150 conversion...BOTH ends?!

[masstch]

2001 RK Classic....

I've decided to go ahead and order the Avon 150 Gangsta-walls and I'm convinced that I'll be able to fit the rear with no problem besides a spacer. What I'd like to know, is if anyone has ever gotten a 150 or even a 140 on the front end??? I think it would be a great retro-touch but I don't know if its feasible. The first issue, of course, is that it doesn't look like anyone makes a gangsta-wall front in a 150. There's almost no limit to what I can do with some tools, a torch and some welding rod...but I can't make tires! Any thoughts on this idea? Swap out a complete (wider) front end? Obviously, running a rear tire up front is not recommended, but I might entertain the idea of a spare wheel with the big rubber just for show/ putting around town.
Masstch

[Seahag]

I don't know anything about these 'Gangsta Wall' tire you refer to, but the only 150mm front specific tires for 16" rims I found were on the michelin commanders...which I had been happily running on the back already anyway...so this winter I bought a set of native custom bagger's front fender brackets; then cut the stock brackets off and welded the new ones in place. I had to get the front fender repainted; but that was the most expensive part of the whole operation. Well worth the effort IMO.

Here's a couple shots showing my bike as it now is and a comparison between the new and old fender.

PS:...I'm running a 150/80/16 Michelin Commander on the rear as well...GREAT TIRES IMO.

[masstch]

SeaHag, that's awesome!
First, let me say that yer ride looks great!
I've looked at it in your sig before, but that has the older fender setup. Do you have any pics of what the tire/fender looks like when viewed straight-on? I've been thinking of doing this, but I didn't really believe it would fit in to the original fender, even with the stock brackets removed. I keep looking at mine, and it looks like there isn't more than 3/8 inch available in there! The Gangsta walls I was referring to are the "wide whitewalls" on the RK Classic. The wide whitewalls (I thought ) would be impossible to find in a 150 for the front but I found out that ( according to the ronayers site) Metz has 'em in a 150/80HB16 front in the ME880s! I'm still looking for the actual width specs.
Michelin doesn't offer that size in the WWW, btw.
Would you know what the actual width of the Michelin is on yours?

Can you tell me if you had any difficulty with the fender other than welding the bracket and the repaint? It looks to me that the lowering effect alone was worth the fender paint!
I would really like more info on the bracket(s). I've been to their website, but I still would like to know what it looks like, how it's shaped, etc.

Thanks for the inspiration! If I can verify the actual width of the Metz and that it'll fit in there, I'll order it immediately.

[Seahag]

The closest I have to a straight on shot is this one:



I do not know the actual mounted width of the tire either; but I'll see if I can get some help in taking the measurement. The only other difficulty with this kind of mod is that you will have to install your calipers as you raise your wheel into mounting position; as there is not enough room between the lowered fender and the rotor to slide them on with the wheel and fender mounted. Another forum member thought you could put on longer brake lines which would give you the ability to put the caliper on at a lower point then rotate them into position...but as long as you have a helper to mount the wheel, there is no point in doing that.

PS: The shape of the brackets is a lot like a kidney bean with a couple small protrusion where it drops down to mount to the forks...They are made of 1/8" steel and are laser cut for a nice finished edge.

[masstch]

I picked up the Metzlers today (fairly local and quite cheap! ) in the 150/80-16 WWW ME880's front and rear. I'm hoping to get them on this weekend, but I dont yet know when I'll get the painting done. I need to get the brackets air-freighted from NCB. I'm still trying to picture their fit...if they are large enough to cover the rivet-holes when placed inside the fender(?) or do they simply weld along the edge? I do wish the NCB site had a good deal more info and pictures to show the process. Info such as: are they marked or indexed for alignment? Are there instructions included? Yeah, I know, I need to call 'em. I wasn't planning on doing this project for a few weeks yet, but the weekend and the opportunity suddenly became available, so now its a mad rush to try to take advantage of it. In other words, things are normal.

[Seahag]

The NCB brackets do cover all the rivet holes, but they do have to be positioned correctly to do it. The brackets are elongated a little bit more toward one end than the other and I had to put the brackets on both ways to see which way it was that it covered all the rivet holes.

Did I ever show you the front fender comparison?

[masstch]

Those pics tell the tale, for sure. I'm hoping to have a set of pics of my own soon. I found the answers to most of my questions about the NCB brackets when I discovered them listed on EBay. More pics and how-to info there. I did the 'buy now' and then called the guy. He was very helpful and agreed to get 'em out on air freight so I should get 'em right away.
Hopefully, things will continue to go my way and I'll get the job completed this weekend! I think it'll look awesome with front and rear 150's!
If everything actually works as planned ~how likely izzat?~ by Monday I'll have added two 150 tires/fender brackets/lowered fender/pulley spacer/rear fender rail/front rotor covers/Sta-Bo bushings (Sta-Bo I) and a minor paint mod.
Wish me luck!

[PaulBenson]

Since you guys are into this already, will a 140 fit with no mods? For the 150 are mounts just moved to the outside of the fender? Is there any stretching or bending of the fender required to make the 150 fit? Thanks.

[Seahag]

Originally Posted by PaulBenson

Since you guys are into this already, will a 140 fit with no mods? For the 150 are mounts just moved to the outside of the fender? Is there any stretching or bending of the fender required to make the 150 fit? Thanks.

A 140 may fit. Finding a front tire in that width without going to a custom rim may be difficult though.

The Native custom bagger brackets are welded to the inside of the fender and no stretching or bending of the fender itself is required.

[masstch]

Its been a hectic weekend for sure. Everything's done, save for finishing the sanding/painting on the fender. The fender's on and I'm riding it even though it's in it's unfinished state. I'll have more details and better pictures later but I have a few hasty pics now. What I managed to get done was pretty much everything on the list and there weren't too many snags.
I installed the 150 Metzler me880 WWW's front and rear, rotor and caliper covers, NCB fender lowering brackets, rear pulley spacer, chrome pulley cover and Sta-bo-1 bushing mod.
All of these were great successes! The tires fit, the fender now fits, the bike has more chrome(!), and the Stabo kit made a greater difference than I could have expected. More later, I'm going to sleep now!

[Seahag]

You did a lot of work in a short time. Having done all the mods you have, I know just how busy you were this weekend. Congrats on a job well done. Can't wait to see the final pics after paint.

[masstch]

Just had to throw in a daylight pic...


I'm REALLY liking this look!

[masstch]

A follow-up. I got the time to tackle the painting this weekend, so I'm finally completely done with the 150 conversion. I didn't want to have to color-match the Luxury Rich Red so I opted to approach this as an extension of the factory two-tone by adding Vivid Black to the fender. I never really liked the fact that the factory two-tone was tank-only. of course, I HAD to go ahead and do the side covers.
Even though its done, I'm now having second thoughts about the design and I may redo the front of the fender, I dunno yet. That stair-step looked OK while taped off, but now, it looks....
Well anyway I may yet change that part just a little.
I was reminded that I no longer have steady enough hands to stripe!
It'll be okay till I can afford real custom work.

[route66paul]

Did you put a rear tire on the front? if you did, did you install it against the arrow for the rotation?

[masstch]

Paul,

No, its an actual "front" me880 in 150/80-16. Metzler was only supplier I've found that offered a front in that size AND in a wide whitewall.
I'm lovin' 'em.