16 inch front wheel?

Hello all,

After many years I am fortunate to again be riding on two wheels.

The last time I rode bikes was back in 1966. Up until then I owned and rode
a Norton Dominator 99 (600cc) and Triumph Tiger 110 (650cc) plus a variety
of Italian 175 to 250 cc machines.

I recently obtained my open bike licence (Queensland) and looked around for
something affordable and small enough to get back into motorcycling.
I found an immaculate 1989 Kawasaki GPZ500S with (believe it or not!) only
28000 Km on the clock. Everything very original, and everything works like a
dream.

My concern is that after reading up reports on the internet, it seams like
these bikes have a problem where the front will suddenly loose it and slip
out on a bend resulting in serious tarmac burns for the rider. This they say
is due to the 16 inch wheels (especially front).

So far I have had no problem, the bike handles well and is extrememly
flickable on corners. The present front tyre fitted is a Michelin.

Does anyone have an opinion/experience/suggestions that would lead me to
feel more comfortable on this bike, instead of almost crapping myself
whenever I go into a bend, waiting for the front to slip away!!

Why don't scooters have this problem with their small wheels (or do they?).

I really like the bike and would like to keep it for at least another year
before upgrading to something newer and bigger.

Cheers.

 

welcome back, seems things have changed just a touch hey

not a bad choice

prob due mostly to riding it at 11/10ths like an R1

it must be true , i read it on the internet

see you ride it properly , if the tyres are old i would be changing them
anyway

make sure there is air in the tyres and dont ride like a knob

you ride within it limits unlike journos

and it will do you well

 

HEY!!

 

| Hello all,
|
| After many years I am fortunate to again be riding on two wheels.
|
| The last time I rode bikes was back in 1966. Up until then I owned and
rode
| a Norton Dominator 99 (600cc) and Triumph Tiger 110 (650cc) plus a variety
| of Italian 175 to 250 cc machines.
|
| I recently obtained my open bike licence (Queensland) and looked around
for
| something affordable and small enough to get back into motorcycling.
| I found an immaculate 1989 Kawasaki GPZ500S with (believe it or not!) only
| 28000 Km on the clock. Everything very original, and everything works like
a
| dream.
|
| My concern is that after reading up reports on the internet, it seams like
| these bikes have a problem where the front will suddenly loose it and slip
| out on a bend resulting in serious tarmac burns for the rider. This they
say
| is due to the 16 inch wheels (especially front).
|
| So far I have had no problem, the bike handles well and is extrememly
| flickable on corners. The present front tyre fitted is a Michelin.
|
| Does anyone have an opinion/experience/suggestions that would lead me to
| feel more comfortable on this bike, instead of almost crapping myself
| whenever I go into a bend, waiting for the front to slip away!!
|
| Why don't scooters have this problem with their small wheels (or do
they?).
|
| I really like the bike and would like to keep it for at least another year
| before upgrading to something newer and bigger.
|
| Cheers.
|
|
Hi Farticus,

As JohnnyFive said, keep it sane and you will be ok. I owned one back in

1992 when I returned to riding after a 15 year break, and found it to be a

good handler with a really torquey motor.

A common reason for loosing the front end on some bikes (e.g. the older

SV650 Suzuki) is that the front springs are too soft to push like Mick

Doonan down hill into a corner under brakes.

The springs bottom out, and when the tyre momentily looses contact with the

road (hitting a bump), the tyre is pushed past the point of friction....

front end lose.

New (stiffer) springs at the front may be good idea may be good insurance,

as 1989 was a while ago.

Depends on your weight too (Kawasaki Handbooks say 68 Kg is the set up

reference weight).

16" wheels were all the rage in the 1980's to make a "poor" chassis turn

faster in corners, than the larger sizes (18") could.

The compromise is now the common 17".

Rob.

 

So far I have had no problem, the bike handles well and is extrememly flickable on corners.

Then there should really be no problems. Johnny5 has it right, mopst
with issues are probably out of their league trying to go to hard and
beat R1's..

Just take it easy and if you have no problems with it, **** what you
read on the internet

 

My VF1000R has a 16inch front wheel :-(
Y.

 

Good i'n't it?

You might have noticed a bit of a change, then.

Sounds good so far....

"They say"...."internet".... oh well, it _must_ be true! :-|

I had the GPZ750 Turbo, with the 16" front wheel. 1987, I think.

The only problem I had with that bike was a head shake, and the cure was
to use "old fashioned" tyres with grooves going all the way round the
circumference of the tyre. The more modern style of (apparently) random
angled grooves in what otherwise looks like a slick tyre.

I can't actually remember the numbers, but it was a Michelin tyre that
"worked" properly on the Turbo.

There is nothing inherently wrong with 16". As a front tyre size, it has
come in and out of fashion several times, and I still have a bike with
that size front, a Honda Hornet...which also preferes a groove all the
way round the tyre, like he Bridgestone 012.

Your bike might well benefit from fresh fluid in the forklegs, perhaps a
wee bit thicker than original standard.

Perhaps, too, the tyres are "aged in the shed" and fresh rubber could be
applied...but don't try for too modern sporty rubber.

Well, my Honda with 8" wheels goes round corners just fine.
It _really_ turns in fast!

Relax, ride the bike, enjoy....remember that it isn't a state of the art
race bike.

Just a stab in the dark, but, the 'orror stories of front ends sliding
out, did they come from septics?

I have a vague feeling that there used to be a class of bike racing in
the us based on GPZ500S's, basically for beginner racers, and I could
see how they'd have had problems..... apart from being septics. ;-)

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Yup 500s were big with scum Yanks
VF500's were huge in the racing scene, you should see the threads on
Perkins VFR list back in 97 on these things and the $ people spent on
them,.

 

my VF750, GPX750, GSX1100, and others have had 16in front wheel

First fireblades had 16's..

 

and later ones 929 was the 1st to go 17 in about 99/00

 

yer wasnt sure when they changed.
So 'modern' style tires would still be available.

always wonder what "GOOD" tires are available in the old smaller sizes
for older bikes like the VF750 with the 120 x16 front and 130/ 140 x
18 rear....

 

Was it a TF 11 , I had one on my FJ1100 about 1985-86 , it was a very good
tyre at that time

 

GPZ750/1100s used to have "loose the front end" problems in Proddie
racing in Australia. I remember Lennie Willing going down the road a few
times with a front end dissappearing from under him. I had the same
experience at Forest Elbow on my attempt to race an 1100 in '87.
But they are extreme examples. I doubt if it would be a problem on the road.

Buimmers

 

Hey Bummers; what happened to Len Willing?
He seemed to be hale and hearty and then suddenly he was dead.
Any info?

 

I think there was a rumour of substance abuse & another of being bashed
in a bar in Hawaii on his way back from the States & getting a clot.
Both unsubstantiated.
But he liked his substances.
Whatever - another good bloke gone to the racetrack in the sky!

B.

 

Ta muchly.
(I hadn't heard either of them)

 

here ya area Clem.
http://www.madmotorcycles.com.au/GPZ 900.htm

 

Ahhh Bathurst , what a track , at least you were lucky enough to have a go
there , I never was fortunate .

GREAT TRACK , you needed balls . How was mcphillamy at full noise ?

Met Andrew Johnson pissed a few times at PI though . He was kind enough to
give me a HRC jacket for free .

Also the RZ500 a 1984 or 5 winner I think of the 6 hour also had the
dreaded 16 incher as well

Was piloted by Mike Dowson and was it Kevin Magee

My memory is fading

 

Yes, the RZ500 was ridden by Mike Dowson and Richard Scott. Just beat
another 16 " front wheel bike ridden by Wayne Gardner and John Pace.(
VF1000R)

Rgds........Peter

 

Well, I never knew that W.G was riding Kawasakis as well !!

Some-one is having us on here .W.G was riding around Pommie tracks
in 1984 / 85 on HONDAS

Rgds............Peter