z650 18" front wheel swap

All of the Kz550 fronts are 19". I think the ZX550A (gpz) might use 18" in the front.

I have a KZ550 from 81 as well and it is 19" from my research the later models of GPZ550 have 18" but with a newer design on the wheel.

At the moment I'm waiting for a z1000P top and bottom yoke, fork legs and Axle. After that I will need to source a set of rotors and probably a set of calipers.

But I might go to a swedish scrap yard and get some newer model brakes and rotors and fabricate brackets and mounts for them once the wheel is on the bike and I can take measurements.

loudhvx wrote: All of the Kz550 fronts are 19". I think the ZX550A (gpz) might use 18" in the front.

I was under the impression that this wheel came off a KZ550A.


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The parts fiches all list 19" tires for the front of all A models. I've never seen an 18" front on a 550 and the design of that wheel does not quite look like Kz550 to me. It's very similar, but on the 550, the machined portion of the spoke does not go flush to the outer edge of the rim like the one in the photo. It stays inboard of the outer edge of the rim.

I believe the Kz550 front rims are 19" x 1.85

I think that is a wheel from a Z1R or a early KZ1000 police bike.

That's a sought after wheel you got there

Marcushakansson wrote: I think that is a wheel from a Z1R or a early KZ1000 police bike.

That's a sought after wheel you got there

Thosee bikes have dual front disc brakes and this is a single disc wheel, so I don't think so.


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Nebr_Rex wrote:

Marcushakansson wrote: I think that is a wheel from a Z1R or a early KZ1000 police bike.

That's a sought after wheel you got there

Thosee bikes have dual front disc brakes and this is a single disc wheel, so I don't think so.


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Hmm I have seen that kz400 have 18" wheels and single disc but they seem to be 1.65 inch wide so I have taken them out of my equation.

Have you taken that cap off and looked on the inside?

Yes I had a quick look. Holes all the way through and machined but painted black.


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So almost 2 years later I have found a Z1300 complete front end and thought I would share the outcome of this front end swap for others that is trying to get 18" in the front of a KZ650.

The KZ1000 police wheel that I got in the first place was never going to fit between the fork legs of the original fork. I could have opted for a never fork but I wanted the older style forks. 

 
   
First I milled off the welds on both steering stems. 
The 650 stem was smaller then the KZ1300 so I made a bushing to get a snug fit and then welded in the stem. 
 

I then put new KZ650 bearings on and mounted everything. 
 

The front forks will get spacers inside and maybe cut springs to lower the bike to the right ride hight! 

Hope this thread helps someone in the future as so many threads have helped me! 

/Marcus