3.5 inch front rim on an older ST1100

[St-Gerard]

What will you be using as a front ? My last tire was a T32, it didn't last more than 5-6000 km before going bald in the middle, thats the main reason for me swapping to a 3.5" rim, so i can use the T32 GT.

Don't know at this moment. Will be going with a 120 instead of the 110 for what I remember from UP's previous post I can't find. Last set of tires was Dunlop Road Smart 3 s , have to check mileage, getting close to 7000 miles, rear is down to the wear mark , front has developed uneven wear but still good amount of rubber on it. At the time the Set cost me 300 Canadian, so for the price been pleased with the tires, bike handled well, traction was good, but they are showing signs of being worn out.

 

[dwalby]

The 3.5 rim fits without modification on a standard.
All you have to do is swap the discs from the standard wheel to the ABSII wheel (they fit also).

I wouldn't have expected two different wheels and rotors to have the same rotor mounting footprint, glad to hear its that easy.

no spacer change either, so it sounds like they kept the same basic "hub" design and only changed the spokes and rim. Or maybe the spokes are the same too??

 

[Uncle Phil]

I originally went with the ABSII rim on my standard because my other ST1100s were ABSIIs and I did not want to 'stock' multiple front tire sizes.
That's when I learned about the disc differences but the bolt patterns were the same. After a while, I replaced the front end with the ABSII front end and plumbed the ABSII center 'puck' to be live. After I crashed 12/23 (locked the front the wheel in an interstate disaster), I converted the standard to a full blown ABSII - which is not a minor effort! How I got my hands on an ABSI rim - I ordered what was supposed to be an ABSII rim (the seller fully assured me that it was) and it was an ABSI rim. While I had it, I checked it for fitment on my standard and ABSII ST1100s. All of this was documented on this site but probably gone after the 'great cleansing'. So my information on this subject is from experience not 'apocryphal'.

FWIW, I never compared the spokes but since I have a standard rim on my garage floor right now, I'll have to see when I get a 'roundtuit'.

 

[Ronni.N]

The rim finally showed up, and i don't think i should complain, pretty good deal for 45 USD.

It is a 3.5, and with what looks like an almost new Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart IV tire from 2024.

 

[Ronni.N]

Just to finish the topic, yes a 3.5 front wheel from a ABS2 bike fits perfectly on a ABS1 bike, and no fuss from the ABS system on my quick test ride.

 

[Uncle Phil]

Just to finish the topic, yes a 3.5 front wheel from a ABS2 bike fits perfectly on a ABS1 bike, and no fuss from the ABS system on my quick test ride.

Good to know for future reference!
I've never had an ABSI so I had no way of testing that 'assumption'.

 

[ST1100Y]

Just to finish the topic, yes a 3.5 front wheel from a ABS2 bike fits perfectly on a ABS1 bike, and no fuss from the ABS system on my quick test ride.

How is it effecting handling & feedback?
Judging by the gap towards the fender, that /70 front tire appears "smaller"...

 

[Ronni.N]

How is it effecting handling & feedback?
Judging by the gap towards the fender, that /70 front tire appears "smaller"...

A 110/80 tire is a bit taller, the difference is around 8mm or so between the 110/80 and the 120/70, so very little, but the 120 is a bit wider than the 110.

Handling and feedback seemed great on my short drive, roads here are still cold and a bit to the slippery side some places so i did not push my luck, i've added a picture of the bike on the old 110/80 with the 3.0 rim.