Katana with TL1000R running gear - wire wheels

[Uncle Bob]

Mark Isaacs from the South African Katana Owners contacted me as he is building a special that has TL1000S frontend and swing arm. He wants to run wire wheels though. I called Central Wheel Components who can build the wheels if he can get the hubs. Does anyone have any info regarding getting suitable hubs. It's out of my league! Here's his brief outline and mockup of the bike.

"With regards to the wire wheels - the Swingarm is a TL1000R. The front and rear suspension is a TL1000R. I think the wheels sizes are the same as a Hyabusa Gen 1. I bought Galfer brake disks to fit the TL1000R rims - I would like to keep the hub and holes the same to fit the disks."

As an aside he's interested in doing the EuroKat 8 next year. I know trying to get a Kat insured for an overseas rider was tricky when the Canadian guy who wanted to come along wanted to try that. Maybe we can see what can be done. I know he went over to see the Malaysian Katana owners recently and invited International Kat owners to the South African run last October (looked great - maybe one day).

[spondonchris]

Do central wheel components not have hubs suitable for a TL1000? If they don't have the data, can he measure the TL wheels and send the hub size, disc spacing etc to Central?

[johnr]

how about using thee front hub from a modern bmw gs, twin disks, capable of carrying wide rims, and a front 17 inch rim from one of the other bmw range (the single pot ones) they have the spokes through the edge of the rim rather than the middle, and as such can carry tubeless tyres which will be safer than tubed, on the rear, a chain drive hub from one of the beemer singles with a beemer rear hub, not sure how wide they go on the back, (my gs has an 1150 rear tyre) it wont be cheap, but what is these days, but the beemer spoked wheels are an engineering masterpiece. guzzi now use a similar system, but they dont have any chain driven models.

[Uncle Bob]

Do central wheel components not have hubs suitable for a TL1000? If they don't have the data, can he measure the TL wheels and send the hub size, disc spacing etc to Central?

I called Central but they didn't offer any hub options, the guy just said if you can get the hubs they can build the rest. He didn't even know of anyone who would make them if required.
I think one of his issues is he wants to use the Galfer disks so wants the hole spacing to fit those. He might have to compromise on those maybe.

[Uncle Bob]

how about using thee front hub from a modern bmw gs, twin disks, capable of carrying wide rims, and a front 17 inch rim from one of the other bmw range (the single pot ones) they have the spokes through the edge of the rim rather than the middle, and as such can carry tubeless tyres which will be safer than tubed, on the rear, a chain drive hub from one of the beemer singles with a beemer rear hub, not sure how wide they go on the back, (my gs has an 1150 rear tyre) it wont be cheap, but what is these days, but the beemer spoked wheels are an engineering masterpiece. guzzi now use a similar system, but they dont have any chain driven models.

I'll pass on your info john as some good ideas there. I did suggest to him to get added to the forum so he can post and ask as required.

Rob