17" wheel?

so anyone know of any 17" wheel conversions for the XJ650? Even though at the moment i'm running the Dunlop 501's and are really enjoying them in comparison to my D404. i really would like the options a 17" wheel has when I decide to pick up new tires later on this season. (i ride a lot and i know the 501 grip well, but aren't a long lasting tire). Anyone know if their is any other bike that uses shaft that is 17" and would bolt to the rear end, and the front wheel as well?

 

I don't think so looks like our options are either 16" or 18" for the xj rear.

 

I've got an 18" with a Bridgestone Spitfire 130/80 I'd trade for your 16" the tire only has about 1200 miles on it mostly on the highway in a straight line. (I rode it from Vegas to OK 2 weeks ago llike new)

 

I don't think most other shaft bikes have the type of splines as our XJ's, especially the newer bikes with cush hubs. The 16's sit lower and and are quicker & I think but the 18's most probably get better mileage due to the taller effective gear ratios. The max load on the 80 series 18 is only about 650 lbs, I'm 6'3" and weigh 245 so wheelies are out of the question.
I think the 17" wheels are a fad, many new v-twinns have 15's & 16's like 650 v-star's & 750 shadows's etc. The smaller tires are becomming more plentiful. I just want to make my bike quicker and lower. !8"ers are common on Harleys too.

 

Hmmm.......every sportsbike nowadays runs 17" rims, so I can't agree with you here.

 

I was referring to middle weight cruisers, my bad. The v-star 650 runs a 15 in back. The 250 ninja runs a 16 too (but it's a chain.) Nobody runs a 120 mm wide rear tire either. The 17inch fad bled over from supermoto I think. I'm sure he could get one made (rc wheels or extreem enginering) but it's gonna be expensive.
RC makes a phantom hub for vstars. I read a string on v-star/dragstar c,c & d how to make a hybrid virago/v-star drive hub. It may work RC components makes what they call a Phantom hub for v-stars, they may be willing to make one with the right splines for xj's, then he could use alot of wheels but not over 5.5" wide (the shaft). The next problem then would swapping out the drum brakes for discs. Its beginning to sound like putting Mustang 2 suspension on a model A.
The last thing I thought of is to graft a BMW hub and shaft onto the bike, scarf out the right side of the drive tube enclosure and open it up to a 150 rear tire in the process. There's lots of 17" BMW wheels to be had.