wire wheels

Hello all, I am about to take in an orphaned 79? 650 special. It has mag wheels, and I'd like to put wires on it. What years would be a direct fit?

Direct fit? None. Except for the ‘81, the Specials have a rear disk brake. All of the wire wheel bikes have a drum brake on the rear wheel. This means a few differences in the frame and swingarm.

too bad, it would have looked good in wires.I might restore it and try to trade it for an early " wired" version.

I am in the process of converting an 81 to 19 front, 18 rear spoke wheels. The 81 had 19 front, 16 rear.

doug650 said:

Hello all, I am about to take in an orphaned 79? 650 special. It has mag wheels, and I'd like to put wires on it. What years would be a direct fit?

Click to expand...

There is no direct swap..............But............read the second link, the swap is quite easy

Any set of wheels and hubs from 73-79 standards. 73 rims are chrome on steel, 74-79 are Alloy rims
Study the different models here.
https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/

79, (2F), special II.......... 80G special II........... and 81H Special II............. front wheels/hub are 19" and rear hub can be used because they are 36 spoke hubs but the rear wheel rim is 16" on the Special II's, 79/80/81....................... Again study the link above

It's easier to go from a disk brake rear wheel to a drum brake rear wheel than the other way round.

Do need to get some parts from a spoke wheel set up to change into the disk brake bike.
For the parts use ebay, advertise here or/and buy some of the parts aftermarket from MikesXS.

I Have the parts colour coded as to their availability in the link
https://www.xs650.com/threads/rear-brake-conversion-drum-to-disk-or-disk-to-drum.51944/

Alternative is to buy a disk brake spoke hub.
https://www.mikesxs.net/yamaha-xs650-hub-spoke-wheel-rear-oem-256-25311-00-00.html

FWIW, my XS650SK has cast wheels on it. The laced wheels are on the shelf. My bike has over 64,000 miles on it. The wheel swap was done in 2010. Cast wheels don’t involve tubes. I can plug a flat on the road. The cast wheels have had no maintenance since I installed them. They’re also very strong.

I’m planning to respoke and restore the wires. I think they’re lovely.

I like the rear drum, stone ax simple and nothing to leak. I would never convert to a disc but might very well go the opposite way, disc to drum. I also like a 16" rear on the Specials. I think it looks better. It was designed for it, the way the side covers angle down towards it.

One of the 1st things I did when I got my Special was swap an 18" rear onto it because I read they handle better. I didn't find that to be true. It handles just fine with the 16" and is actually better in a straight line at higher speeds with it. So, I switched back and will be staying with the 16".

I `m also in the process of converting penstar mags to wire spokes. I`m using front to rear conversion. The cognito moto rear hub is a really good choice.

halfmile said:

I `m also in the process of converting penstar mags to wire spokes. I`m using front to rear conversion. The cognito moto rear hub is a really good choice.
View attachment 235540

Click to expand...

Agreed; the Cognito kit is awesome, if a little expensive (especially here in Blighty). The Welsh Flat Tracker has one installed.

Weren't there any of the rear mags that had drum brakes? I thought there were.

RC4MAN said:

Weren't there any of the rear mags that had drum brakes? I thought there were.

Click to expand...

1981 Special, 16"