New here with a T500. question about mag/alloy wheel on t500

[sbaugz]

Hello.
I am located in Milwaukee area. I just picked up a 1975 T500 locally and am excited to get going on my next build. I have done about 8 bikes including cafe, brat and tracker styles. This is my first 2 stroke and I am pretty excited about it.

I had a question about putting a rear mag wheel on my T500. I have seen it done before (on the Higgspeed website), but I can't find specific info in regards to which rear wheels work and how the conversion is done. I would be interested in hearing about any direct wheel swaps or possibly a swingarm/ wheel direct swap.
The reason I want mag wheels on the rear is that I plan on putting a GSXR600W front end with upside down forks on the front of my T500. I want the rear wheel to more closely resemble the GSXR that I will have on front.

Here is a pic of my actual bike that I bought for $500 yesterday.


Here is the pic from Higgspeed of the bike I was referring to with mag wheels.

[sbaugz]

just a few quick pics of my last couple of bikes that I completed.

[tz375]

The wheels on that GT500 appear to be Melber which I think were made in Germany.

Many GS Suzukis came with that style of wheel or the snowflake design. Google or check on ebay for GS500, 650, 750 and 7850 wheels. I had a pair with a drum rear on one GT750 and snowflakes on a current build.

[Alan H]

This (clicky) is being sold by a friend local to me and indeed they are Melba wheels.
They come up on ebay now and again, but fetch a lot of cash.
The alloy wheels on GS550/GS750s etc may be useful to you. I've just fitted a pair to my GT550. The front went straight in and the discs/calipers line up with twin disc fork legs, I believe the 500 triple tree is the same, or very close to the same as the 550. The swing arm is a straight swap, but as a disc, needs the hydraulics sorting.
Remember the later 500 had a longer swing arm. If you go twin disc, you'll need a twin disc master cylinder too.
Perhaps the rear wheel off a GS500 (drum could be made to fit?

Another friend fitted a 4LS front end to his T500, but that was complete with the triple tree from a GT750J. Head bearings are the same so easy fit.

[sbaugz]

This (clicky) is being sold by a friend local to me and indeed they are Melba wheels.
They come up on ebay now and again, but fetch a lot of cash.
The alloy wheels on GS550/GS750s etc may be useful to you. I've just fitted a pair to my GT550. The front went straight in and the discs/calipers line up with twin disc fork legs, I believe the 500 triple tree is the same, or very close to the same as the 550. The swing arm is a straight swap, but as a disc, needs the hydraulics sorting.
Remember the later 500 had a longer swing arm. If you go twin disc, you'll need a twin disc master cylinder too.
Perhaps the rear wheel off a GS500 (drum could be made to fit?

Another friend fitted a 4LS front end to his T500, but that was complete with the triple tree from a GT750J. Head bearings are the same so easy fit.

do you have a link to a build thread with more details regarding your conversion? Which year GS550 swingarms will work?

[Alan H]

I started a build thread HERE which will redirect to an up to date one. I'm not sure what year the swing arm came from, other than an early GS550, but it went right in there. Hopefully, I'll have the back brake sorted later this week, everything is taking longer than expected as life keeps getting in the way and I want to do as much as poss myself.

[sbaugz]

well, I just purchased a complete rear wheel from a 1983 GS550L on ebay. I think the seller screwed up the auction because it was only $38 shipped for a complete wheel, drum brake, axle and drum stay- which seems awfully inexpensive. Now I need to track down a swingarm that will work. The swingarm that normally goes with the wheel I bought is a monoshock type, so I need to find a different model GS swingarm that is designed for dual shocks.

[Alan H]

Hopefully the axle diameter is the same, so it fits in the swing arm. If not then sleeve the axle where it goes into the swing arm 'forks'.
Try the wheel in the standard swing arm, it might fit OK without mods (yeh, and the world is square!!!).
First, get the wheel alignment set so the tyres are in line, then check the sprocket alignment and if need be, space it to line or get an offset sprocket.
Torque arm for the brake next - just make it fit or measure a new one to fit.
Brake cable should be relatively straightforward, try the standard cable first and see what you need to adapt.
You might need different spacers on either side of the wheel, but don't fart about with a non standard swing arm if you don't need to.

Just remember that if it all seems too easy, you didn't understand the problem in the first place!!

[sbaugz]

Thanks for the advice. I only hope fitting a rear mag will be as easy as fitting the gsxr front end. I had the t500 apart in about 10 minutes and the gsxr bolts right up. I Have to order the bearing conversion kit from all balls racing but otherwise it looks like it will fit real well.

[tz375]

That's a lot of front wheel for a T500. More importantly it's probably a 3.00" rim and the rear is 1.85 or 2,15. Some of the GS wheels were 2.50". On a 750 the widest tire that will fit is a 130 IIRC and the 500 is probably similar. It's possible that you can slide a wider wheel/tire in the long T500 swingarm or a GS arm and then fit an offset sprocket

[sbaugz]

That's a lot of front wheel for a T500. More importantly it's probably a 3.00" rim and the rear is 1.85 or 2,15. Some of the GS wheels were 2.50". On a 750 the widest tire that will fit is a 130 IIRC and the 500 is probably similar. It's possible that you can slide a wider wheel/tire in the long T500 swingarm or a GS arm and then fit an offset sprocket

My plan is to find the widest rear mag wheel and swingarm combo for exactly the reasons you point out.

[Alan H]

The gs rear wheel is only a tad wider at 110/90x18 IIRC, so might not pair up well with the front you have.
It's the chain to tyre clearance that will count here, and can only be increased by an offset sprocket to move the chainline out a bit.

[sbaugz]

The gs rear wheel is only a tad wider at 110/90x18 IIRC, so might not pair up well with the front you have.
It's the chain to tyre clearance that will count here, and can only be increased by an offset sprocket to move the chainline out a bit.

So I got my 1982 GS550 drum brake wheel today via fedex. Looks like it probably won't work. The rear sprocket is offset by a lot. I am not sure I could get an offset front sprocket to compensate that much. Even if I did, it looks like the chain will hit the shocks and frame anyways.

Now I am back to square one with getting a mag wheel and swingarm. At least I only paid $38 for this GS550 wheel.

I am open to ideas. I could bail altogether on the GSXR front end but I really wanted to use it. Plus, the stock T500 front end is basically trash. The forks are nasty and rusted out. The front drum is pretty bad and I would need a new rim and laces too. That is why i was hoping to use this GSXR.

I know its been mentioned that "GS" swingarm and wheel should work but there are tons of differences between years and models. I don't want to start randomly ordering different models just to try them out. Will think about it a bit, but may decide to stick with stock and simply rebuild everything.