how to fit spoke wheels in XJ550?

i will be working on a XJ550. I think the build would look nice with spokers. Is there any inexpensive bolt up spoke wheels from other Yamahas that are a easy swap? Any front hubs that are single or duel disk that work well?

 

A 'Sticky' wheel chart thread would be dope...but perhaps any of the virago wheels for the front. Dual disc up front on a spoke wheel is almost unheard of unless it's a custom wheelset. Nothing from the factory as far as I know. I forget which rear hub will work but one of them will, may need to make an axle sleeve or a whole new axle all together (any machine shop could whip this out quick). Excel or D.I.D. may be able to help with some 17" rims and spokes to re-lace and give you access to uber sticky tires. I almost did this but didn't because of the aforementioned dual disc set up. I lucked out on the XJ650T 18" wheel set being able to bolt right on (and changing to XJ650T forks) on my XJ750 Maxim. You have chain drive so your options are much greater. What are the font and rear axle diameters and width of the wheels at the axle holes?

 

And its very tricky too, disc diameter and width have to be the same or you will be at as stand still (literally). Playing with spacers may come into play. But, Many of the modern 4 stroke dirtbikes (2005 +) have similar axle sizes, worth looking at and measuring.

 

Very common on wheels from the seventies and some single disc wheels from both Yamaha and Suzuki do have the option of bolting a disc on the other side once you remove a plastic cover

TX/XS650 would also be worth a look

I have some Suzuki front dual disc hubs from a Suzuki GN250 and GT750 which look identical and were easy to source but you'd need to make spacers and maybe change the bearings, caliper spacing etc

Rear wheel I have a drum brake hub from an RD350 but there are plenty of other options, nothing is likely to "bolt in" so there will be some fabrication required

 

XS is the only one that fits the bill. spoke with dual disc...good info.

 

Thanks. Sounds like more work than I want in this project. I might run the stock wheels forks or Chang it out to another set up I have. I have a fzr600 front end fitted to my RZ 350 frame. I bet it will just about bolt in. Then I have a matching 17" rear wheel fired in a fz600 Al. Swing arm I could fit in the Seca. Hardest part should welding shock mounts to the Am swing arm. This is the way I will go I build a "sporty naked" bike. But I really kind of wanted to do a scrambler style bike which would look nicer with spokers. But the 4 cylinder also isn't as good on a scrambler. So we will see.

 

Early disc brake GN250 is spokes with disc, the other side of the wheel has a plastic cover you can take off and bolt a second disc on, so do the GT550 two strokes and stuff like the RD350 air cooled (although some of those don't have the second set of bolt holes) also stuff like the Z650-900 Kawasaki, there's actually heaps of bikes from the 70s - 80s, not sure what availabilty is like over there but here the Suzuki stuff was easy to get, I've got about 5 front wire wheels or hubs which will take dual discs in the shed

The Suzuki discs are a massive big heavy thing though but can be slimmed down, the early Yamaha hubs will take later model large floating discs with a suitable spacer

 

I'm using the Suzuki hubs for my conversion. A GT750, with dual disc, for the front and a GS1000, disc brake, for the rear. Both of these accommdate the correct axle sizes and will fit discs off numerous bikes, including floating rotors.
I'll run a 110/80-18 in the front and a 140/70-17 in the rear. Both tire sizes are the same circumference within 5% with the front being slightly larger.

 

I didn't realize this thread was over two years old.
Nevermind....

 

front wheel would be an easy thing rear spoked wheels do not have the rubber shock insert for the chain that the xj does and will cause problems due to the torque of the motor


member kickaha is still active

 

It does have the cush drive on the rear of the GS1000 hub. I wouldn't consider installation without it.

 

The GT750 Water Buffalo doesn't have cush drive on the rear....

 

The rear hub with the "rubber shock insert" aka cush drive:

16" 1978 GS1000 laced rear wheel with 36 spokes. I'll change the rim out to a 17 X 3.0 size to run a 140/70-17 tire. The front will be a 18 X 2.5 for a 110/80-18 tire. I found some vintage Sun Metals rims to fit the bill stamped 4-80 manufacturer date.

 

I found a dual disk wire spoked wheel for the 1984 XV700 that is supposed to fit the xj650. Would need to replace the forks as well for the dual disk set up.