Grafting KZ1000C wheel onto KZ650

I haven't posted in a while, but I'm still glad this forum is around. I have collected a lot of great info from the folks on here.

I have acquired a KZ1000C (Police) wheel to add to my KZ650C2 project. The plan, if executed correctly, will result in a KZ650 with and 18-inch tubeless on the front. The problem is that that wheel, although having what appears to be the same bolt pattern for the rotors, is wider than the 650 wheel. Therefore, to mount brakes on the thing I will have to do one of the following:

1) mill the hub on both sides to the 650 thickness
2) purchase custom (read: "exhorbitantly expensive") rotors
3) have adapters made with the correct offset to adapt a pair of flat rotors

I personally prefer method 3, since I could take advantage of a wide selection of rotors. If I did that, though, I would probably want to also go to a 300mm rotor and have adapters made for the calipers as well (and probably change the calipers at the same time to something a little stronger).

If I'm not mistaken, I think there is someone on the forum that does this kind of machining stuff? Is this a big deal to do in your estimation? Or am I better off to just have the hub milled (essentially turning the wheel into a Z1R wheel).

YES, I KNOW THAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CHEAPER AND EASIER TO SWAP THE FRONT END. However, I don't thing it would look right, and I have already upgraded the forks to RaceTech emulators and a Tarozzi fork brace. I really want to keep the look.

And because I know this is all everybody here really wants, some photos:

Black Banshee(leon) might be able to do the machine work for you, but have you considered the effect on handling that will take place? I'd think the bike with the new, bigger front wheel would be more difficult to take a corner than what came with stock.

Have you looked into a purchasing a Kz1000C front end? It should all bolt into place but you would have to find a wider front fender and lose the fork brace.

Later, Doug

I would have to lose the fork brace and the RaceTech emulators if I went with a different front end, and I also would lose my nice chrome fender. I also spent a lot of time dissasembling it to paint it and install those upgrades. I really have too much invested in the front end. At the time I went that route, I didn't expect to go so far with upgrades. If I had it to do again, I would probably start with a police front end. But at this point, if the choice was between swapping the end or staying with the current wheels/tires, I would continue to run on the shoes it has.

Considering the handling, I have done a bit of math and it all looks good to me. I expect to be able to put a 110/80R18 on the front with a 150/70R17 on the back. The swingarm will be longer as well, so that will also slow it down turning in, but overall it should still be more than manageable. Modern bikes with similar wheelbases and wider tires seem to work out OK.

So, if Leon could help out maybe he will throw in his 2 cents? /me hopes

I just measured a Z1-R front wheel and the disc mounting surfaces look to be the same as a 650C wheel, but a 100 is as big as you could go on that wheel. I have an 18 police front wheel on my 650 but I also have ZX7 USD forks.
Mark

What size tire do you have on that police wheel, Mark? And is your rim from a 1000P or 1000C? Either way, it should be 2.15x18 (like the Z1-R), correct?

If I could find a Z1R wheel, that would be a lot simpler. I had been cruising ebay for a while to find one, and eventually gave up and picked this one up.

The stock, original, spoked 19" front wheel on my '82 KZ650 was narrow (1.85" wide), and used a 100/90-19 tire. In my opinion, the tire was way too wide for the wheel width. When looking down at the tire/wheel, the sidewalls of the tire were spreading out from the wheel, outward toward the tread. The whole tire seemed to feel rubbery when flicking the bike back and forth. Increased air pressure helped, but not much.

So I got a 19" alloy wheel from a KZ1000, which is 2.15" wide. And again, in my opinion, the 2.15" wheel is still too narrow for the 100 tire size. (Yes, I know, they did this for many years). Anyway, I went with a 90/90-19" tire on the 2.15" wide wheel. The motorcycle handles so much better!!! Not "rubbery" feeling like before. And the size 90 tire has plenty of weight carrying capability. I chose an AVON Roadrider, model A-26. The tire has been wonderful. Great handling; great traction; even wear; and I now have 7,500 to 8,000 miles and the tire still has at least 40% more tread remaining. It is still bias ply, but "V" speed rating and a max. recommended pressure of 42 PSI. For cruising, I run 38 to 42 cold. For handling and twisties, I run 32 to 36.

I had to build some sleeves to go around the 650 axle, and the speedometer pickup is mounted in front of the fork, instead of behind, but works just fine.

DrWhizBang,

unfortunately i am one of the forum members that the text runs behind the border :sick: .

so i can't tell exactly what you are doing(because i can't read the text).

i am willing to help you in any way possible to do what you want.

i don't have any specific information about your swap,but can machine adaptors or machine the wheel or ?????? whatever is deemed appropriate.

let me know if i can help you,

leon

Both my front and rear wheels are a police wheels, their wider than the KZ mags. I have an 110/80-18 on the front and a 140/80-18 rear tire.
Mark

WABBMW wrote: The stock, original, spoked 19" front wheel on my '82 KZ650 was narrow (1.85" wide), and used a 100/90-19 tire. In my opinion, the tire was way too wide for the wheel width. When looking down at the tire/wheel, the sidewalls of the tire were spreading out from the wheel, outward toward the tread. The whole tire seemed to feel rubbery when flicking the bike back and forth. Increased air pressure helped, but not much.

So I got a 19" alloy wheel from a KZ1000, which is 2.15" wide. And again, in my opinion, the 2.15" wheel is still too narrow for the 100 tire size. (Yes, I know, they did this for many years). Anyway, I went with a 90/90-19" tire on the 2.15" wide wheel. The motorcycle handles so much better!!! Not "rubbery" feeling like before. And the size 90 tire has plenty of weight carrying capability. I chose an AVON Roadrider, model A-26. The tire has been wonderful. Great handling; great traction; even wear; and I now have 7,500 to 8,000 miles and the tire still has at least 40% more tread remaining. It is still bias ply, but "V" speed rating and a max. recommended pressure of 42 PSI. For cruising, I run 38 to 42 cold. For handling and twisties, I run 32 to 36.

I had to build some sleeves to go around the 650 axle, and the speedometer pickup is mounted in front of the fork, instead of behind, but works just fine.

Interesting. One thing that I have noticed is that tires marked the same size, even from the same maker, can vary greatly in width depending upon the particular tire model. Of course, the widths also vary from one maker to the next even though they are marked with the same tire sizes. Here's an example: 2 Michelin front tires - an A48 and a Macadam 50E; both tires are size 100/90 V 19, but the good ole A48 is MUCH wider than the Macadam. The difference is still just as noticeable when the tires are mounted. Ed

I have a 1000 spoke wheel that's a bolt on to
my 650 fork's.
Have the 1000 fork's that go with the wheel and
and best I can tell they ain't no diff. then the 650 fork's.

ED buy a new tape your's look's ruff around 7"

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: It does look like it's seen better days. :laugh: