one here.
Cheers Andrew

 

Hi ol_750

The thing with the land down-under is that it`s.... down-under :lol:

what I mean is that it`s going to cost me 5 times the price of the wheel to ship it over here !

otherwise there are maybe a lot of XJ in Europe, but no XV700, and that`s what I`m looking for...

somebody on a french XJ forum just told me about a guy in France who`s specialized in CX500 alloys to spokes conversion !

 

Some in USA XV1100
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SPOKE-WHEELS ... 4846513dbf

 

I believe that the XV700 was a US only model due to import tariffs, and restrictions at the time. Europe, and the UK still recieved the 750 models.

You are better off looking for the parts from the XV750, or XV1100 to avoid the high shiping, and import cost. They will work the same as the XV700.

Ghost

 

1000$ 8O 8O I paid the whole bike 150$ AND IT RUNS!

 

I agree, but the 750 and 920/1000/1100 came only with alloy wheels, not a single spoke model, except the 535 and smaller, but that`s not plug&play...

 

Anybody know if MiGhost is still kickin it around here?

 

His last post was Jan. 6, 2015. Hasn't been on since.

 

Well I found a wheel....except I'm not 100% if it's a match.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/162075498168

 

The seller is correct about that being the only spoked rear to ever be offered on a Virago 700/750.
Look into spoked rear conversions first though. There used to be a place that made a kit for a spoked-hub rear for the Virago, but you had to lace it. Unfortunately I don't remember what shop it was.

The 700ss wheel is 140/90-15, so it might fit depending on which XJ you want to put it on. The only issue would be tire rub at the swingarm.

 

He's around.... Just incredibly busy. I talk with him occasionally-- last was about a month ago. I should call and say hi

 

I've looked around everywhere, and it seems that it's a pretty rare thing to do, so there's not much info. And any info I do find isn't 100% certain. That's why I wanted to have a chat with MiGhost and see what he has to say.

 

Yeah would you mind giving him a buzz and ask him if he could help me out with a few things?

 

Euro---I just sent you a private conversation.....check your inbox

Dave f

 

Also that wheel is a tad small....I was hoping to stay around the 18 inch size....

 

Sorry about not being around much. Life in all is gory!!

About that wheel.
That is the correct rear wheel, But that price is ridiculous!!

 

Ok so even if I were to buy this wheel, a 15 inch wheel wouldn't look silly with a 19 inch front wheel? What sizes do those virago wheels come in?

 

The stock virago wheels are 15" rear, 19" front.
You can always relace a bigger rim on the hub if you needed to.

 

So I'm a little confused, I can use any rim but I have to keep the hub?

 

The sidewall height of the rear tire makes it not look funny.

 

Yes, basically. You'll need new spokes too. Earlier I mentioned conversion kits. Those (are or used to be) were essentially a custom machined hub (either a donor hub cut from a cast wheel, or a brand-new hub) along with spokes and a rim.

 

Ok, so what kid of dimensions do I have to work with? I don't know the exact size in the swing arm to accommodate that wheel if I were to choose it.

 

That depends on which XJ you're fitting it to.

 

The XJ750R seca wheel is an 18", and will directly bolt into the 650/750 swing arm.
You can lace an 18" rim onto the xv700 hub for the rear, but you will need to watch the tire sizing. 120/90-18 I believe is the max.

 

I have a xj650 seca if that matters...

 

A 130 will fit, depending on the sidewall profile. A 140 will not, unless the driveshaft tunnel is modified.

 

Ok this all sounds doable, however I don't know where to start to get a new rim to relace it, along with spokes. I get the concept, but as far as parts go, I'm a noob.

 

Hey guys, just picked up my very first bike. 81 Virago 750. Don't really know anything about bikes, but I'm mechanically minded so I don't think this will be impossible.

Gathering from the thread, I'll need:

Front End:

• taper roller bearing upgrade
• Complete 84 XV700L front end (wheel, forks, trip tree and brakes)
• 25 x 48 x 15.2 Upper bearings
• 30 x 48 x 15 Lower bearings

Rear End:

• Wheel only

Just wanted to make sure I have everything I need checked off before I go on my shopping spree.

 

you may want to consider a starter upgrade and may need left side cover to do that as well

http://viragotechforum.com

 

He doesn't have a Virago. He's putting the wheel on his XJ (the topic for the thread).

 

The price of the 700 virago wheels has gotten ridiculous, and they are getting harder to find. Do yourself a big favor, and start watching craigslist for a parts bike with wheels, and brakes. Then you would only need the tapered bearing upgrade.

For another option. Currently Unconfirmed!
You might look into the XV535 virago wheels. It will be more involved as you would need to change wheel bearings (different axle shaft diameters), and final drive hub (Internal spline on 535/External spline on 700/750) just to start off.

My research into the 535 wheels has me with the following questions that need to be answered.
1. Will the external spline 700/750 drive hub bolt onto the 535 rear wheel?
2. Will the 535 lower forks swap onto the 750 upper tubes?
3. What is the brake rotor spacing on the 535 front wheel?
4. What is the brake rotor spacing on the 750 front wheel?

My research is stalled until I can get a 535 parts bike. Anyone have one available for cheap, cheap, or free for research purposes?

~Ghost

 

There is currently a 750 Virago close to me with the spokes.
I'm considering buying the bike for the wheels, hubs actually.
I can replace them with cast Virago wheels which are everywhere.
Just not sure how much I can resell the Virago for.

 

I'd think that even a non-runner should fetch $400 U.S.

 

If the OP is still around, i wonder if the photos can be re posted. Would like to see how the project looks. Thank you.