Melchiro's GL/CX 650 Project

28048 Views 52 Replies 13 Participants Last post by melchiro, Oct 13, 2012

melchiro

Discussion Starter · Oct 24, 2010

Well, I have finally rolled the 650 into the garage.. ... This is what it looked like 3 years ago when I brought it home...

Friday, Stripped it down to the frame to cut, weld, modify and clean up ... I have lots of plans and will share them as I go..

So far...

LOTS of rust to clean up...

.

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timothy_d

· #21 · Jan 20, 2011

Ooohhhhh.

Daddy likey.

How much did it cost to have Kosman widen the wheels?

(this would be a nice upgrade for 130/80/17 radials on a 3.5" rim)

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Cost was $520.00. Total with shipping.. Sandy Kosman retired and sold the shop. New owner but same great staff as before.. Since this was my sixth wheel modified by them, they gave me a deal..

I only sent them the one wheel that I had modified.. No need to send two.. They will weld on the wider lip.. Two choices of styles, the square lip or the round lip, I chose round.. I have square on my CBX & CB750F... My track CB750SC-F has kinda squarish round...

A bit expensive? Maybe, but to me, I'll save up my money to do this...........

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Blindstitch

· #23 · Jan 20, 2011

Damn that's a big tire. I understand the rim. It's kind of like me getting the tank. May have cost way the hell to much for what it was but it was worth it. To me.

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timothy_d

· #24 · Jan 20, 2011

I live about 10 miles away from their shop. No shipping charges for me.

$500.00 seems pretty reasonable to be able to put modern rubber on a bike.

Opens up a whole new world of tires.

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50gary

· #25 · Jan 20, 2011

How much does the new wheel assembly weight without tire mounted? Also what ithe width of the front wheel?

Cheers, 50gary

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50gary

· #26 · Jan 20, 2011

My turn for the double post, never talk on the phone when posting

Cheers, 50gary

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #27 · Jan 21, 2011

50gary said:
My turn for the double post, never talk on the phone when posting

Cheers, 50gary

I've double posted in a few forums as well, so no worries. ... The rim weighs 18 pounds as pictured.. The front wheels is a 1982 GL1100 & is 2.5" wide x 18" diameter.

Only reason I went to this much trouble with 18" diameter is I wanted the largest diameter performance tire I can fit in the swingarm for top end speed..

A 160/60 or a 150/70 tire.. And no, I'm not going to Bonneville Salt Flats.. But Pacific Raceways for sure..

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Scudman

· #28 · Jan 21, 2011

I like all the work but wonder if going with spokes would be an easier and cheaper path to any size wheel you can fit.

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #29 · Feb 2, 2011

Got new "shoe" for the rims... Will spoon them on this weekend,,

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #30 · Feb 12, 2011

Here's what the 160 size Avon tire looks like... It is Sweet ! ! ! Still some room between the sidewall and the notched swingarm.. Maybe a 170 next time ..

The other tire is a stock size 130/90-16....

Progress is slow.... Front end work next , then disassemble for painting...

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Scudman

· #31 · Feb 13, 2011

Nice work. Now you can use race take offs at $50/tire. The wheel offset will not hamper handling as I had 2 bikes with the rear offset and never noticed any handling issues even at the track.

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DavidfromWisconsin

· #32 · Feb 13, 2011

Is your tire mounted with the correct rotation??? It doesn't look right, but it wouldn't be the first time a tire manufacturer fooled me.

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #33 · Feb 13, 2011

Hey Scudman, yeah, still lots of work to be done... The wheel is centered inline with the frame.. Being offset kind of spooks me.. I have not seen race take offs in the 18" size.. Most performance radial tires in 18 inch sizes are "Sport-Touring".. I have Avon on my other three bikes..

David, yes these Avon Storms are unidirectional tires.. They are mounted correctly..

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exploring/carolina

· #34 · Feb 13, 2011

Is the 18" front wheel off of a GL1100?

Appreciate seeing your work!

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #35 · Feb 13, 2011

exploring/carolina said:
Is the 18" front wheel off of a GL1100?

Appreciate seeing your work!

Thx carolina... Yes the front is from a 1982 GL1100 Goldwing.. That was the only bike sold in the U.S. that had the "Reversed" Comstar in 18" x 2.5". I have this on my Track Bike CB750SC-F as well...

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Scudman

· #36 · Feb 13, 2011

melchiro said:
Hey Scudman, yeah, still lots of work to be done... The wheel is centered inline with the frame.. Being offset kind of spooks me.. I have not seen race take offs in the 18" size.. Most performance radial tires in 18 inch sizes are "Sport-Touring".. I have Avon on my other three bikes..

David, yes these Avon Storms are unidirectional tires.. They are mounted correctly..

Dr John used to race a Guzzi with a 1" offset. He was sporting the #1 plate in the BOTT series back in the 90's. No handling issues with a single track vehicle. One of the reasons that I like to use 17" tires is so that my track tires fit my street ride. Unfortunatly the older bikes are all 19/18 so no good rubber can be found

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50gary

· #37 · Feb 14, 2011

melchiro said:
Thx carolina... Yes the front is from a 1982 GL1100 Goldwing.. That was the only bike sold in the U.S. that had the "Reversed" Comstar in 18" x 2.5". I have this on my Track Bike CB750SC-F as well...

I have that rim for the rear of my CX500 trying and I'm hard to make it fit and be safe. I also prefer the original Comstars. The spokes are too long for the 2.50" width and the rear hub. Honda made the draft angle on the side of the center ring flange different than the 2.15" x 18 rear.

Cheers, 50gary

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #38 · Mar 28, 2011

Motivation.... Getting a bit hard to find these days.... I finally finished painting the frame and mounted the forks. New tapered steering head bearings & swingarm bearings... CB900F calipers, painted gold to match the rotors.. It now "rolls" around the garage.

Next up, Painting the engine, carburetor setup & install into the frame.... Now where did I put that other can motivation ?

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dean owens

· #39 · Mar 28, 2011

very nice. one question... i had read (i believe on this site) that it was bad news to take these rims apart and try to put them back together. do you have any worries about the rim holding up? what did you use to put it all back together? did you find rivets that work or did you bolt them?

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melchiro

Discussion Starter · #40 · Mar 28, 2011

dean owens said:
....... do you have any worries about the rim holding up? ........ what did you use to put it all back together?

Not worried at all... I replaced the five bolts with heavy duty allen head and the 10 rivets were replaced with standard grade steel allen head.. All with nylock nuts.

When cutting the original bolts, they felt a lot "softer" than what I replaced them with.. So, not worried at all... And you know, as with all of my bikes, this bike WILL be Track Tested, at Pacific Raceways, Auburn, WA.

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