98 M750 Original Rim sizes

[MaaloX]

Good morning all.  Its that time of year hear for me in the midwest to put the bike down for the winter and do some cleanup work.

I am in need of advice on rims. I basically have one gold front rim and one black rear rim.  I am wanting to have them match.

My question is. does anyone know what the original size of a 98 M750 came with? 

rear rim right now says its 17xMT5.50 and the tire that is mounted is 160/60

Front rim 17xMT3.5

The front rim I "think" is the original.  Everything I am seeing for my bike for the rear rim is stating the size of 17x 4.50

I know the previous owner did a few mods....any help would be great....I also have noticed that my forks are gold...Looking at pictures of 98 m750's  I have never seen gold forks before....I will throw up a few pics to show after I get this rim situation taken care of....Thanks guys

[Speeddog]

AFAIK, your bike came with a 4.50 rear rim.

A 160 is too narrow of a tire for a 4.50.
Depending on what the PO did, you may not have the wider sprocket carrier that matches the 4.50 wheel.

The 3.50 front is correct.

[MaaloX]

AFAIK, your bike came with a 4.50 rear rim.

A 160 is too narrow of a tire for a 4.50.
Depending on what the PO did, you may not have the wider sprocket carrier that matches the 4.50 wheel.

The 3.50 front is correct.

Do you have any idea of what bike uses the 17x5.50 rim that I have on the back of my bike?
I am just wondering.....Just went to the garage to double check my numbers and yeah...
rear rim: 17x mt 5.50
Tire: Dunlop Sportmax D208 160/60 ZR17 M/G 69 (w)

Here's a NEWB question for ya.
Should the 5.50 rim I have on the rear now have a wider tire than the 160/60 she currently has? 
Just wanting to make sure I purchase the correct items this winter...And I want to have the right size to be safe.

Here is a pic of my front forks.

[Speeddog]

Should be at least a 170 on that rim.

However, you need to confirm your chain will clear a 170, as you may have your OEM sprocket carrier, which has less off set (because it's from a 4.50 wheel).

Can you post pics of your front and rear sprockets?

[MaaloX]

Sure here you go...thanks for the help by the way
Im going to be replacing both front and rear sprockets as well as the chain this winter.




Front



from the back



Stamp on rear sprocket

[Speeddog]

Can you take a pic from the brake side, through the wheel showing the carrier and sprocket?

[MaaloX]

I hope this is what you were talking about

[Speeddog]

Can you confirm that the rear sprocket is 37 teeth?

I'll try to measure a carrier or two tomorrow.
Would be good to determine which carrier you have.

[MaaloX]

37 tooth sprocket is confirmed.

[Speeddog]

If you like the gearing now, replace your 14/37 with a 15/40.

[MaaloX]

If you like the gearing now, replace your 14/37 with a 15/40.

Actually I was wanting a bit more bite off the line so should I tooth up in the rear?

[Speeddog]

A 15/42 will be a 2.80, your 14/37 is a 2.64.

That's a big enough change to notice, but not extreme.
It'll push your highway cruise rpm up about 300 rpm or so.