Katana rear wheel and 150 tire

[facepants]

Will the 1998-2002 katana wheel with a 150 tire fit without having to bend the break torque rod and cut at the chain guard?

Thanks

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

You'll have to bend the torque arm. Not sure about the chain guard.

[Crew_dawg]

On this subject can you use a katana or GSX-R brake stay rather than bend it?

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

It's my understanding that you can use a gixxer brake stay. However, all it takes is 5 minutes to modify yours. Just take it off, heat it with a propane torch, hit it with a hammer, and then re-spray paint it black.

[Jarrett]

It's my understanding that you can use a gixxer brake stay. However, all it takes is 5 minutes to modify yours. Just take it off, heat it with a propane torch, hit it with a hammer, and then re-spray paint it black.

You've obviously never done this before.

It takes alittle more that 5 minutes.  It takes 5 minutes just to heat it up.  Bend, cool, test fit, and repeat.  I spent about an hour.  Brake stay does need to be bent to fit a 150, and you may or may not have to put spacers on the sproket.  Depends on the profile of the tire.  Check the FAQ for Turds write up.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

Yeah, I haven't done my own yet, I was going by what Turd told me.

[makenzie71]

I just don't see why you guys are trying so hard to put wider wheels on the bike!  Part of what makes the bike so nimble is it's narrow tires.  Bigger rubber takes away from that because the profile is less dramatic AND you're adding TREMENDOUS unsprung weight to the wheel.

It's not like the GS has traction issues...

[Jarrett]

I just don't see why you guys are trying so hard to put wider wheels on the bike!  Part of what makes the bike so nimble is it's narrow tires.  Bigger rubber takes away from that because the profile is less dramatic AND you're adding TREMENDOUS unsprung weight to the wheel.

It's not like the GS has traction issues...

Because it looks better and you have a few more options with rubber.

[Alphamazing]

I just don't see why you guys are trying so hard to put wider wheels on the bike!  Part of what makes the bike so nimble is it's narrow tires.  Bigger rubber takes away from that because the profile is less dramatic AND you're adding TREMENDOUS unsprung weight to the wheel.

It's not like the GS has traction issues...

Actually, since the Katana wheel is lighter than the GS wheel, with tires on they weigh about the same. When I switched from a 130 to a 150 I didn't notice a difference in how nimble the bike was. It stayed just as flickable as it was before the swap, the transitions from side to side just felt smoother. Also, going from Sport Demons to Pilot Powers, there was a NOTICEABLE increase in traction.

[makenzie71]

I wasn't aware the weight differences...if the rotating mass is the same then I can see the tire-selection gain being of actual benefit.

The transitions only fealt smoother because you had to put more effort into them...they were slower and more resistant.  I ran 140's, 160's, and 180's on my EX500 racer and the bike was fastest and most agile with the 140's...just didn't stop the same, though (the 180 GSXR setup on both ends let me run Brembos and 325mm rotors).

~I'll add that I can feel the difference, but spending my riding time on so many different machines so often it's easier for me to pick up on them.  If you can't feel the difference in how you ride, the concern is moot.

[Chuck]

Yeah, except for the 5 minute part, NGFL is basically right.  It took me about 20 minutes with a propane torch and a sledge hammer, ignoring repainting time.  I switched to 150 so I could try Pilot Powers, which are not sold in 130.

[gsJack]

I just don't see why you guys are trying so hard to put wider wheels on the bike!  Part of what makes the bike so nimble is it's narrow tires.  Bigger rubber takes away from that because the profile is less dramatic AND you're adding TREMENDOUS unsprung weight to the wheel.

It's not like the GS has traction issues...

Because it looks better and you have a few more options with rubber.

I used the 150/70 tires to get the sport touring radials which don't come in narrower sizes except for a couple 140/80 sizes, AV46 and D205.

Now I would never put a wider tire on just because it looks nice, but having put the 150/70 Road Arrack on the standard 3.5 rim for size reasons, I did happen to notice it really did look good too!   



My 150/70 Lasertec fit w/o bending the brake rod, but had to bend it for the 150/70 Conti RA.  I skipped the torch and used the BFH approach instead.  Hit it with a 40oz hammer on the inside only with the rod across a 2x4 and it flatten a wee bit while bending some too so it gave adequate clearance.  Torch burns off too much paint, my brake rod showed no marks back on the bike, just knocked a bit of paint off the inside next to the tire.

[waiho]

On this subject can you use a katana or GSX-R brake stay rather than bend it?

does anyone know what year gsxr brake stay can I use, I'm kinda not comfortable having to bend the arm, I rather have a direct swap.

thx for the info!

[Chuck]

You're not comfortable actually doing the bending, or using a bent torque arm?

I'm sure someone on board has a spare and would bend it and send it.  I would do it if I had the spare.

[dgyver]

On this subject can you use a katana or GSX-R brake stay rather than bend it?

does anyone know what year gsxr brake stay can I use, I'm kinda not comfortable having to bend the arm, I rather have a direct swap.

thx for the info!

IIRC... 96-99 GSXR750 & 97-00 GSXR600 should fit but you will need to drill out one of the holes a little larger. There are probably others that should work as well.

[werase643]

do you have a secure bench vise and a big friggin pipe??

this is rock science.....
if you havent noticed.... it is bent stock and is seriously under stressed you could take a length of AL bar and drill 2 holes and do the same thing... and if you attach it properly it won't be bent no more and better transfer of force...blah blah blah

[Chuck]

Yeah, I'd say man up and bend it.  It's less effort than to think of what else to do.