Front and rear wheel conversion

[kvb34441]

I’ve been out of the vmax game for few years now due to getting rear ended back in early 2021. But I recently found a beautiful 90’ max to call my own again. After owning and riding a ton of different bikes in recent years, realized just how terrible the stock vmax handles. I know meant to smoke everything from light to light, but I also like twisty roads. Im looking to get a wider set of front and rear wheels, rear suspension and well as brakes, and some aftermarket yolks so I can have some decent forks for better handling.

My question is, what all goes into that? The wheel conversion kit from exactrep says that it “fits with your stock swingarm etc.” Ok perfect. Let’s assume that’s correct, what about the driveshaft etc etc? I’m sure there’s plenty of people here who have done this sort of thing before and I would love y’all’s input on this.
Thanks!!

 

[Fire-medic]

If you use the search function, that's the quickest way to answer your questions. A pair of Carozzeria wheels Sean Morley was selling, is a great way to upgrade your handling.

From a search:
https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/a-lot-of-different-tire-and-rim-combinations.52174/#post-525810

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/minor-mods-for-first-gen-2006-v-max.50474/#post-506762

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/maximum-front-tire-width-for-stock-rim-1st-gen.48375/#post-482841

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/cruiser-handling.45534/#post-464010

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/rear-rim.45748/#post-465217

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/larger-rear-tire.43117/#post-445451

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/rear-wheel-options.43361/#post-447379

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/1994-ready-for-a-new-home.33091/#post-356618

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/dangers-of-craigslist.33103/#post-356614

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/new-wheels-tires-question.20704/page-2#post-338499

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/w...r-vmax-today-part-2.8470/page-443#post-399182

https://www.vmaxforum.net/threads/sticky-rear-radials-for-18-rims.28742/#post-309283

That's page 1 of 4 pages I got from searching Carrozzeria for subject, and one2dmax for the member. That's Sean Morley's screen name. You could use 17 inch wheel, 18 inch wheel, aftermarket wheel, aftermarket wheels, wheel conversion, or any other wording. Less-words is a better search strategy than typing out a sentence like "How do I find information on used wheels?" which returned exactly 0 results. You may know this, I'm just suggesting you can get hundreds of threads which have content pertinent to your topic you want to research. Happy hunting.

 

[MaxMidnight]

My two penneth:

1. Get decent springs in the front forks (my preference would be Racetech as you can match the spring rate to you) and some emulators.
2. Get some decent rear shocks - Coupled with #1 you will now have suspension that can control wheel movement.
3. Get some lighter wheels - e.g. Dymags which will slot straight in. Fit quality radial tyres. Note: If you ae too much wider at the back relative to the front this will compromise handling. Lighter wheels means that the suspension has less work do do in controlling wheel movement and they have less inertia which will improve acceleration and braking performance (by how much I know not)
4. Fit solid mount or frame bars.

With that lot you probably have a bike that can go round corners better than most riders can take advantage of.
However, if you want more you can brace the swinging arm, add gussets around the swinging arm mount and add a strengthening ring at the pivot end of the driveshaft side of the swinging arm.

 

[02GF74]

I'd suggest USD forks, for no reason other than they look good.

 

[kvb34441]

I'd suggest USD forks, for no reason other than they look good.

Those do look good! Any noticeable improvement in handling?

 

[kvb34441]

My two penneth:

1. Get decent springs in the front forks (my preference would be Racetech as you can match the spring rate to you) and some emulators.
2. Get some decent rear shocks - Coupled with #1 you will now have suspension that can control wheel movement.
3. Get some lighter wheels - e.g. Dymags which will slot straight in. Fit quality radial tyres. Note: If you ae too much wider at the back relative to the front this will compromise handling. Lighter wheels means that the suspension has less work do do in controlling wheel movement and they have less inertia which will improve acceleration and braking performance (by how much I know not)
4. Fit solid mount or frame bars.

With that lot you probably have a bike that can go round corners better than most riders can take advantage of.
However, if you want more you can brace the swinging arm, add gussets around the swinging arm mount and add a strengthening ring at the pivot end of the driveshaft side of the swinging arm.

Does dymag make a wheel specific for the vmax?

 

[MaxMidnight]

They certainly used to, don't know if they still do - I have them on mine and were a strait swap.



To comment on your post #5, as they are lighter and have better tyres on then yes...BUT
Unill you have better control of wheel movement the benefit will probably be minimal.

 

[02GF74]

I'd suggest USD forks, for no reason other than they look good.

apologies if I misled anyone, that is not my bike. I remember seeing a Vmax on ebay with triumph USD forks that looked as if it could have come from the Yamhaha factory - the photo is an example of that although not necessarily Triumph forks.

 

[Fisher1965]

They certainly used to, don't know if they still do - I have them on mine and were a strait swap.

View attachment 94429

To comment on your post #5, as they are lighter and have better tyres on then yes...BUT
Unill you have better control of wheel movement the benefit will probably be minimal.

How do you like the carbs ? I am thinking about ordering a set

 

[MaxMidnight]

Short answer - I 'm very happy with them.
Longer answer - How much benefit they gave I can't say as I also had the motor bored to 1300 and the heads gas flowed with an already fitted Holeshot exhaust. A dyno run gave 137 GG's albeit with a misfire ('cos some moron hadn't screwed a plug lead into the cap...).
They run a little rich between 3 1/2 and 4K but apart from that the a.f.r. is bang on. Also the accelerator pumps do to give instant throttle response.

I guess the million dollar question would be if the cost could be better invested elsewhere first; probably yes depending on how near to original the engine is.