Converting an 18" rear wheel to a 16"

My new project is a 1976 KZ750 Twin. It has an 18" rear spoke wheel. I want to convert this to a 16" spoke wheel. I'm hoping to use the hub assembly from the 18' wheel.

Is there a known rim and spoke set that is made for this ?? Or would I have to have the spokes custom made for the project ??

Or, is there a different hub assembly from another bike that is known to work well for a project like this ??

Or, what year and model Kawasaki already comes with the 16' wheel ??

I am wanting to run the drum brakes on this if I can.

Thanks.....

The easiest thing to do is talk to buchanan's spokes. They can answer your questions. I think people used to swap over Harley rims but I have no idea which ones were used. You will need a rim with the same number of holes, (and spokes). Then it just comes down to what size tire you want to run, and which size rim would fit that tire. Buchanans may be able to make you the spokes for using a specific rim as they make their own spokes and rims. If you have the money to spend I would just call Buchanans and tell them your needs. Send them your hub and they can make it all, assemble it, and true it and send you a wheel ready to go. Forgive me if you know all of this already and are just looking for plug and play options. I don't know the answer for that.

Simple & common change from back in the early days of Z1-KZ's & SOHC Honda 750's. Ya' got Dave Mann art from EZ rider. Hog wheel conversion.
I assume your rear wheel is same as the Z1-KZ900. 16" spoke kit for Harley drop center wheels, were sold in all those bike magazines, EZ Rider, Iron Horse, Street Chopper.
Every once in a while you see NOS kits on ebay. Plus, yes Buchanon spokes sell them. I have a Harley 4" x 16" with a 150 tire on an old project that's been sitting.
These are 10 yr old pictures.
Search around, should be an easy find.
Good Luck.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationNever followed the KZ 750. Are the rear wheels the same? I don't know. If not a Z1-KZ-H2 rear hub should fit. All have 20mm axle's
Here is a set of the Hog wheel spokes on ebay. These mate up with a Harley 16" rim.

No eBay APP ID and/or Cert ID defined in Kunena configurationHere is what you want to do!
This one is rusty, but, this is the common conversion.

OK, thanks for all the replies guys !!

z1kzonly, any chance you could give me a guesstimate of the center hub diameter on the bike you posted ?? That is if you still have it... Nice looking bike by the way.

I'll give Buchanon's a call too to see what advice they can give on this.

I've never laced a wheel before, and am thinking it might be a fun challenge to take on....or not ??

Now I know where I need to start !!

I just discovered I still have the stock wheel from my 1978 KZ650b. Do you think the center hub is the correct one to be able to use the spoke set and rim that have been referred to here ??

I called Buchanon's, and they couldn't say for sure......

If I recall correctly, the KZ650 CSR uses a spoked 16" rear wheel stock. Drum brake

You are correct azman857 !! Only drawback for me is, I have one from a 82 KZ650 csr and it's all aluminum. I'm wanting bright chrome on all the pieces to the wheel for this project. I'm going to have the center hub chromed too.

99% of the sellers on EBay piece the wheels out, rather than selling something as a complete unit. Making it so you have to look for the axle, spacers, brake hub, sprocket and rotor separately.

If I'm lucky and the wheel from my 78 works, then I already have all the other parts, making it a bit easier.

Hey S Bum, 650's are smaller than the 900. And it's hard to get a measurement around the hub, with the axle in way.
But about 10" plus a little bowed. Hard to measure on bike. Someone might chime in with a hub not mounted?
But, I know 650 hubs are smaller.

I don't know about 650 CSR's but the 1000/1100 CSR's with those aluminum rims. They have some weird 44 or 48 spoke pattern.
Pissed me off a few yrs. ago. I spent a couple of days polishing a rear up to sell. nice 16" x 3" Then I realize it has 48 spokes.

I swapped for a kz650B rear wheel on my kz750G which had a 16" mag drum brake rear from the factory.

The KZ750B has factory disk and a 20mm axle. KZ650 has factory drum brake and a 17mm axle. To put the KZ650 wheel on the twin you will need to find bearings for conversion, and ream the brake plate out to 20mm. You will also need custom wheel spacers, weld a torque link mount to the swingarm, and devise a new brake linkage.

KZ750 have a rather unusual conical rear hub so finding an existing rim and spokes will likely be difficult.
IMO the easiest way is to buy rims and spokes from Buchanan's. Lacing and truing wheels ain't too hard, just takes patience.