Somebody might be interested in this...... front spoked wheel for the GS5

[Big Rich]

I'm basically just posting this so it can show up in future searches: and the info posted here is ALL I know about the subject. So I'm not the "go-to" guy for wheel conversions or anything.

I have been researching wheel swaps for my GR650 project when a poor, abused GS500 front end found its way into my garage. After some basic measuring (and a couple beers.....) I ended up with this:



The forks, triple tree, axle, and wheel spacers are stock 1989 GS500 parts. The wheel itself (and the speedo drive for the matching diameter wheel) are pre-1983 Suzuki GS parts. The hub of the wheel is a pretty "universal" Suzuki part since it was used on the old GT series, along with the early GS bikes (GS400, GS550, GS750, etc). With a little research, you can find spokes and rims to build whatever wheel you'd like, or give the folks at Buchanan's a call - they will build it from scratch. More info soon.....

[Big Rich]

Now, the biggest problem you'll run into is probably fitting up a caliper. I have no interest in attempting it at all, but here is a link to the GSResources. Salty Monk fabricates spacers and mounts to fit Kawasaki calipers to Honda CBR rotors that are attached to older GS wheels:

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=140253&highlight=twinpot+skunk

Another issue I noticed right off the bat would be interference of the different wheel and the fender. According to Avon's site, their 110/70-17 tire is 23.3" diameter. If you were to mount up an 18" front wheel with a 100/90 tire, the diameter increases to 25.3"....... so the fender would need to be raised to suite.

Last bit of info I found out: the fork spacing and diameter of the GS500 is identical to a 1981 GS850 "G". I emphasize the "G" designation because the GS850 GL uses different forks. But if somebody were to put GS850 G forks into a GS500 triple, there would be no issues using a GS850 fender and GS850 calipers. Which leads me to my next point...... if you wanted to raise the front end of the GS500, GS850 G forks are about 1.75" longer and take a GS500 front wheel with no problem (well......except for that pesky caliper mounting issue). Might help out somebody looking to "dual sport" a GS500.

[TheFableTheFury]

Man...that was informative. Written after a few more beers? The more drink I get, the wordier I get.

Question; what if I want to ditch my mags for spokes. Any spoke models that will fit a GS with minimal/no mods?

[Big Rich]

When you say "ditch my mags for spokes", I assume you mean the rear mag wheel on a GS500? The hardest thing is finding a rear spoked hub that could fit (axle diameter, hub width, sprocket spacing, takes a 520 chain like the Gs, etc, etc.).

All I can offer are ideas: I haven't physically tried putting anything in a GS500 frame. But the early GS750 (I think 1977 & 1978) has a spoked wheel that might fit. It has a 20mm axle though, and there would be other issues. Maybe a later model dirt / dual sport rear wheel? Like maybe from a DRZ400 or DR650? I really haven't looked too much into it. If you were comfortable with getting rid of the hydraulic disc brake in favor of a mechanical drum, that opens up some inexpensive options: GT 550/750, GS400, GR650, etc.

Until somebody tries it, all I can offer are ideas though.