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Stupid questions (I think)

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by shirali, Oct 18, 2017.

  1. shirali

    shirali Member

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    Was wondering if it's possible to replace front wheel with a smaller 17 inch wheel? And if so, from which bike?

    Easiest stuff do you for reducing the weight of my bike? It's a seca xj750 1982.

    I want a smaller tank that is direct fit but don't know which one fits.
     
  2. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    Not sure about the front wheel but there is an entire thread about which fuel tanks interchange
     
  3. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    you can make any tank fit if you can do fab work
    why do you want to lighten bike? or want smaller tire/rim up fromt.
    there is an older thread where poster did the front tire/rim look at newer yamahas

    seca 550 tank ( euro xj550)is a close to fit tank for your bike

    Fuel tank interchange information
     
  4. shirali

    shirali Member

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    I want to make the bike easier to handle and a bit lighter too. Just to test out stuff.
     
  5. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    it took me about a week to get used to the weight difference of my 750 maxim and 550 maxim now I do not notice it at all
     
  6. shirali

    shirali Member

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    But it should be possible to find a smaller wheel and make the overall weight lighter?
     
  7. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    yes you can find a smaller wheel for the front
     
  8. shirali

    shirali Member

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    Which ones will fit?
     
  9. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    Easiest conversion is slip radian or FZ600 forks, wheel, brakes and fender into your existing triple clamps.
    This gives you a 2.50 x 16” front. Then use the 3.0 x 16” rear from a Maxim to balance it out. This will lower the bike about 1” in front and 3/4” in rear. I don’t recommend a 17” in front. Most are 3.5 and call for a radial. A radial rear can be used with a bias front but never mix a radial front with bias ply rear. A bike with a wider rim in front than the rear would look goofy and handling might be dangerous. The 16” combo I proposed allows same tire sizing as the Radian.
     
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  10. bensalf

    bensalf Well-Known Member

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    changing the front wheel size will also alter the speedo callibration
     
  11. Simmy

    Simmy Well-Known Member

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    that is true. One day I need to compare mine to a gps and see how far out I am. I can’t recall which worm drive I used and if there is even a difference amongst them.
     
  12. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Our town has a radar unit on the edge of town that tells you how fast you are driving. My speedo is spot on to 35 mph. Since the speed limit in that area is 25, I don't dare press my luck at higher speeds.
    A gps app is a great idea as well.
     
  13. shirali

    shirali Member

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    the speed calibration isnt something that bothers me but i want something thats more cost efficient instead of changing forks and stuff etc.
     
  14. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    get the speedo that goes with the wheel. where he wants to reduce weight dump the cluster and get one of those small all in one units
     
  15. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    you could take off one caliper and it's rotor and pretend it's a 650. then loose the anti-dive stuff
     
  16. shirali

    shirali Member

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    That sounds very dangerous from safety point of view.
     
  17. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    well 650's have one brake and they seem to stop fine, change to a 650 master cylinder and it will almost be a proven setup.
    changing wheel sizes never won any safety awards
    one brake setups have half the failure points
     
  18. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    So is changing the front wheel diameter.

    You'll be altering the front-end geometry, and therefor altering the handling. The steering will speed-up a bit, and become less stable. Both the Seca and Maxim 750 are somewhat prone to headshake under some conditions as-is.

    If you want it to be lighter, start with the font fender. After that, I'd look into a 4-1 exhaust, removing the passenger foot-pegs and hangers (you'd need to fabricate a muffler mount), Swapping the ATARI for a smaller all-in-one gauge, and then.....well there isn't much left that would be of advantage without ruining the machine.
    If the bike is to large for you, I suggest buying something newer, and lighter. 80's bikes are, by their very nature, heavy. There is no changing that.
     
    Last edited: Oct 21, 2017
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  19. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    I'd like to add a note: you can't just ditch the fender... underneath is a fork brace. Keep that part on, or you're gonna get flexy forks!
     
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  20. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Yes. I was not very clear. I meant to imply that a plasic fender is lighter. Running without a fender is a fool's game.
     

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