Wheels?

[Chachiboy]

I have read threads but am still unsure about the wheels I have.

The previous owner gave them to me with the bike saying they were from an older model and SHOULD fit with no issues.

I don't know what year they are from but would love them on my 81.

Just want to see if anyone out there can tell by the pictures
-if anything is missing
-confirm they will fit, or if more parts are needed (other than tires)

Any feedback would help

 

[gggGary]

Should work, rear looks like a 70-73 XS650, any year XS650 brake plate will fit it.
Changing to a drum rear brake set up is pretty simple, lots of how to threads.
Front looks like a 80-81 Special II correct rotor depends on the forks/caliper you're using. so your existing rotor will bolt right on.

 

[Chachiboy]

Awesome thanks. Both wheels have bearings in them. Nothing else needed to bolt em in?

 

[gggGary]

The RH rear spacer is different on the drum wheel. Axle etc and the LH spacer are the same.
will need drum brake pivot shaft up at the pedal and the brake rod etc.

 

[Chachiboy]

I have a rear drum on it now and will be going to a drum. Are you saying I will still need a RH spacer?

Can I use the existing pivot shaft and brake rod? If not, what kind am I looking for

 

[5twins]

No, you're good with the spacers and brake rod stuff you've got. But, it looks like your front wheel is missing the speedo drive parts and the grease seal that holds them in. They would be parts 7, 8, and 13 in this drawing .....

They could be pulled from the wheel you're using now, or you could just get them separately.

 

[Chachiboy]

Thanks so much for clarifying! To save some $ I will try to pull off my existing. Next question... Any tire recommendations

 

[5twins]

I also see you have an open bearing on that speedo drive side of the front wheel. You might want to replace that with a sealed one. A sealed one should have come in that later wheel. I don't know if the seal from your bearing has just gone missing or if someone actually installed an open bearing.

 

[Chachiboy]

I also see you have an open bearing on that speedo drive side of the front wheel. You might want to replace that with a sealed one. A sealed one should have come in that later wheel. I don't know if the seal from your bearing has just gone missing or if someone actually installed an open bearing.

Great thanks! All the feedback is exactly the kind of info I need otherwise I would have just installed it as is

 

[5twins]

As far as tire recommendations go, that's nearly as bad as asking about oil brand, lol. You'll get many different recommendations and opinions. Personally, my 2 cents is that the 650 is a mid-sized, moderately powered bike. It's not really big and heavy, nor does it have a tire shredding power output. I don't feel the newest, latest, expensive cutting edge tires are needed. This bike does just fine with budget to mid-priced tires. The new popular budget brand are Shinko tires. I've used a few of their 712 rears and they work just fine. I finally installed a matching 712 front but I'm not too fond of that one. It gives me a minor head shake when going through the 30 to 35 MPH range. I know it's the tire because I swapped on a spare wheel with a different brand tire and tread pattern and the issue disappeared. I don't know if I just got a bum tire (defective somehow) or if the tread pattern isn't compatible with the bike. I have another so it will be interesting to see if the problem continues with it.

I used to have a favorite front tire, a tread pattern that seemed to work well with anything I mated it with. That was the Cheng Shin C906 Hi-Max. The tread pattern was a copy of the Metzler ME33 front tire. Unfortunately, Cheng Shin stopped producing motorcycle street tires so I can't get it anymore .....

But, another company, Vee Rubber, has finally stepped up and come out with another copy .....

I purchased one to try but haven't mounted it yet. Hopefully this will be the solution to my front tire dilemma.

 

[Chachiboy]

As far as tire recommendations go, that's nearly as bad as asking about oil brand, lol. You'll get many different recommendations and opinions. Personally, my 2 cents is that the 650 is a mid-sized, moderately powered bike. It's not really big and heavy, nor does it have a tire shredding power output. I don't feel the newest, latest, expensive cutting edge tires are needed. This bike does just fine with budget to mid-priced tires. The new popular budget brand are Shinko tires. I've used a few of their 712 rears and they work just fine. I finally installed a matching 712 front but I'm not too fond of that one. It gives me a minor head shake when going through the 30 to 35 MPH range. I know it's the tire because I swapped on a spare wheel with a different brand tire and tread pattern and the issue disappeared. I don't know if I just got a bum tire (defective somehow) or if the tread pattern isn't compatible with the bike. I have another so it will be interesting to see if the problem continues with it.

I used to have a favorite front tire, a tread pattern that seemed to work well with anything I mated it with. That was the Cheng Shin C906 Hi-Max. The tread pattern was a copy of the Metzler ME33 front tire. Unfortunately, Cheng Shin stopped producing motorcycle street tires so I can't get it anymore .....

But, another company, Vee Rubber, has finally stepped up and come out with another copy .....

I purchased one to try but haven't mounted it yet. Hopefully this will be the solution to my front tire dilemma.

You have pointed me in a good direction. I know nothing about tires, but was also thinking that I don't need to buy the latest and expensive tires out there

 

[Chachiboy]

Today I thought to shop around for tires so I measured the rims.

The front is 20 1/4 and 2 1/2 wide
The rear is 19 1/4 and 3 1/4 wide.

Searched the internet for a while and the largest front tire I can find was 19"

My current tires are Bridgestone spitfire and from what I saw, they don't come in these sizes. I checked out Shinko site as well and couldn't find 20" Any help where to look or brands to consider?

 

[5twins]

What you measured isn't the rated rim size. It should be stamped into the rim somewhere, usually near the valve stem hole. From looking at your pics, I think you have a 19" front and an 18" rear.

 

[XSLeo]

Wheel sizes are measured from bead seat to bead seat.
Tires from bead to bead.
You measured from the outside of the rim. If you look in your rim you will see the bead seat is about 3.8 inch below the edge of the rim. Times twice is about 3/4 inch. Your 20 1/4 - 3/4 = 19. Same with the rear.
Width is measured inside the rim. Front about 1.85, rear 2.15.
A lot of us find tires in stock widths work well. Stock widths were in inches but most tires now days are metric.
Front a 90 or 100 x 90-19, rear a 110 or 120 x 90-18. Your 81 had a 130x90-16 on the rear.
As mentioned you don't need a costly tire. Anywhere in the $50 to $70 range will work well.
Everyone has an opinion on the best tire. I have tried many of the brands and models suggested.
I can't really say one was better than the others. Some tires had excellent grip but wore quickly. Others wore better but didn't grip as well on less than clean dry pavement.
The Shinko's mentioned are a good tire. The Bridgestones you mentioned are good tires. The Dunlop 404 is liked by many.
Shop around for a good price.
I shop Ebay for most of my tires. I put in the brand, model and size in the search, then get them listed by price + S&H low to high. Watch the very least amounts they may be used tires.
I guess I've rambled enough so I'll stop.
Leo

 

[Chachiboy]

As I was shopping my local CL I came across a guy selling these rims and tires. He was super eager to sell and was asking $400. I sent him an email offering $150 and he took it! Put my rims (no tires) on CL and within hours sold them for $400. They need a bit more polishing but I am pretty happy with the quick flip

 

[grizld1]

Check the age on those tires, Chachi. Tread may look fine, but rubber loses volatile compounds over time, and adhesion is lost with them. I may be more than a little AR on that score, but I don't ride on motorcycle tires that are more than 4 years old.

 

[grizld1]

Re. the Shinko 712, when they're good they're good, but from time to time you get a bad one, and I buy from a local independent shop because there are no hoops to jump through if a tire has to be exchanged (and to support the shop; if we don't support the local guys we'll lose them). The last pair of 712s I bought had a defective rear: the bead wouldn't seat evenly. The replacement seated just fine. There were no wiggles at any speed on any road surface.

 

[member28833]

I sent him an email offering $150 and he took it

Looks like you did very well. TX wheels so think. Maybe you better give us a look at that disc? You may have gotten yourself into a small jam if you didn’t save your original disc ?
What year is your bike ?

 

[5twins]

I think you lucked out and scored a set of TX750 wheels there.

 

[Chachiboy]

Looks like you did very well. TX wheels so think. Maybe you better give us a look at that disc? You may have gotten yourself into a small jam if you didn’t save your original disc ?
What year is your bike ?

1. My bike is an 81. Here are pics of the rims and pic of my current wheels. Being a newbie I hope you can help me identify what I need to swap them. Guy told me they were from an xs...