New to the forum. Hello everybody. Got a 77 xs650 gathering parts now. Want to put a 21 wheel on the front and a 16x3 on the back. Both laced. What wheels are you guys using? Also what axle and all that stuff to make em work? Thanks a million
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Hello! Easiest way is to lace a 21 front to a stock xs650 hub, same with the rear. That's all assuming you're going to keep the front forks and not hardtail it. If you're going with a hardtail and springer or something, then it would probably be easier to use Harley wheels if you have a Harley springer and then figure out the brakes and the offsets for everything.
I guess the answer to most of what you asked is, it depends.
If you make your own hardtail, you can make almost anything fit. If you have your own axle plates cut, you can have them made for any size axle. I may have steered you in the wrong direction with the Harley thing. That was just an example. If you buy a hardtail "kit" specifically for the XS650, it's probably going to have 20mm slots in the axle plates for the stock XS rear axle. Some Harleys axles use 3/4" (19.05mm) axles so you can make that work. With any wheel or hub you go with in the back, you will have to figure out brakes. Do you want a rear disc brake or drum brake? If you go with a non-XS650 rear wheel or hub, you'll also have to think about wheel spacers, axle diameter and length, and bearings. If you use a Harley hub with a 3/4" axle, you might only need to worry about wheel spacers, and sprocket offset. Plus you'll need to get a sprocket in the correct size (number of teeth) that will also fit your hub bolt pattern. As far as axles go, sometimes it might be easier to use the correct axle for the hub, and figure out if it'll work with your frame. Other times it might be easier to use a different axle that works with your frame and use different wheel bearings, spacers/reducers, or machine the hub to fit different bearings all together. It all depends what hardtail you have and what wheel you're thinking about using. In most cases, the easiest thing would be to use a stock XS650 rear wheel or lace the rim you want to the stock XS650 rear hub. That will limit you to a drum rear brake though.
For the front, if you're keeping the stock front end, it'll be easier to use an XS650 front hub and lace a 21" rim to it, vs trying to make a 21 wheel of a different model fit. That way you don't have to worry about the axle, wheel spacers, brake rotor offset, or caliper offset and mounting.
If you make your own hardtail, you can make almost anything fit. If you have your own axle plates cut, you can have them made for any size axle. I may have steered you in the wrong direction with the Harley thing. That was just an example. If you buy a hardtail "kit" specifically for the XS650, it's probably going to have 20mm slots in the axle plates for the stock XS rear axle. Some Harleys axles use 3/4" (19.05mm) axles so you can make that work. With any wheel or hub you go with in the back, you will have to figure out brakes. Do you want a rear disc brake or drum brake? If you go with a non-XS650 rear wheel or hub, you'll also have to think about wheel spacers, axle diameter and length, and bearings. If you use a Harley hub with a 3/4" axle, you might only need to worry about wheel spacers, and sprocket offset. Plus you'll need to get a sprocket in the correct size (number of teeth) that will also fit your hub bolt pattern. As far as axles go, sometimes it might be easier to use the correct axle for the hub, and figure out if it'll work with your frame. Other times it might be easier to use a different axle that works with your frame and use different wheel bearings, spacers/reducers, or machine the hub to fit different bearings all together. It all depends what hardtail you have and what wheel you're thinking about using. In most cases, the easiest thing would be to use a stock XS650 rear wheel or lace the rim you want to the stock XS650 rear hub. That will limit you to a drum rear brake though.
For the front, if you're keeping the stock front end, it'll be easier to use an XS650 front hub and lace a 21" rim to it, vs trying to make a 21 wheel of a different model fit. That way you don't have to worry about the axle, wheel spacers, brake rotor offset, or caliper offset and mounting.
