 What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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OP
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That is one ugly painted wheel on the front end of my Speedmaster. I want to keep the dual discs. I would take a spoked wheel or better yet a chrome or custom wheel. Does anyone know of a someone selling spoked or custom wheels that fit the SM?
04 Speedmaster
07 Ulysses
16 Sportster Roadster
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Its rumored that the spoked Thunderbird sport wheel will work- it looks close.
I am planning on having my front wheel stripped and polished this winter.
Last edited by roundy77; 10/21/2005 8:57 PM.
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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T birds have the same hub as us, in fact the same wheel, but the T bird sport I think is 17inch as opposed to 18. BUT, find a t-bird sport hub and an 18inch rim and you're in buisness.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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My speedy is all black, and I have been thinking about taking the wheel off, sandblasting it, and painting it a gloss black to match the tank and fenders.. I was just looking at it the other day and think that the black front would fit right in along with the rest of the blackend parts. I think silver/chrome would be too overpowering given the lack of shiney bits on the rest of the bike..
Cheers,
Brad
To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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If you have access to a sandblasater, go for it! Heck, you could even polish the naked wheel up. At least it would match the rear.
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Brad - I also thought of painting. Do you think it would hold up to the rigors of the road as well as tire changing?
Bob
04 Speedmaster
07 Ulysses
16 Sportster Roadster
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
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I would recommend powder coating as opposed to painting the wheel. It will surely chip off easily.
I also wish the front looked nicer, I really like the rear wheel and would love one that was even closer to the look for the front. I wish Triumph would tell us who makes them for them. But Noooooooo.
A word to the wise is not necessary. It is the stupid ones who need the advice.
Pat
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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I've been thinking about black powdercoated wheels (I've got the Speedy wheels) for about 6 months now and the more I think about it the more I like it! 
Ciao!
'02 America/Master, Cardinal Red
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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I do have a sandblaster, but I would think the finish would be too rough to leave as is after removing the coating, so it would be a bear to polish it up like the rear wheel. Also, the rear appears to be machined aluminum, while the front is cast, so I don't even think it would be possible to match in terms of finish. Powder coat would probably be the way to go (isn't that whats on them now?), but a good quality automotive two-part epoxy may work as well. I'm not a paint expert, so maybe someone with some experience in that area could give some advice.
Cheers,
Brad
To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Try the Custom Chrome catalogue...I used to have one when I rode a HD - there were lots of wheels in there and I recall several that would match the SM rear wheel
Jan
Never whistle while you're ******....!
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Painting aluminum is tricky business. Be sure to use the proper primer.
Pro paint/coatings places know this, of course.
There's also anodizing..... Heck, polish that rear wheel and then clear anodize it. The shine will outlast the rest of the bike.
If one is serious about the front wheel, the he won't mind spending the time to hand polish it, too. No pain, no gain.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Also, the rear appears to be machined aluminum, while the front is cast, so I don't even think it would be possible to match in terms of finish.
I am considering chroming the front wheel and forks as I already have the chrome fork shrouds. Hopefully it will not be too much of a mismatch with the machined aluminium rear wheel. Either way, I can only picture it being better than it currently is.
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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You can use the Thunderbird Sport chrome front wheel. I am using a Thunderbird rear wheel. Not much difference except the TB has more spokes. You can change you whole front end if you like. You can keep your Trees but look for Harley 41mm fork tubes and lowers(Wide Glides and Fatboys to name a few). I only say Harley because they are most abundant and cheap to buy. This is the way to go if you really want to customize the front end. Buy the Harley fork tubes and lowers. This will enable you to go with a 21 inch chrome front wheel if you want or any aftermarket wheel will now work. You will also need a front caliper and rotor as well but they will just be as easy to get. I am getting ready to do this to my bike and all the parts cost me under $200 so far(fork tubes and lowers, 21 inch wheel and axle and rotor) It maybe even less expensive to do this than to have the stock lowers and wheel chromed and it will be truly custom.
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Loquacious
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Friar,
you're just a fountain on knowledge... so which harley front end should I be looking for to keep my dual front brakes and get a 21' spoked wheel?
Thanks
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Roundy, I wouldn't be too concerned with dual disc setup with the Harley front end. There are a lot bigger bikes with more horsepower using only one 11.5" rotor with a 2-piston caliper. It will give you plenty of stopping power. You can always jump up to a 4-piston caliper and you will never have to worry about stopping power at all. Our bikes are only pushing 65 hp tops. There are bikes out there will at least double the power using only a single disc setup. It will be tough to find a Harley spoked wheel using dual disc setup for cheap. I know the sporters and some of the wide glides use the dual disc setup.
Check EBAY. You can get everything cheap for Harley's. The least expensive of course would be the single disc setup. Let me know if you need anything.
Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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It's not the power the brakes are working against, it's the momentum, but I agree that most HD's are a lot heavier than our bikes!
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
You can use the Thunderbird Sport chrome front wheel. I am using a Thunderbird rear wheel. Not much difference except the TB has more spokes. ... It maybe even less expensive to do this than to have the stock lowers and wheel chromed and it will be truly custom.
FRYGUY,
Thanks for the suggestions and your effort but I would be a little hesitant to do the above for 2 reasons :
a/ It would mean I would also have to change the rear wheel if I added a TB sport spoked wheel in front, as I have the SM (cast wheels).
b/ I am not much of a wrench therefore I wouldn't want to get myself into a mess  .
Besides, I like the idea of tubeless tires (I have been spoilt in latter years).
Bedouin.
Blessed are those eyes that have seen more roads than any man! (Homer).
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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Quote:
Friar,
you're just a fountain on knowledge... so which harley front end should I be looking for to keep my dual front brakes and get a 21' spoked wheel?
Thanks
Wha...?
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Whoops, too many names that begin with the letter "F" 
Stewart
.......
"It's outside your field of expertise."
"Poppycock normally is."
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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I had my front wheel polished and chromed. Did the forks and clamps too. Really enhances the front of the bike, to me anyway. I also left the fork covers off for a lighter, cleaner look. Works for me.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Member
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Member
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i'll trade my spoke wheels on my 05 america for your speedmaster wheels.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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strick,
who you offering that trade to?
-Sebastian
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Quote:
What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
I keep mine spinning as much as possible. From where I sit, I can barely see it.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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I had my front wheel polished and chromed.And the pictures are... where?!?  Cheers, Brad
To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I met "tonymp3" recently at a VA vintage bike show. He's the wild man who put a nitrous system on his TBA. Anyway, he had his SM front wheel, I believe bead-blasted, and polished out in California somewhere. Here's a pic from his gallery. Great looking bike: 
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Nov 2005
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Member
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Member
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I guess whoever doesn't like there speedy wheels. I'm just too lazy to clean spokes all the time.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Aug 2005
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3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
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Looks great on an America.. accents the chrome engine well, particularly with the chrome forks. I think it would be too overpowering though on my all black Speedy  Cheers Brad
To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Joined: Feb 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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naaaa i think the america needs the spokes
Chris
Pain heals, Chicks dig scars, and Glory last forever.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Get a good looking red haired woman dressed in black leather and chrome that front wheel. That and good Canadian whiskey and life is good. Of course the Canadian Mist is for after the ride and before the party. This ain't no mommas boy picnic, open the gate and let her buck! Sorry, had to get that off my chest, Both front and back wheels on my SM were chromed when I got the bike and they look good.
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Quote:
You can keep your Trees but look for Harley 41mm fork tubes and lowers(Wide Glides and Fatboys to name a few). I only say Harley because they are most abundant and cheap to buy. This is the way to go if you really want to customize the front end. Buy the Harley fork tubes and lowers. This will enable you to go with a 21 inch chrome front wheel if you want or any aftermarket wheel will now work. You will also need a front caliper and rotor as well but they will just be as easy to get. I am getting ready to do this to my bike and all the parts cost me under $200 so far(fork tubes and lowers, 21 inch wheel and axle and rotor) It maybe even less expensive to do this than to have the stock lowers and wheel chromed and it will be truly custom.
I haven't measured anything so basically thinking out loud. This sounds like a great way to go for tricking out the front end, buuuuut, this would only work if the spacing on our trees matches that of a Harley exactly, correct? Otherwise you would be shimming axles, rotors and/or calipers, fenders, ect. to make them fit. Perhaps just better off fitting the Harley trees in the first place and then everything would be a direct bolt on and go situation.
Do our triple trees indeed match any Harley models as far as postioning the tubes correctly that you know of Paul?
Steve
(hewhoshallremainavatarless)
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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To strick: I'd trade you in a heartbeat if you lived closer.
Chris in Canada
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Bet it would look nice if you painted the wheels to match your tank.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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I haven't had an exact measure of the spacing between trees between the Harleys and Triumphs. I won't go with Harley trees unless absolutely necessary. Yes, I am expecting to do some wheel spacing and maybe a bit of shimming the front caliper if necessary. Customizing rarely involves bolt on pieces or it really wouldn't be customizing would it?  Thats the whole fun of it. Doing something that nobody has done before, blazing trails or is is Blazing Saddles? Fryguy
Man, you must be fast because you were haulin' A$$ when I passed you back there. . .
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
You can use the Thunderbird Sport chrome front wheel.
So do we know anyone that's actually DONE the T-bird Sports front wheel on our bikes? Would like to see it before I attempt it. I'm just about to bid on a Tbird wheel and a right hand caliper... next trick is a speedmaster lower right fork leg (wonder if I need a speedmaster brake master cylinder?) and another rotor.
Matt
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Re: What do I do about this butt ugly front wheel?
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Loquacious
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Well if you did find a Speedmaster lower leg for that other rotor and caliper, you could possibly go with Brent's EBC floating rotors. Probably cheaper than Triumph's OEM stuff. The Master cyclinder is the same size, otherwise Brent would have to sell 2 different versions for the covers he sells. And in case you didn't know, the brake line for the right side of the Speedmaster's front brakes is merely piggbacked onto the banjo bolt fitting.
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