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Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 8:00 am
Author: njwmct
If you look at many of the modified Mark II's from Japan they have been fitted with modern tubeless 17" cast wheels.
Now I know many use Kawasaki ZRX swing arms forks & wheels etc. but that doesn't really interest me.
However, some bikes still have the original Mark II forks & swing arms with slightly wider rear wheels.
I've seen that there are wheels available from Morris (if you can get them) & Galespeed etc. but you are looking at about £2K!

My question: has anyone successfully fitted a set of modern cast wheels (that came from a standard Jap bike of some kind) whilst retaining the standard front forks & swing arm ?
If yes, what wheels did you go for & what modifications were required?

Re: Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:42 pm
Author: garyd
Try zephyr 750 or 550 wheels...they are not as wide as the big performance bikes.

Matbe even look at the 400s. ZXR400 wheel are nice.

Re: Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Wed Nov 01, 2017 8:54 pm
Author: KWACKERZ1
I have a standard front end mk2 with a gsxr slingshot wheel in. The challenge is always how then to align the calipers, mine has some not particularly pretty brake caliper plates as it runs the standard slingshot calipers and discs.

It depends what your trying to achieve really just wider rims or 17" so you have a choice of rubber.
An easy option is gsxr 18" slabby wheels they are light (loads about) and bolt in easily, the fronts take standard zxr discs which have less offset than the standard gsxr ones Meaning calipe alignment is easier And you can use differing sizes, zx6r f, g, etc models zx12r, zx7r discs etc.
Also Continental do modern compound tyres for them which are fantastic. (look around any CRMC paddock and this is a common option)
The rears tend to be 3.5" for the 750's and bigger for the 1100's.

If you want to stick with 17"'s good options are slingshot gsxr wheels, or bandit wheels (all take zx discs), or ZZR wheels.(quiet heavy) Again zx6r wheels are light.

Sticking with the standard rear swing arm though may limit your width options down to about a 150/160 tyre so your looking for 4"/4.5" rims so look at things like gsxr 400's zxr400's etc. I have used GS500 Rims before (they are light and cheap). Some triumphs also have 4.5" rims.

Re: Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 6:45 pm
Author: njwmct
Thanks for that Info 'Kwacker Z1'
Just looking to go from tubed type to tubeless - a slightly wider rear would be nice + I like the 17" look on a lot of the modified bikes in Japan.

Re: Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 7:01 pm
Author: hartyb
z1000st front wheels is tubeless if you were after keeping the same look

I would have to look but I thought MK2 wheels were also tubeless its been a long time since I had a Tyre off a mk2 rim or even a ZIR

Re: Wheel upgrade for Z1000 MKII

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 9:53 pm
Author: Philippe
Hi Guys

Z1000ST wheels are tubeless but the discs have 7 mounting bolts instead of 4.
Original Z1000MK2 and Z1R (D1, 1978) are NOT tubeless!
Greetings from Belgium
Philippe