R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

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Philsbike
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R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#1 Post by Philsbike » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:28 pm

Hi all, i intend to use '99 R6 forks, i have now modified the yokes to take the std RD headstock, my question is, I am assuming I can use the matching R6 wheel etc but what rear wheel matches if I want to keep the std rear end (for now).

Thanks.

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2smoke
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#2 Post by 2smoke » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:42 pm

You can fit a 160 wide tire in the stock swingarm. If you stick with a 18 inch diameter tire you can keep the ride height close to the same. I used a 87-88 FZR1000 18 inch(4.5 wide) wheel. I can tell you the mods to it to make it fit if you want.
I don't have any experience with 17 inch rears.
Colin

Philsbike
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#3 Post by Philsbike » Tue Sep 09, 2014 2:08 am

Many thanks Colin, does that wheel look the same as the newer R6 front wheel?

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2smoke
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#4 Post by 2smoke » Wed Sep 10, 2014 12:32 am

Member Jeppe used a 17 inch rear wheel in the stock swingarm from a YZF750

http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... =13&t=9500

Both wheels are 3 spoke, similar to the R6 but the R6 spokes are probably a little flatter.

Does the 99 R6 front end use a cable speedo drive? If not you wont be able to use your stock RZ500 speedometer.
Colin

s4oz
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#5 Post by s4oz » Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:37 am

I used a YZF600 three spoke rear wheel. Needed a new axle, can't remember how much larger, about 2-4 mm larger diameter (may have come from a ZXR, I just went to a wrecker with the measures and kept looking at axles until I came across one).
I used a smaller size wheel because I believe the 160 rear tyre overall is a better balanced option compared to a 180 section.
The 17" rear will drop your rear end too much. The easiest way to address this is to cut and weld again the tabs on the two shock arms a little forwards, I am afraid I don't recall how much, but the measures came from within this board somewhere.
Hope it helps a bit.

rd84
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#6 Post by rd84 » Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:06 am

Hi,

Pirelli do a 180/60 Rosso Corsa tyre which is reasonably close to the original tyre diameter.

I think people tend to go for one of the older GSXR750 3 spoke wheels (GSXR750K - late 1980's model ??)

Are you in the UK ? - I'm selling a Aprilia RS250 rear end with a 1998 R6 rear wheel if you need to take a look at it or want to buy it. The R6 cush drive side had to be machined quite a bit to give the correct sprocket offset - so the R6 wheel can be modified in your case but would be hard work - I think the GSXR wheel I'm thinking of was popular in its day because of a relatively small sprocket offset

Cheers
Paul

Philsbike
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#7 Post by Philsbike » Sat Sep 13, 2014 4:39 am

Thanks guys, I had forgotten about the speedo drive issue, I had the same problem doing a honda some time ago. The R6 forks looked ideal with all the adjustments but maybe its back to the drawing board.
Paul, thanks for the offer, I am not sure I want to go that far.
Phil

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2smoke
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#8 Post by 2smoke » Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:37 am

Its all just choice really. You could use one of those GPS digital speedometers.
There is more to the story of course.
99 R6 forks and other newer fatter forks are also spaced apart wider. This means there is no room inside the headlight fairing for them, which requires mods.
On my bike I had to move the oil reservoir under the seat, swap the coolant bottle for a tiny rz350 one, and go with flush mount turn signals. No room.
Also the steering stops have to be redone on the lower triple tree to contact the frame.
The easiest fork and wheel swap that gets some performance is the early FZR600/1000 fork swap.
Same width as stock, 36MM, no anti dive, 17 inch wheel, you can use R1/R6 blue dot/gold dot calipers. With mechanical speedo drive.
They are a little long and stick out the top tree though. I believe they go in with the stock FZR600 triple tree and no mods.
Heres pstampers bike:

http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... 13&t=12660
Colin

Philsbike
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#9 Post by Philsbike » Sat Sep 13, 2014 2:59 pm

Well I guess I should have thought about it more before I had the RD headstock fitted into the R6 yokes. FZ it is then.

rd84
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#10 Post by rd84 » Sat Sep 13, 2014 3:36 pm

Hi,

I think the Thundercat has a speedo drive and is the same spoke pattern as your R6 5EB wheels.

Cheers
Paul

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2smoke
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#11 Post by 2smoke » Sat Sep 13, 2014 9:32 pm

Thundercat= YZF600 95-96

Pretty sure they are spaced wider than the stock forks. Not sure. Again, matter of choice.
Pictures of some down this page:
http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... h&start=15
Colin

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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#12 Post by thunder938 » Sun Sep 14, 2014 10:02 am

Hello, rebuilt my 500 over last winter and have put 600k on it this summer and I put the FZR1000 frontend and wheels on it. It has the 18 inch rear and a 160 tire. The front has progressive springs installed and the big 1000 brakes..and it handles very nice and looks updated with the tire size and the 3 spoke wheels..

http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... 13&t=12591" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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2smoke
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#13 Post by 2smoke » Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:21 pm

thunder938 wrote:Hello, rebuilt my 500 over last winter and have put 600k on it this summer and I put the FZR1000 frontend and wheels on it. It has the 18 inch rear and a 160 tire. The front has progressive springs installed and the big 1000 brakes..and it handles very nice and looks updated with the tire size and the 3 spoke wheels..

http://www.rzrd500.com/500phpBB3/viewto ... 13&t=12591" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Looks great. What triples did you use and are they spaced wider than the original rz500 forks? Did you need to move stuff inside the headlight fairing?
Colin

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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#14 Post by thunder938 » Sun Sep 14, 2014 8:27 pm

all FRZ stuff, not wider than stock. I run the stock overflow tank, but no oil tank (premix)..

Philsbike
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Re: R6 (5EB) Forks, which wheels.

#15 Post by Philsbike » Thu Sep 18, 2014 2:57 am

Thank for all the info. I am still slightly confused as I have read about people using the early R6 forks but in pictures they still seem to have the std speedo?
If I use the FZ1000 will they go in using the matching yokes (triple tree)? I am about to start building the bike so need to buy the correct stuff this time.
Many Thanks. Phil

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