Wheel options - spokes with disc brakes

[Joffa1]

Hi Guy, digging this up again because some 1981 SR500 wheels have come up locally.

My current stock wheels are 19x1.85 front and 18x2.15 rear.

I read on here that the sr500 wheels are a little wider... but pictures on the ad show they are exact same dimensions?

I’m thinking of buying so I have a slight weight loss and can run tubeless tyres.

I’m thinking this will be a straight swap over?

[Joffa1]

These are the ones I’m considering.

[Joffa1]

Although I think the 81 sr500 was a drum brake rear wasn’t it?

[Joffa1]

Guy could you confirm this is one of the later model lighter rims?

[guylr]

The SR500 rims as well as all the larger displacement bikes are the same 1.85 and 2.15 rim width as the XS500. You may be confusing the 10mm wider hub widths at the disc mount surfaces found on the 650, 750, 850 and 1100 front wheels. The front SR500 wheel may also have the wider hub width too. For those it's best to convert to 650, 750 or 850 triple tree setups which hold the fork legs 10mm farther apart than the XS500. The XS500 front wheel has the same hub widths as RD400, XS400 18" front wheels. 

The SR500 wheel requires a different cush hub sprocket carrier and is too wide for the XS500 rear arm.

The lighter XS500 and other model cast wheels came with the 1978 models. Sorry I can't tell from your photos if those are the lighter ones. The spokes are machined thinner left to right and the hub casting area on the rear wheels are smaller.

Guy

[Joffa1]

Ok thanks.

[Joffa1]

Guy I’ve also found in my search that wheels have a 2 digit stamp in a circle which appears to show year of manufacture e.g. “77” “76” etc.

One of the rims I’m looking at was removed from a 1978 XS500 model yet has the mark “77” on it so would this likely be the lighter rim or the first generation heavier rim?

[guylr]

Parts with a casting date of 1977 could be the lightweight versions. Yamaha model year production in those days was typically finished for all models by no later than May so that plant changes could be made and pre-production trials begun on new following year models. Part production of course has to begin before the assembly line starts up.

They should weigh a couple of pounds less than your '76 wheels amd another pound or so if you decide to run them tubeless.

Guy

[Joffa1]

Fantastic. Thanks again.

[Joffa1]

Hi again Guy,

So I’m assuming this will work on my xs500c (dual front disc)?

I realise it will need the wider clamps...

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com.au%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F282749052768

[guylr]

That's the wheel I have on Marge with an XJ650RJ (SECA 650) triple tree, crown and 36mm forks. If you stay with 35mm stock forks then the standard XS650 from 1977 and up under bracket and crown will work.The 650 crown has rubber mounts for the handlebar so make sure you get them too. I ran that configuration and it was fine. I think the instrument mounts are even the same.

Guy

[Joffa1]

👍👍👍