rear wheel swap

PingKing · 10-04-2008, 08:13 PM

I have a 97 VFR750. Though I've been a Honda owner (many times over) for the last 30 years, this one is my first Honda sport bike. I'm not surprised by the bike, I'm impressed. It's proof of Honda's attention to detail.

Anyway....I purchased a VFR800 swing arm/wheel donor unit for a project bike that i have. I read some info here, that the 750 wheel is 5" wide and the 800's is 5.5". I decided to upgrade my bike w/the wider wheel and use my old one on the project. It would benefit the narrower wheel anyway.

1st off, the 750 wheel has reliefs cut into it to clear the rotor mount bolts. The 800's brake bolts are recessed....So, I had to mill reliefs into the wheel to make it work. I sandblasted and powder coated the wheel then mounted a new 170 tire.
It's amazing.....I can see the difference in the extra width of the wheel as soon as I had it back on the bike. The 170 tire fits perfectly.....I can see where a 180 tire would rub on the chain guard.

The wheel looks so good that I'd like to swap in the 800 rotor and low-mount caliper next.

Anyone else swap wheels w/good results?

SLOVFR · 10-05-2008, 12:14 AM

The whole reason to install the wider rim is to be able to run the 180 tire not a 170. In fact using a 170 on the wider rim will decrees your turn in rate as it is flattening the tire out more. I have heard others run the 180 on 800 rim on their Gen 4's with no rubbing.......

reg71 · 10-05-2008, 10:53 AM

any chance you took some pics of the process where we can see the work you put into it?

PingKing · 10-05-2008, 06:29 PM

For the next tire change I can go to a 180....no big deal. The 170 won't cramp my riding style anyway. I had the 170, so I used it. I wasn't willing to wait a 2 week turnaround to exchange/reship a 180.
You 2 almost have the same avitar.
I do have pics, I just didn't find the significance to post them. Than again, pictures can be better than words.
The bad thing is having a camera that takes crappy low-light pics. The flash is harsh, but at least it's better than no pics.

I didn't take pics when I machined the wheel, but I have some of when I modded a wheel for my project. I had to increase rotor-to-fork clearance, so i made the rotor pads shorter. Clearancing the rear wheel to clear the rotor bolts was the same process....shave off what's in the way:

My 800 donor parts:

and the wheel:

The project :
You click on the pic for the build process.
Initial moc up...I know the wheel is backwards.

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10-04-2008, 08:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
PingKing Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Last Online: 10-26-2008 11:24 AM Location: stick country, TX My Ride: 1983 XL600 '01 CR125/500 conversion '97 VFR750 mosmeyerperformance.com Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	rear wheel swap I have a 97 VFR750. Though I've been a Honda owner (many times over) for the last 30 years, this one is my first Honda sport bike. I'm not surprised by the bike, I'm impressed. It's proof of Honda's attention to detail. Anyway....I purchased a VFR800 swing arm/wheel donor unit for a project bike that i have. I read some info here, that the 750 wheel is 5" wide and the 800's is 5.5". I decided to upgrade my bike w/the wider wheel and use my old one on the project. It would benefit the narrower wheel anyway. 1st off, the 750 wheel has reliefs cut into it to clear the rotor mount bolts. The 800's brake bolts are recessed....So, I had to mill reliefs into the wheel to make it work. I sandblasted and powder coated the wheel then mounted a new 170 tire. It's amazing.....I can see the difference in the extra width of the wheel as soon as I had it back on the bike. The 170 tire fits perfectly.....I can see where a 180 tire would rub on the chain guard. The wheel looks so good that I'd like to swap in the 800 rotor and low-mount caliper next. Anyone else swap wheels w/good results?

10-05-2008, 10:53 AM	#3 (permalink)
reg71 Squidleyous Maximus Join Date: Feb 2006 Last Online: Today 09:32 AM Location: Central Coast, CA - Find Me! My Ride: 1998 VFR 800, 2003 YZ 450 F, 1990 Suzuki DR 100 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 4,356 Thanks: 2 Thanked 40 Times in 29 Posts	any chance you took some pics of the process where we can see the work you put into it? __________________ _____________________________________________________ Reg71 - Central Coast, CA 98 VFR 800 - 5G Brotherhood

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10-05-2008, 12:14 AM	#2 (permalink)
SLOVFR Uber Guru Join Date: Oct 2006 Last Online: Yesterday 08:33 PM Location: Pismo Beach Ca. - Find Me! My Ride: 97 vfr 750 View my Photo Gallery Posts: 1,167 Thanks: 16 Thanked 27 Times in 19 Posts	The whole reason to install the wider rim is to be able to run the 180 tire not a 170. In fact using a 170 on the wider rim will decrees your turn in rate as it is flattening the tire out more. I have heard others run the 180 on 800 rim on their Gen 4's with no rubbing.......

10-05-2008, 06:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
PingKing Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Last Online: 10-26-2008 11:24 AM Location: stick country, TX My Ride: 1983 XL600 '01 CR125/500 conversion '97 VFR750 mosmeyerperformance.com Posts: 20 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	For the next tire change I can go to a 180....no big deal. The 170 won't cramp my riding style anyway. I had the 170, so I used it. I wasn't willing to wait a 2 week turnaround to exchange/reship a 180. You 2 almost have the same avitar. I do have pics, I just didn't find the significance to post them. Than again, pictures can be better than words. The bad thing is having a camera that takes crappy low-light pics. The flash is harsh, but at least it's better than no pics. I didn't take pics when I machined the wheel, but I have some of when I modded a wheel for my project. I had to increase rotor-to-fork clearance, so i made the rotor pads shorter. Clearancing the rear wheel to clear the rotor bolts was the same process....shave off what's in the way: My 800 donor parts: and the wheel: The project : You click on the pic for the build process. Initial moc up...I know the wheel is backwards.