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Since I have commenced my cb450 build, I was looking into various options regarding getting some better rims on the bike. I have spend about three days on the web looking for this info and didn't find any specific directions.
I am very interested in putting some wider 17 in wheels on my 71 cb450 and also if possible converting my rear drum brakes to discs. I was thinking of going for used rims and i think the 94-09 EX500 rims would fit my needs perfectly. I believe the front rims are 3.0 - 17 and the rear rim is 3.5 - 17 which in turn will take 120/60-17 and 150/60-17 tires respectively. And on the plus side ex500 has rear disc brakes which should be bolt on.
Only problem I could see was that the rear axle of a cb450 is 20mm in diameter while that of the ex500 is 17mm. My solution to that was to get a CB360 rear swingarm which is slightly longer and will be taking the 17mm axle. I know that aligning the sprockets will be a bitch but if I could pull this off that would be pretty awesome.
I was just hoping that I am not overlooking any potential pitfalls to this day dream before I go ahead and order the parts. Experienced builders, any suggestion would help.
An EX500 swinger is dirt cheap amd VERY simple to fit to these old bikes. They can be had for about $20. That said, they're also steel so its very simple to have brackets welded on to run the dual shocks. This way the entire wheel/brake setup is bolt up and go after some simple mods to the pivot to make it work with the CB frame.
The EX hub is slightly wider true, but an offset front sprocket should take care of that (not sure of the exact math there... That's on you ).
Mike, I don't think a CB450 will take an offset front sprocket, if you are offsetting it out away from the bike. The chain is already dangerously close to the clutch mechanism inside the sprocket cover. In fact just going to a slightly wider oring chain will cause it to hit the clutch mechanism.
Mike, I don't think a CB450 will take an offset front sprocket, if you are offsetting it out away from the bike. The chain is already dangerously close to the clutch mechanism inside the sprocket cover. In fact just going to a slightly wider oring chain will cause it to hit the clutch mechanism.
damn and i thought it will be straight swap. Thanks guys.
I have one question though, if the cb450 won't take offset sprockets how does the 520 chain conversion kits work?
damn and i thought it will be straight swap. Thanks guys.
I have one question though, if the cb450 won't take offset sprockets how does the 520 chain conversion kits work?
the center of the 520 and the center of the 530 is the same center...The chain and sprockets are just a little thinner. So no offset...The centers of the sprockets are the same width as the originals....so the centers are all the same...
The 520 chain conversion isn't a bolt on swap... Modifications need to be done... I did it on my cl450 thread on here and there is a thread on hondatwins that talks specifically about the 520 chains.
You'll ruin your clutch adjuster and possibly sprocket cover if you put an offset sprocket on the front or a wider chain.
Anything can be done though, just depends on how far you want to take the modifications.
the center of the 520 and the center of the 530 is the same center...The chain and sprockets are just a little thinner. So no offset...The centers of the sprockets are the same width as the originals....so the centers are all the same...
The 520 chain conversion isn't a bolt on swap... Modifications need to be done... I did it on my cl450 thread on here and there is a thread on hondatwins that talks specifically about the 520 chains.
You'll ruin your clutch adjuster and possibly sprocket cover if you put an offset sprocket on the front or a wider chain.
Anything can be done though, just depends on how far you want to take the modifications.
If you're worried about the axl plates working with 20mm slots with a 17mm axl have your spacer machined with a step in them that will set inside the plates to make up the size difference and center the wheel. I've swapped wheels on every single bike I've built so I have no dought it can be done
If you're worried about the axl plates working with 20mm slots with a 17mm axl have your spacer machined with a step in them that will set inside the plates to make up the size difference and center the wheel. I've swapped wheels on every single bike I've built so I have no dought it can be done
Nope everthing is tucked away in my build threads my rd and my xs run motorcross rear hubs with rear disc laced to vintage hoops an xs650 hubs up front. my rd that i did the motor swap has a cb450 front end with cb750 upper tubes and a big suzuki titan front drum. the chopper i just got rid of ran yamaha forks and axle plates with cr250 wheels front and rear. My xs tracker has a sv650 fork and a 1980 dr400 boxed swinger. my rd tz rep has a linkage mono shpck and a 250 ninja swinger and a xs650 fork. My old cb had gl alum hoop that i laced to cb550 hubs and a alum swingarm off a 85 ninja that cost 25 bucks on ebay. fuck man i buy parts i like and then figure out how to make them work. Ive never got any fancy machine work dont. ive never bought any special "swap" parts. Just carefull grinder sawzall and file work. if you cant raise the bridge lower the river
Nope everthing is tucked away in my build threads my rd and my xs run motorcross rear hubs with rear disc laced to vintage hoops an xs650 hubs up front. my rd that i did the motor swap has a cb450 front end with cb750 upper tubes and a big suzuki titan front drum. the chopper i just got rid of ran yamaha forks and axle plates with cr250 wheels front and rear. My xs tracker has a sv650 fork and a 1980 dr400 boxed swinger. my rd tz rep has a linkage mono shpck and a 250 ninja swinger and a xs650 fork. My old cb had gl alum hoop that i laced to cb550 hubs and a alum swingarm off a 85 ninja that cost 25 bucks on ebay. fuck man i buy parts i like and then figure out how to make them work. Ive never got any fancy machine work dont. ive never bought any special "swap" parts. Just carefull grinder sawzall and file work. if you cant raise the bridge lower the river
I checked out your build threads and realized I have them already bookmarked ready to go through them. That RD350 was one of my favorite when I got into motorcycles, used to own an rx 100 and an rd350 both in the late 1990's, such fun bikes. Thanks for the encouragement.
hillsy said:
You could also look at Suzuki GS500 twin rear ends - they are 17mm axles as well, but the chain line might be a better match to the CB (??)
I was looking into the GS rims too as I was hoping down the line to do a GSXR usd front fork swap (if the wife doesnt cut funding) and the rims will match in looks.
So as part of the research I chanced upon this site where they did a swingarm swap with an sr500 and did 17 inch rims up front and back successfully. I also liked the rounded look of the sr500 swing arm better than that of the ex500 or gs500. I am gonna shoot them an email about the model year of the swingarm and rim size for both the wheels.
On second thoughts you should be able to fit a GS500 wheel into your existing CB swingarm. I put an FZR250 wheel in a GS450 swingarm no problem so I'd imagine you should have a similar sized area to work with.
Or maybe a smaller stroker wheel like the later model TZR125/250's. Or a GS500 wheel in a GS450 swingarm. Possibilities are endless really.....
On second thoughts you should be able to fit a GS500 wheel into your existing CB swingarm. I put an FZR250 wheel in a GS450 swingarm no problem so I'd imagine you should have a similar sized area to work with.
Or maybe a smaller stroker wheel like the later model TZR125/250's. Or a GS500 wheel in a GS450 swingarm. Possibilities are endless really.....
Yup now that I am thinking about that there are a lots of possibilities. but I am a bit concerned with CB450 and its weird front sprocket design which I am pretty sure will cause alignment issues.
Anyways I shot an email to Maurice "Moz" Rissman who owns raider motor sport in Australia who built the 4FITTY RAIDER RETRO and he replied within 15 minutes with all the info i asked for. Basically he used a SR500 swingarm and 4.25x17 rim, so i think putting on a 3.5x17 GS500 wheel will be a piece of cake. He said his only problem was getting the gearing right (35t of cb450 vs 45t of sr500 sprocket). GS500 stock sprocket is 39T i believe so I might be able to retrofit a 35T sprocket into the hub. He also mentioned that a 140 tire will be best.
Since he already did the hard work already, I am gonna utilize his knowledge to the max
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