Another rear wheel possibility

After spending lots more time looking at wheels on US ebay, I found this candidate. The rim size is 16 x 3 and is aluminium, which will allow a 130/140 wide tyre. The down-side is that its going to cost around $225 to get it landed here (from Texas) and I still have to buy a brake plate & brake shoes. It also uses a 17mm axle, the same as the DR. Its from a Kawasaki KZ650CSR which appears to be a US only model. I really like the square profile-deep rim.

NOS Wiseco piston kit has landed

Came home last night to find this little parcel. Its a NOS (new-old-stock) Wiseco 1.5mm oversized piston kit complete with rings, pin and circlips. At about $130 including post from Canada its less than half the price of a genuine Suzuki part. Just need to get the cylinder rebored to suit and will probably take it over to Ray Easson Engineering as they have a great reputation for quality work.

Chrome 'n' Aluminium 'n' Red 16 'n' 17

Black 'n' chrome 'n' red

YZ465 rear wheel arrives

Its here! Its here! Has one small crack in the rim which is easily repaired. Thanks again Trev from C.I.A. concrete in Queensland! I will be lacing this to the DR front hub.

Less is more, more or less....

Subtracting non-essential elements of the design.

Using 16 inch wheels front and back

This is what it would look like with 16s front and rear with red painted rims. Again, I really love the taller and wider tyres. Note also the return of upside down forks so a disc brake can be used on the front.

Using a 16 inch rear wheel

Looking through the michelin tyre guide, I noticed the diameter of a 16 inch tyre was only a few millimetres of the equivalent 17 inch tyre. Most cruisers such as Yamaha Viragos use 16 x 3.5 inch rear rims running between a 130 and 150 wide tyre and are available for around the $150 mark complete, so the price is excellent. The Kawasaki VN800 Vulcan ('95/96' model) looks like it has exactly the wheel I need, it even has the same axle size (17mm) as the DR400. I also really like the chunkier look of the taller tyre, but I will be painting the rim 'red' like a vintage hot rod or bobber.

So where is the project at now?

This is an illustration of exactly what has been done. As you can see, there is a long way to go.

Wheel on its way

Thanks to one of the OZVMX forum's members, I have a Yz465'G' rear wheel on its way to me. Rim size 17 x 2.5, 36 spokes and 150mm hub and should mate to the DR front hub quite nicely. Only cost me the price of postage $40. Thanks Trev.