GN250 custom project: Wheels

[KIPS powervalve]

I'm looking out for suggestions on wheels from anyone who has done a custom project...see the GN has similar outer diameter tyres, but the rear rim is 16" and the front is 18". Don't really like the chunky look at the back. I'd like to put an 18" rim on the back. Is it best to find a wheel from a different bike that will bolt straight on? (Scorpio? etc) Maybe re-lace the rear wheel to keep the current hub but find an 18" rim that would fit. I have seen numerous examples online of GNs with either 2 16s or 2 18. I think having the wheels equal sized makes the bike look a little less low end cruiser and a little more refined.

(Note my use of "Custom" and not "Cafe Racer"...I'd like to say I'm working on a cafe but the GN would never do the ton!)

Before you go and bag on my GN, chances are you have not ridden one that has been lowered, lightened, and adulterated. It is actually a scream to ride and sounds awesome.

[mossy1200]

I'm looking a little more refined.

Alcohol is a wonderful thing.

[TheDemonLord]

Before you go and bag on my GN, chances are you have not ridden one that has been lowered, lightened, and adulterated. It is actually a scream to ride and sounds awesome.

Hahahahaha

Oh, wait?

You are Serious?!?!

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

*Deep Breath*

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

[Kickaha]

Oh, wait?

You are Serious?!?!

Well he's probably like a few of us that aren't stupid enough to think you need a big modern bike with lots of HP to have some fum

[pzkpfw]

Hahahahaha

Oh, wait?

You are Serious?!?!

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

*Deep Breath*

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

My NZ250 was a hoot. Wouldn't have ridden it to Auckland (partly because it was made of rust), but around town it was fun and peppy enough. I can imagine a GN doing the business for someone.

[swarfie]

Well he's probably like a few of us that aren't stupid enough to think you need a big modern bike with lots of HP to have some fum

Yep...A few of us ride slow old pommy things that blow some of ya flash shit off on the right roads

[nodrog:Me]

Well he's probably like a few of us that aren't stupid enough to think you need a big modern bike with lots of HP to have some fum

Even though my bike is made this century, its still assumed that it has more than double its actual HP.

[awa355]

Gn or ZX14, if someone is prepared to have a go and create something different, then good on him. It takes a lot more skill to change things and can be far more rewarding than to just bolt on aftermarket parts.

There was a GN cafe/bobber type bike on T Me some time ago. It was one of the neatest modified bikes I've seen.

[TheDemonLord]

Well he's probably like a few of us that aren't stupid enough to think you need a big modern bike with lots of HP to have some fum

Depends what kind of Fun you are after really - Me, I have my Dream Bike and it does what I need of it (and more)

[RichardB]

Dude, ignore the shit from people who have nothing better to say. If its fun, do it. Do it heaps.

Re: wheel size change - having re-laced a couple of wheels, its not a huge issue to true a wheel, just takes time. BUT...a set of spokes to lace an 18" rim to your GN hub will set you back the better part of a hundy. Beware of what is available from China/Taiwan only because you need to make sure you get both inner and outer spokes - they differ in neck angle. Think the rear GN hub is same size left and right, but sometimes hubs on front wheels differ in sizes left and right.

I'm into a bobber GN project at the moment. So far have shaved several kilos off the frame, pulled and stripped motor. Taken the time to polish engine internals - made a world of difference in how smoothly things work and slide against each other. Today was a modest head polish - take out the gross casting tags. Not a mirror job but undoubtedly wont make things worse. Pod filter, less restrictive exhaust, carb tune, normal tune up things - plus going to a 16 tooth front and 47 (? not sure about that) rear will change the gearing significantly. Saw an indicated (yeah right!) 135kph (140 downhill hahaha!) on a stock geared pretty sad old GN, so I have hopes that modest engine mods and gearing will bring me closer to the magic ton.

If you do manage a larger diameter rear wheel in there be prepared for some handling differences - will slightly alter rake. On the plus will drop your gearing a bit. Probably easiest to see if an existing 18" wheel will fit within the swingarm - heaps of side room so shouldn't have issues there (unless you try to fit a Harley fat boy rear wheel). Issue will more likely be hub & spacers dimensions. Remember that the rear sprocket needs to align with front - so its not as simple as fitting a hub with the same width. From my point of view I'd say feasible within reason (everything can be made to work with enough $ and time).

Chuck some pics up if you can.

[RichardB]

Gn or ZX14, if someone is prepared to have a go and create something different, then good on him. It takes a lot more skill to change things and can be far more rewarding than to just bolt on aftermarket parts.

There was a GN cafe/bobber type bike on T Me some time ago. It was one of the neatest modified bikes I've seen.

If its the one I am thinking of - yeah, sweet, meticulous look. Not radical but definitely professional looking. Asking price reflected that.

[KIPS powervalve]

BUT...a set of spokes to lace an 18" rim to your GN hub will set you back the better part of a hundy.

Where do I start looking? Could I use a GN front rim on the back with new spokes? Thanks for your reply by the way. I'd love to have the patience, skills and tools to strip the engine and polish, resleeve, etc. For now I have put a pod on, open pipe, thought about rejet, but it runs mint without rejetting. Lowered front end 2", repaint, clean the cluster to just the speedo. NEED to sort out that seat though, and the indicators, I'll have to get some good pics up. Oh and the front brake feels like pads are made of mashed potato.

And to all the haters laughing. Laugh. That's what a custom bike is all about. Seriously, the GN is more fun in many ways than my 650 Kwaka, especially on gravel! Definitely makes me laugh. And swear. It sure is more fun actually making things for the bike from complete scratch than buying things that fit right on.

N.B. The photo was taken a few months ago, but apart from the instrument cluster, it is pretty much the same. Work in progress!

[ducatilover]

Hahahahaha

Oh, wait?

You are Serious?!?!

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

*Deep Breath*

HHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

Mine's okay

I have a DR200 rim on mine, but TF125 and TS185s run the same 18 with right pattern on the spokes

[jellywrestler]

There was a GN cafe/bobber type bike on T Me some time ago. It was one of the neatest modified bikes I've seen.

is your other 'Saved Search' seeing eye dogs?

[Drew]

There are quite a few rims that'll just go straight in. Couple mates have laced 17in alloy rims to theirs and 19 up front, but that was to fit MX tyres.