Tube to tubeless...

[trbig]

I am wanting to swap a 17 tube-style rim on a 78E for a 16" tubeless. There is a much larger selection of tires for the 16". Is there any problems with doing this as far as rear brake mounting or anything? I was thinking that if the rear brake disc was the same diameter, it would be fine, but are the discs mounted at the same location horizontally?

[natemoen]

From my understanding the rear is the same except for the bead locks, plug them and you are good to go. The front however has a different profile for the bead mating surface between the tubed and tubeless. Steve did a big comparison of the rims.

As to the brakes I don't know.

[trbig]

That probably would be the easier and cheaper way to do it, but I'd still like to go with the 16" rim. At Motorcycle Superstore, if you put in the 130/90/17 tire size, you get back a choice of FIVE tires. 130/90/16 brings back five PAGES of tires. Greg in Tulsa has already said he can fix me up with a tubeless front rim. What ticks me off is that I had a set of these rims already that I got with my first XJ. I finally threw them away a few months back when cleaning out the garage, thinking I'd never need any XS rims....


I'll need to get them all "purdied" up though and try to match the paint. They'll be going on this bike Bob Jones built that Montreaux Blue had before he got killed last year. I finally got a bit of a raise, so it looks like I'll be able to keep it and not have to sell it to someone... which would have broke my heart.

[TomB]

Is there any problems with doing this as far as rear brake mounting or anything? I was thinking that if the rear brake disc was the same diameter, it would be fine, but are the discs mounted at the same location horizontally?

You're nearly right, the discs are mounted the same and are the same diameter, the problem is the steel insert cast into the rear wheels that form the bearing housing, they are different between 16" and 17" wheels, this means the wheel spindle (axle?) spacers are different which in turn means the brake torque plates are different, the caliper and caliper bracket are the same on both models.

The problem can be overcome using home made spacers, I used some shiny stainless washers of the right thickness so I can swap between 16" and 17" rear wheels. Getting the right thickness ain't difficult, as long as the caliper bracket sits over the disc equally when the wheel spindle nut is tight.

[BA80]

I was thinking there was a difference in the anchor bracket for the special wheels. I have the bracket and spacers for that rear wheel too Tod. You shouldn't have to build anything.

It'll be good to see Limey on the road again, just be careful with it crash!

[crazy steve]

Tod, the difference is the 16" Special wheel moves the brake rotor out .3" compared to the standard wheel (not sure why they did that, but they did..), so there is some parts that need to be swapped to keep the caliper/rotor aligned. Here's a pic...

[IMG][/IMG]

The pic is a little fuzzy, and the Special parts are on the left. If you look close you can see that the inner spacer/dust shield is taller for the special wheel (.3" taller), and the caliper bracket is shaped much different. The standard outer spacer isn't used. One part not shown is the upper brake hose clamp which is also different, but you might be able to mod the standard clamp to fit.

Should I take a better pic and make this a tech tip?

[DGXSER]

Good to see Limey went to a good home. Hopefully that is just a reflection and not a real dent in the tank. I have a 16" rear wheel of an SH and all the spacers, brake components with it.

[trbig]

No, it's a normal standard tank, but Bob added those stick-on knee pads to the sides of many of his tanks. You might be able to see them better in this one..

[BA80]

Should I take a better pic and make this a tech tip?

Yeah Steve, you better. Just for these "Super Gurus" who don't know.

[tom clisham]

Mufflers

TR: What kind of mufflers are those on the Limey? I'm looking for something like that for my barhopper.

[trbig]

I'll see if there's some markings on it later. It's a 4-1 exhaust, so it's a single muffler. Whatever it is though, it's going to be 30+ years old and probably nearly impossible to find.

[trbig]

Yeah Steve, you better. Just for these "Super Gurus" who don't know.

I agree. Wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if they deleted that XS off of the "XS-XJ Super Guru". Heck, you could even delete the Super Guru thing and put "Simply used to just post A LOT!"

[RS Thornton]

+1 on the spacers and caliper bracket

The spacers and the caliper bracket. I swapped the wheels from an 81 special with a 78 standard to get to tubelss tire and slotted rotors. Both bikes are being run with no issue. I am planning on putting a 17" tubeless from an 80 or81 standard on though, hoping to get drop rpm's back when I am riding at an ambitious pace on the interstates

[trbig]

Yeah, when it gets the 16" rear tire, it'll also be getting the 850 final drive, so it should be a pretty close swap, and it will be better at highway speeds. I don't plan on launching this one too much from stoplight to stoplight anyway.

[skids]

tech tip

Tod, the difference is the 16" Special wheel moves the brake rotor out .3" compared to the standard wheel (not sure why they did that, but they did..), so there is some parts that need to be swapped to keep the caliper/rotor aligned. Here's a pic...

[IMG][/IMG]

The pic is a little fuzzy, and the Special parts are on the left. If you look close you can see that the inner spacer/dust shield is taller for the special wheel (.3" taller), and the caliper bracket is shaped much different. The standard outer spacer isn't used. One part not shown is the upper brake hose clamp which is also different, but you might be able to mod the standard clamp to fit.

Should I take a better pic and make this a tech tip?

Yes a tech tip would be a geat idea!