Wire Wheels on a R65 can we make it work?

[chewy4x4]

OK so if the 65 has 18" wheels and the rest of the BMW line up has 19" couldn't we make this work by changing up tire sizes? Also if the size didn't mater would our final drives straight bolt to the wire drums?

[nhmaf]

The rear wheels on all the airheads are 18", so getting an 18" spoke rear wheel isn't that hard to fit on your R65 (Assuming you have a dual shock R65, if it is a monolever, you'll have to look at possibly a rear wheel from a fairly rare bike, the R80ST.

Likewise, you could possibly use the front wheel of an R80ST - I think those were 18" - or if not, use the hub from one and relace it to an 18" rim.   The hubs of the earlier, spoke rimmed airheads are different and would require more tweaking of shims, axle diameters, rotor carriers, etc.   It can be done, like anything, if you've got enough cash.

[wirewrkr]

The rear wheels on all the airheads are 18", so getting an 18" spoke rear wheel isn't that hard to fit on your R65 (Assuming you have a dual shock R65, if it is a monolever, you'll have to look at possibly a rear wheel from a fairly rare bike, the R80ST.

Likewise, you could possibly use the front wheel of an R80ST - I think those were 18" - or if not, use the hub from one and relace it to an 18" rim.   The hubs of the earlier, spoke rimmed airheads are different and would require more tweaking of shims, axle diameters, rotor carriers, etc.   It can be done, like anything, if you've got enough cash.

The mono R65s used 4bolt rear wheels.
The ST used a 3 bolt wheel.
That obviously won't work.
R80ST front wheel was 19" not 18.
The good thing is that a spoke rear wheel from any 74-> twin shock bmw will bolt right up.
On the front you may have to get an ST hub and have a 18" rim laced on.
OR just buy this wheel from BMW
 36311240502. it's an 18 spoke rim listed on the R65 page of the MAX BMW fiche, as they were always an option from BMW.
The hub on that rim is the same hub as the ST and the G/S

[chewy4x4]

I have a dual shock. So the rear is easy, cool. The front couldn't we just use the 19"? Is there a front that would use the dual front disks I have?

[nhmaf]

I've seen someone stick a 19" on the front of an R65 before.    Depending on the tire, you'll quite likely have to modify the fork brace/fender mount for clearance.   The hub widths aren't the same, so you'll have customization to do on the rotor mounts/disk carriers for your R65 disk brake.   The taller front tire will alter your steering geometry and ground clearance, so the handling will be significantly changed, and probably not for the better.   I'd either try to buy the BMW 18" spoked front wheel mentioned by wirewkr or else get an R80ST front wheel, toss the 19" hoop and lace an 18" hoop on the hub.   Or, maybe you are looking to make your R65 handle a bit more like a kicked out chopper

[chewy4x4]

OK the part at Max BMW is like $650. Couldn't the difference in the front tire be made up with a different tire selection? Also I have a San Jose fork brace on so Its a little higher already. I wonder if my local Airhead wrecker has so wheels?

[tvrla]

I'm pretty sure an R80ST front wheel will mount right up. The fender already sits pretty high so there's room.

As for the rear - it's true, any for the airheads will work. But realize the /5 rim is narrower.

I've been considering building some wire wheels for these bikes but don't know what to charge for them, or how much interest there'd be. I already built one with a stainless rim but with old non-stainless spokes just to see if it'd work. To get that one finished properly I'd have to order some stainless and replace them.

But I've been wanting to put wires on my LS for quite a while. Perhaps now's the time?

[chewy4x4]

Now is definitely the time!!!!

[bangpaul]

I'd be very interested if the price was right and they were easily interchangeable. With the craze for all things "cafe" these days, and R65's being popular for conversions, I couldn't think of a better time.

[Snowden]

I'd definitely be interested in a set of wire wheels. I do have one question, however. Would there be any clearance issues with a twin brake conversion?

[tvrla]

I guess I'd better try installing the one I've set up. If I remember correctly, the deeper dish discs are needed - and a change in spacers. My LS has the shallower discs so I'll have to scrounge around for the deeper ones.

Considering the cost of all this stuff, a built wheel isn't cheap. An Excel rim is close to $200, spokes are another $80 or so, the hub?, and then there's the time assembling. If I were to build these I couldn't sell a front for less than $500 to $600. And that might be too cheap.

[nhmaf]

That sounds more or less normal to me - I think of one went to Buchanons Spoke and Rim with your own hub and requested an alloy rim/stainless spoke setup to be built, you'd be out at least $500 per wheel.

[steve hawkins]

I am running a 19inch R80ST front wheel on my R65 twin shock.

The fork legs have to come up through the triple tree (yokes) half an inch to compensate other-wise it will ride like an orange county chopper - badly.  Rear wheel needs no modification.

You can get a any R80/100 gs hub laced with the correct rim as well.

I am also running wires on my 1982 R100 - all that need to be changed there was the axle and the brake disk holders....

[steve hawkins]

R100

[chewy4x4]

WooHoo its Steve. Thanks Mate. That is the answer I wanted. I know it was more or less what everyone else said but in R65 cafe racers you are the definitive answer. So since I have y'all's attention New question. What about swapping to K100 forks? Could I then conceivably use a non R80st but a more common wire wheel? I assume that the reason every one is saying r80st is the hub width. Correct?