spoke wheels on an XJ550

The rear is an 18" XS650, I had to open up the axle slot a little and make some spacers. It lines up good and the brakes are the same. The front is a CB450?? 19x31/4 and I need to make spacers and a bracket to hold the hub.
I'm going to powder coat the rims and spokes and polish the hubs.

 

Re: spoke wheels on n XJ550

Looks good Sgary. I have a few XS650's if anyone would like to do the same mod?!?!?!

 

Drum brakes on the front? XJ bikes never were known for having spectacular braking performance, with a disc, and now you plan on putting a drum in its place? Unless that is some unusually good drum setup, plan on packing a spare set of pants with you when you ride. Cause when you reach for the lever and it just gets hard and nothing stops, you will most likely crap yourself.

I would say get a xs650 front end as it is single disc but can be made dual disc very easily. Afterall upgrading to spokes should be an upgrade, not a significant decrease in braking performance.

 

I rode a Panhead chopper with no front brake for a long time. I find it's safer to ride around a problem than to grab the front brake and skid into it.
I'm not doing stoppies anyway.

 

My '69 BSA has drum brakes front and back and it's survived over 40 years on the road

 

Don't ride through any puddles

 

Puddles are an indication of moisture. A BSA will not run in the presence of moisture. Self-regulating problem.

 

Ha! That's where you are wrong.
The BSA will run in the presence of moisture, just not small flying moisture.
That decided, the ratio of front and rear is not good for me.
It looks good on your rig. Sorta like an old style hill climber.

 

I love that old hillclimber! I'm getting a Virago wheel in a couple off weeks.
The CB wheel is pretty rusty and will take a lot of work to use it.
I believe the Virago is a bolt on.

 

That thar is the very DEFINITION of motorcycle. Talk about no frills, apparently even exhaust pipes aren't all that necessary.

 

Hmm... I have another engine. Maybe I'll build a hillclimber, I love that Harley!

 

I got a Virago dual disc wheel given to me today. Fits easier than the Honda and looks better. Some minor alterations and spacers is all thats needed.

 

All I had to do was remove one disc, remove the lip and add spacers.

 

How did You get that up there?

 

Are there any wire wheels that fit the 750 shaft?