Spoked wheel on GSXR front - RAD hub in lieu of Harley?

[Tremelune]

I'm putting a 2006 GSXR 750 front-end on my '69 CL350. I'd like to keep a spoked rim up there.

I stumbled on this post, which mentions using this RAD Mfg hub in place of the Narrow Glide hub that is commonly used. The primary benefit would be easy attachment and alignment of an SV1000 brake rotor that will line everything up with the GSXR forks and calipers.

As this was the only reference to these hubs I've found in my research, and I'm leaning strongly towards bolt-on solutions, I was hoping to find out more info. Can anyone confirm that this all works out of the box? Which spacers would be used on the axle? Will an OEM DL1000 hub fit as well? Speedo?

 

[Bert Jan]

There is no bolt on solution. You will have to find a hub thats;

A. Not to wide for your forks
B. Can accomodate the bearings with the right ID for the axle
C. Has the right amount of spoke holes
D. Has the right amount and measurements for the disk you're planning to use
E. Existing

You see, lots of variables here. Everything is possible, but it will cost you some cash to get it working right.
You also have the problem of the disk offset. No matter wich hub you score, the disk will always be too close or too far away from the caliper. Some machining needs to be done at some point. Don't even think about it if you're not willing to spend cash for a metal shop to do it right. (if you had a lathe, mill and skills, you would not have asked..)

You will also need new spokes because the hub you are gonna find (if you're lucky) will have another spokeflange diameter.

Yes, in theory there is the possiblilty a hub exists that has all the numbers match. But there's not.

Last question/advice.. Photoshop your forks into your bike and see for yourself how ridiculously it looks. Way too much fork for a 350 IMHO. I've done a couple similar builds. Check my cb550 tracker build where i put a YZF750 with dual bluespots and 320 disks in a cb550, using the original hub and spacers i made. Still costed me about $150 on bearings/materials/bolts

 

[Tremelune]

From what I've read, a 2008+ Harley Narrow Glide hub will fit the axle, and you can drill new holes in a 320mm Hayabusa rotor, and it will fit between the caliper perfectly (with possibly a tiny shim). I think I can also just use the 19x2.5" wheel that's already on the hub, too. I guess the RAD hub only solves the smallest problem with all this, so maybe it's not even worth asking about.

Lots of info on the Harley hub here:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58117.msg723112#msg723112

My initial plan was to swap on a CBR250 front, but when I started getting into putting a spoke wheel on to match, there was very little info. I settled on the way-overkill GSXR solution precisely because of what you have pointed out. There are so many variables with something like this, that I want to walk a well-tread path. There is just so much information out there on GSXR parts. They're a part of half the builds out there...It also means fully-adjustable cartridge forks and excellent brakes. From the photos I've seen, the USD forks look good, if overstated.

 

[Bert Jan]

From what I've read, a 2008+ Harley Narrow Glide hub will fit the axle, and you can drill new holes in a 320mm Hayabusa rotor, and it will fit between the caliper perfectly (with possibly a tiny shim). I think I can also just use the 19x2.5" wheel that's already on the hub, too. I guess the RAD hub only solves the smallest problem with all this, so maybe it's not even worth asking about.

Lots of info on the Harley hub here:

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=58117.msg723112#msg723112

My initial plan was to swap on a CBR250 front, but when I started getting into putting a spoke wheel on to match, there was very little info. I settled on the way-overkill GSXR solution precisely because of what you have pointed out. There are so many variables with something like this, that I want to walk a well-tread path. There is just so much information out there on GSXR parts. They're a part of half the builds out there...It also means fully-adjustable cartridge forks and excellent brakes. From the photos I've seen, the USD forks look good, if overstated.

All true,but same goes for the stock 500/550 hub, and you dont need to drill any holes in the disks. 6 bolt disks from ducati monsters (usually brembo) have the same pattern. Only thing is the bearings then. From what i can recall out of my head, stock cb hubs have a 42 or 44mm OD bearing. With a 22mm axle, thats tight. I had that problem too and ordered bearings from a unicycle company. Those were the only ones that were the right size. I rocked 4 of them. 2 on the left, 2 on the right. Never had a problem with them.

 

[Tremelune]

same goes for the stock 500/550 hub, and you dont need to drill any holes in the disks. 6 bolt disks from ducati monsters (usually brembo) have the same pattern. Only thing is the bearings then. From what i can recall out of my head, stock cb hubs have a 42 or 44mm OD bearing. With a 22mm axle, thats tight. I had that problem too and ordered bearings from a unicycle company. Those were the only ones that were the right size. I rocked 4 of them. 2 on the left, 2 on the right. Never had a problem with them.

That's a pretty slick solution. I'd be worried about a quartet of unicycle bearings at 80mph or when hitting a pothole...Has anyone else ever tried that??

 

[Tremelune]

So, the RAD hub needs machining (though they can do it, and lace up the wheel if desired). Some info gathered from numerous unconfirmed internet sources:

DL1000 Specs (all in mm):
Axle: 20
Rotor size: 310
Hub Bore: 69
PCD: 91
#Bolts: 5
Mounting Face Spacing: 128

04 GSXR1K Specs:
Axle: 25
Rotor Size: 300
Hub Bore: 69
PCD: 91
#Bolts: 5
Mounting Face Spacing: 128

Some rotor specs (Suzuki does not use offset rotors):

http://s1112.photobucket.com/user/RedBullEmena/media/Fork_Matrix_zpsb071815c.jpg.html

http://i1112.photobucket.com/albums/k491/RedBullEmena/Rotor_Matrix_zps1f19cf87.jpg

 

[Bert Jan]

i ordered them from his website (kris holm) he has 2 in the unicycle..


http://youtu.be/1uPznTbus3g


all the info you need;
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=21648.0

i did it the same way as Jimmy but i used the old hub instead to get the spacers.

 

[Ryanlowry]

I ordered a RAD v-storm wheel with my GSXR 2004 front end. I sent them my axle and they machined everything to make everything mount up as it needs to- ALSO you need to get a 17" wheel for the spokes not to hit the calipers.

Cognito Cycles also has a hub they are selling to work with modern front ends.

Good luck.

 

[Tremelune]

I wound up going with the Cognito hub. Just seemed too slick a piece to continue mucking around with all this mixing and matching of eBay parts. I was hoping to get a definitive list of parts that definitely work for the community, but with all the variables, it just seems to make more sense to support the guy making hubs that are the better solution anyway.

Depending on what your goals are, you might even come out ahead pricewise (definitely timewise).