GT550 Cafe project

[imquattro]

Tires mounted and balanced. -Required no weights!

[Coyote]

What did you wind up doing with the spokes? If you left them bare as polished, they will rust in a matter of weeks.

[Allan k]

What Tire size did you use?

[imquattro]

Tire sizes:
Rear: 130/90/18
Front: 100/90/19
Both are Kendas.

[imquattro]

What did you wind up doing with the spokes? If you left them bare as polished, they will rust in a matter of weeks.

Yup, clear coated.

[tz375]

As you can see from that picture, both tires are too wide for the rims and are pinched in at the sides making them taller than they are designed to be.

Front I think should be 90 or probably 80, but few of us go there and rear should be 110 at most on stock rims.

But it's a bit late for that. maybe next time.

Wheels look good though.

[imquattro]

Tz, from the beginning, you've spoken how you would do things differently.
This is my project. Please, let me enjoy it.
I chose the tire sizes based upon what was on the bike(s) when I got them.
I'll check when I'm home, maybe one is an 80 series, but either way, you do your stuff/build your way, and keep the comments with negative connotations to yourself.
I appreciate your wisdom, just not your delivery.

This bike will only see 100 miles of riding a year at the most, and I'm not an agressive rider either.

Wheels look good though.

Thanks, I'm super happy with how they turned out.

[tz375]

I know it's your bike and you will do things your own way. That's all good. I'm not being negative - just pointing out things that I see in a short concise way. Sorry that gives you a problem. I could just tell you everything looks great and blow smoke up your skirt but that would be a waste of your time and mine. That's not something I'm good at. I was brought up to say things as they are and sometimes that comes out as being critical.

All I'm really doing is alerting you to something that maybe you were aware of and maybe you weren't. I have no way of knowing what you know and what you don't. None of knows everything - I know I don't and I like to keep learning.

There's no obligation for you to agree or to like it and that's fine with me, but it's a sad world if none of us can share other perspectives in case it bursts someone else's bubble. I don't always like what other people say about some of the odd things I try, but as loan as they are polite, it's all good and gives me other ways to look at things.

[imquattro]

I understand now. I was just brought up with the philosophy that you didn't offer your opinion unless asked. And those that didn't adhere to that philosophy were ignorant and apathetic of others feeling and perspectives.
Different strokes different folks. No worries.
Thanks for the explanation.

[ja-moo]

It is tuff sometimes, with no voice inflection in writting. And on boards like this, as they are combination of mostly "how do I fix this, or why is it doing this?" To "here is my bike build".

For the guys that have been on these boards for many years, we have seen more of our share of guys doing something totally wrong and "then" asking about it. (not saying this in your case) And finally, through the years, the "old board guys" find, that if something "questionable" is not addressed on a board, somewhere, sometime, a guy will do a search, find a thread, and "copy" what was done and not get the result he was looking for in the first place.

So it's nothing "personal", but more for the "board" as it is an information source.

Tire widths have always been a problem on most vintage bike boards. Guys see fat tires on the modern bikes and like the "look". But on vintage bikes, "not great" handling can be made worse. Wider tires increase steering effort, can change rake for the worst, and the worst part, wide tires on skinny rims makes the tread "rolls over" to the sides to a point where it will never touch the road, and also reducing the tire patch area, making for less traction, so not as safe. Richard was just pointing out the fact that wide tires have disadvantages.

I hope this diatribe ( ) helps............

[kettle kid]

[imquattro]

Wheres the "Like" button?

[tz375]

[ja-moo]

[Coyote]

This is one of the longest threads ever on this board. I LOVE it. You have documented everything from square one and taken the time to provide dozens and dozens of photos for all to enjoy. A job well done imaquattro I can't wait to see and hear a video of it running
How is the tank coming along? Also to note is I have those exact same tires on my 550 cafe now. You will like them. Super sticky. Also I still have an interest in those white gage faces for the later gages. Did anything ever come of that?

Coyote

Why does my spell checker insist I spell gage as gauge They are 2 different words. I just bought a new tach gage and a new 12 gauge shot gun.