 Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65 |
G'day,
Well I've done quite a bit of reading on this site regarding the process of Removing the mag from a Speedmaster and fitting a spoke wheel with twin discs.
The process involved seems to be around getting your hands on a Thunderbird Sport rim. Have there been any updates / improvements on this?
I want to keep the original twin brakes and as much original triumph parts as possible – fit a spoked wheel, as well as still fit my "America" front guard on the speedmaster.
Appreciate any feedback,
Mark
I come from a land down under
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
Is it imperative that you have the twin disc? The single disc stops just as well,the master cly will actually feel better as they're kind of weak anyway, and America wheels are everywhere. I love the look of the wheel minus the disc, but that's just me. 
Strangler
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I'm pretty sure you can find an America owner to trade the parts with. The wheels, fork leg, caliper, master cylinder (though some say this isn't necessary) and all the little bits. When I found my TBS wheel I traded everything but the wheels with a Speedmaster owner who already had spoked wheels.
Also, if you're worried about stopping ability go with a floating rotor and an aftermarket 4pot caliper (Beringer?).
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Paul brings up a good point about your reasons for the double discs, Mark. If your motive here is primarily to increase the effectiveness of your front brake and not just for aesthetic purposes, then it would be much more cost-effective to just find a nice 4 or 6 pot caliper which would fit our bikes and bolt that right on, than to go to the added expense and work to find that somewhat "Unobtanium" T-Bird Sport hub, the extra Speedmaster fork leg to bolt the other 2-pot caliper to, the new brake lines, and the lacing up of that hub to your BA rim.
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
If I had it to do over again I'd probably go that route. But I'm not going back and I found a fairly cost effective way to get the conversion done (it could have cost me $2000 in the end if I just bought all the parts new).
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Quote:
If I had it to do over again I'd probably go that route. But I'm not going back and I found a fairly cost effective way to get the conversion done (it could have cost me $2000 in the end if I just bought all the parts new).
Yep.
Say, isn't it Johann who put a really trick 6-pot caliper on his BA that he got from his brother?
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,096 Likes: 2 |
Ah HA!!! So, 900 smackers for a 4-pot here, huh?!
Seems a bit steep, but still cheaper than goin' the other route, huh?!
(...btw, you didn't answer my question about that 6-pot brake...it was Johann, wasn't it?)
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Well, it's a whole lot easier than what I went through. Although I did take the opportunity to powder-coat my fork legs when I was swapping out for the Speedmaster version so it wasn't a complete waste of time.  I don't know about the 6-pot caliper. Sounds about right.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65 |
Thank you for the response. I am definitely going with the twin triumph discs just want the spoke wheel for the look. The stopping power and keeping it as factory as possible is also a factor.
What mods need to be done to fit the TBS wheel? Is there a definitive procedure I can follow that someone has already done?
I come from a land down under
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,971 |
Just sayin... Believe it or not, a single front disc has equal stopping power to a twin front disc. The only advantage of twins are the potential to prevent heat fade. If a rider is in a street or highway situation where heat fade is an issue, I think they'd have already done a voluntary get off by the time the brakes presented any fade. In 99.9 times out of 100, the twin discs are for there for design and appearance only. I kinda wish my Speedmaster had a 7 or 8 inch single disc, as opposed to the X large twins.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
Quote:
Thank you for the response. I am definitely going with the twin triumph discs just want the spoke wheel for the look. The stopping power and keeping it as factory as possible is also a factor.
What mods need to be done to fit the TBS wheel? Is there a definitive procedure I can follow that someone has already done?
A twin disc will not change the stopping power at all. The physics of the explanation was described in a fantastic article last year in Cycle World. I can tell you, having swapped to single disc on my Speedmaster that the braking is unchanged except for a better lever feel having kept the larger,(dual disc), master cyl. the only advantage to twin discs is that heat is dispersed at double the rate,thus you might achieve some benefits coming down a steep mountain grade where brake fade could be a concern if excessive braking was encountered. I just love the look of a beautiful wheel and hate to see it obscured by a big old rotor.
Strangler
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Well to actually answer the question...
Since you're starting with a Speedmaster, you just need to find a TBS wheel, then decide if you're okay with a 17" hoop. If not, then you have to decide if you want a stock TBA 18" hoop or want to go bigger. I went 18" and it cost me $220 ($20 for the hoop, $200 for the re-lacing). Add that to the cost of the used wheel and you're looking at about $600. YMMV. I believe someone just scored a TBS wheel recently for about $200 less than I paid.
Oh, and if you find a used TBS wheel, you'll probably want to replace the rotors and pads, just to be safe. And maybe buy a new tire depending on size (see above). Other than that, you've already got the right caliper, fork leg and master cylinder. Go sick.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,284 |
That's the answer,from one who's done it. 
Strangler
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,217 Likes: 61 |
I have both here, a BA and a SM and both have the same stopping power and can lock the front wheel. If you have enough to lock the wheel you already have more than you can use. Only advantage to the dual disc is it will stay cooler and if running extremely hard it won't fade as soon as the single.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 853
3/4 Throttle
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3/4 Throttle
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 853 |
I have found that with bikes with a single disk there is a slight pull to one side (disk side) over two disk....
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
I'm torn on the looks. On one hand I don't like the right disc blocking the wheel. On the other hand I like symmetry. Meh, it's done. Probably wouldn't do it again. Brake fade was the problem that caused me to follow that course of action, after some scary antics in British Columbia. No regrets.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,728 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,728 Likes: 5 |
Quote:
I have found that with bikes with a single disk there is a slight pull to one side (disk side) over two disk....
I have never heard anything like that before, how can it pull one way or another? It's not like a car where there are 2 wheels up front.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,671 Likes: 15 |
It's true, however only noticable on a whimpy forked bike, poorly braced at that. Not so on a BA.
With a single front disk the entire braking force is only being applied via 1 fork leg, & can twist accordingly.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65 |
Well thanks guys, your very helpful. I got the parts on order...
I come from a land down under
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 124
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 124 |
Keep us posted please, I have the same "dream" of a spoked wheel on my Speedy, and would love to see how you got this sorted out.
2010 EFI Speedmaster,AI Removed,Polaris Belmouth,K&N,Long TORs,Rivco Risers,a clock and a Roadster screen.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55 |
I just ordered the rear America wheel & am starting to look for its mate. Interesting discussion about stopping power.
So if I went with the America front hub what else would I need for the conversion?
S.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
I just ordered the rear America wheel & am starting to look for its mate. Interesting discussion about stopping power.
So if I went with the America front hub what else would I need for the conversion?
S.
Just so you know there's a couple o' America wheel sets for sale in the Classifieds.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Speedmaster – Front wheel spoke and twin discs
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55
Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 55 |
I'm buying one at a time to keep costs spread out. The rear wheel was a great deal off ebay. Next will be the spokes & rim which I'll lace up myself, followed by the rubber.
I need to paint anyway so I'm going to bob the rear fender, change the lights & get the big wheel on there for next season. The front end makeover will probably wait until the following season, unless I find a smoking deal on that front hub.
S.
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