A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500 ???

for those of you that have M.B.S. (multiple bike syndrome) and have the "silver wing" models.
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CBX n GL man
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A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500 ???

#1

Post by CBX n GL man »

Well I'm putting 18" wheels on my recent purchase of an '80 CX. Already did the rear with combining a reverse Comstar 18x2.50 CB900F rim/spokes with the stock 16" hub.
Now working on front, I've got a CM400 front that's 18x2.15 and a GL1100 front which is 18x2.50.
The CM wheel will pretty much bolt up I think, but I rather have the wider GL wheel up front to match the rear on this build. Going to mount up some Avon Distanzias.
The GL wheel is about 15mm wider at the hub so will need some work there.
Any thoughts on this. Later.
'81 CBX nekid
'80 GL1100 w/windjammer
'80 CX 500D 1/4 nekid
'84 GL1200A 1/2 nekid -- gone
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#2

Post by hatchward »

Cool idea with the rear wheel.How did you re-attach the hub? Rivets?
1982 GL1100 Std - Daily Driver
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1998 Valkyrie - Latest Aquisition
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#3

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Would have been easier to get a 18" wheel from an earlier CX. But that would be a regular Comstar (silver, spoke edges face inwards) and it sounds like you prefer the reverse Comstar (black, spoke edges face outward).

I am concerned about how you reassembled the wheel. Honda had very sound reasons for making every effort to prevent them from being disassembled.

I'm not clear why you want to change from the original 19" wheel. With the right tire sizes you can easily have the same diameter at each end without putting a fatter tire on the front. Narrower tires always handle better than wider ones, especially on the front.

At any rate, your bike will handle better if you put a narrower wheel and a narrower tire on the front. (Unless you have a sidecar outfit and then everything changes - I run a 3.50 tire on a 2.50 wheel on the front of my 650 and that combo produces a distinctly flat tread area with less tread wasted on the sidewalls). So I would go with the 2.15 wheel.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#4

Post by CBX n GL man »

hatchward wrote:Cool idea with the rear wheel.How did you re-attach the hub? Rivets?

Used hardened bolts. Later.
'81 CBX nekid
'80 GL1100 w/windjammer
'80 CX 500D 1/4 nekid
'84 GL1200A 1/2 nekid -- gone
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#5

Post by CBX n GL man »

Sidecar Bob wrote:Would have been easier to get a 18" wheel from an earlier CX. But that would be a regular Comstar (silver, spoke edges face inwards) and it sounds like you prefer the reverse Comstar (black, spoke edges face outward).

I am concerned about how you reassembled the wheel. Honda had very sound reasons for making every effort to prevent them from being disassembled.

I'm not clear why you want to change from the original 19" wheel. With the right tire sizes you can easily have the same diameter at each end without putting a fatter tire on the front. Narrower tires always handle better than wider ones, especially on the front.

At any rate, your bike will handle better if you put a narrower wheel and a narrower tire on the front. (Unless you have a sidecar outfit and then everything changes - I run a 3.50 tire on a 2.50 wheel on the front of my 650 and that combo produces a distinctly flat tread area with less tread wasted on the sidewalls). So I would go with the 2.15 wheel.

Bob, the earlier CX front wheels are I believe 1.85 wide and newer reverse Comstars are 2.15.
I'm mounting 120/80x18 Avon dual sport tires so newer Comstars will be acceptable for that size.
I want 18" for the look I want on this build, same size tires front and back and a 1 1/2" - 2" drop front and back.
After opening up the hub on the GL wheel last night, for it to fit right it may need some machining on the inner hub which I'm not wanting to do at this time.
So I will probably go with the 2.15 CM front wheel. Later.
'81 CBX nekid
'80 GL1100 w/windjammer
'80 CX 500D 1/4 nekid
'84 GL1200A 1/2 nekid -- gone
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#6

Post by Sidecar Bob »

Its your bike so its your decision. Personally, I have always been of the "form must follow function" school.
Mr. Honda ('83 GL1100/Dnepr) summer How a motorcycle evolves thread
The Famous Eccles ('84 CX650EI/VeloUral) winter Never Ending Build (CX500forum)
Click: Colour schematics for all GL1000 & GL1100 and GL1200 standard models plus instructions on how to download the full size version
"A guy with two sidecars can't be all bad." - Cookie
Another guy with two sidecars..... Hmmmm... must be something to that....
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Re: A GL1100 18" Front Comstar To Replace 19" Front On CX500

#7

Post by CBX n GL man »

Well decided to use the CM400 front wheel, it's a direct bolt on.
Wanted to go with the GL wheel but hub was wider and offset so would need some machining.
Really wanted matching wheel and tire sizes front and back but a 120/80x18 tire wouldn't allow for a fender so got to go with a 110/80x18 up front. Later.
'81 CBX nekid
'80 GL1100 w/windjammer
'80 CX 500D 1/4 nekid
'84 GL1200A 1/2 nekid -- gone
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