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Gen 3 wheels on Gen 4: Swappable ???

15K views 25 replies 15 participants last post by  mpp12 
#1 ·
can anyone confirm if the Gen 3 front and back wheel fit on the Gen 4 zx10R?
i know I have both at home, but feeling ultra lazy lol.

I just want to see if anyone have swap them already.
 
#2 ·
They should.
As Garth used the same on he had in his 1st gen onto his 4th.

And 1st thru 3rd all rears are interchangeable
 
#3 ·
I think there was some custom spacer requirements on Shawns' (Garth's) bike.

The Gen 3 wheels look better admittedly, but they are heavier by about 500gm per wheel. Personally, I'd either get BST Carbon wheels, Marchesini/Carrozeria wheels.....or leave the stock wheels on. But I wouldn't fit Gen 3 wheels.
 
#7 ·
If I had a Gen 4. I would want to put em on just because they look better. At 500gm heavier, I dunno if Id do it still. Wish someone would make some light 6 spokes like Gen. 1-3 for the Gen. 4. They just look better than the 3 spokes. lol
 
#6 ·
Doesn't the gen 4 have wheel speed sensors? Not sure how they mount but might be something to consider. I could be completely wrong on this though.
 
#10 ·
I ask because I may sale my Gen 3 Race Bike and buy another Gen 4 bike to Race, and I have 2 Extra rear rims.

The amount of time saved having extra rims is great, and if doing long endurance races like we did 2 weeks ago, You have to have the rims and tires ready to go on.

You are right about adding more rotating mass to the wheel i wouldnt want to do that, but Im sure its hard as hell to find gen 4 rims on ebay.

One weekend I dont have anything to do Ill pull them both down and check it out. I was seeing if someone already did it so i could save some time :)
 
#12 ·
Frotns will bolt right up... the wheel speed sensors come off of the wheels seperatly so you can bolt them right on and the 11's also have the same rotot bolt pattern, they are 310mm fronts.

on the rear you will have to run the 04-10 rear axle and the axle adjust plates to keep the wheels centered. you will also have to get a smal spacer for the inside of the brake caliper bracket so that the bracket will stay center as well, you can even make a spacer for inside the swingarm if you wish to keep everythign center but the axle blocks should keep it where it has to be.

OR you can attempt to swap out all the bearings to fit the larger axle.

Good luck!
 
#13 ·
Thx Garth. I am just tired of the 3 spoke design. Ive had it on all my past bikes and Im ready for an inexpensive fix. My budget does not allow room for Marchesinis or BST's nor would I benefit from their features since my bike is just a commuter and a weekend hobby.
 
#15 ·
I have just got hold of some gen3 wheels.
So can i make the gen3 rear a straight swap somehow?
Is that true?
You'll need a few things to make the Gen3 rear wheel fit. Gen3 axle, Gen3 axle blocks, Gen3 wheel spacers, Gen3 cush drive, modified Gen4 rear caliper mount with axle ID reduced for smaller Gen3 axle, Gen4 wheel sensor.


Front bolts right up with wheel sensor and correct rotors
 
#16 ·
Well ive been doing some measuring up today and the front will fit but the discs are 1mm further appart on a gen4.
The rear does have different offsets and i though id just stick the gen4 carrier on the gen3 rim but although it fits ok the offset is 2mm different on the carrier.
The wheel offset on the carrier side is 2mm different aswel so if you run gen4 carrier on gen3 rim it will be 4mm out of alignment which is a bummer as it would solve the bearing diameter if i were to convert all to 25mm spindle.
So you ideally need a gen3 rim and carrier to keep the left offset the same.
The right offset is different too as the brake disc doesnt sit in the same place.
I cant remember the measurement off the top of my head but im sure it could be got around.
So to me i need to have them fully assembled and weigh them with the spindles in as they dont seem like they are much heavier if at all.
Ideally i would have liked both rims being made the same diameter to make wheel swaps easier.
Below is a pic showing 2mm difference in height from left gen3 carrier and right gen4.
Height of bottom of sprockets is different and the bolts are sticking up higher on the gen4.
All measurements are carried out using vernias but not 100% as ideally i need to use my height guage at work for perfect measurements.
 
#17 ·
Ive decided against fitting the gen3 wheels. It can be done by modding the brake bracket and making custom spacers but it wont be interchangeable with my gen4 wheels without changing the bracket each time. They are slightly heavier too. . This seems to be because the center of the outer rim is thicker and stronger so better for road use it would seem
 
#19 ·
This was my intention but the rear wheel offsets are different.
The rear disc and traction ring are about 2 to 3mm offset compared to a gen3 rim.
Also gen4 cushdrive in a gen3 would make the chain run off center by a fair bit.
Its closer with gen3 cush but thats 20mm id.
If you have managed to line all that up then your wheel is running offset.
If all offsets are different then not everything can be in line!.
My opinion is its just too much work to get it spot on.
 
#20 · (Edited)
I had this done over a couple of years ago and got most of the info from a previous thread on the topic. Someone posted a schematic with measurements on how to make it work. I also just installed my Gen 3 rear wheel, and made sure not to make any adjustments to the rear brake pads (I usually spread them apart to make it easier to install the rear wheel). The wheel spun with minimal brake rub. I also took a couple measurements from fixed points on the swingarm and was within thousands of an inch to the Gen 4 wheel. I don't have an accurate way to measure offset myself, but my experience is everything lines up. If you don't think it will work I understand, it seems like you've put a lot of thought and research into this, but if you don't want to give up and need anymore information as far as measurements (I'll do the best I can) or pics just let me know.
 
#21 ·
Cheers.
I laid a straight edge across the rim and measured the difference to disc face and to sprocket face.
Both were out.
The disc on gen3 sits closer to the swingarm so to keep the wheel in the same place the brake bracket needs machining where it touches the swingarm and the lug part.
You cant adjust the spacer width to put the wheel in correct place because the sensor would foul.
Plus the traction ring doesnt sit nicely on gen3 rim so i gave up at that point. I dont want the wheel out of alignment and heavier as that wont help handling at all
 
#22 ·
Looking at my two rims I noticed an offset of the brake side bearing on the Gen 4 wheel leaving a gap between it and the outer seal. The Gen 3 bearing doesn't have a gap between it and the outer seal. Would that help with your offset since the Gen 4 bearing is further inboard? I do remember now having to trim the TC ring tabs to make it fit on the wheel, nothing a dremel can't handle.
 

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#23 · (Edited)
That would help the brake fit better yes but the problem was the wheel to disc distance is different so if your brakes in the right place which it must be for caliper to fit on then the wheel must be offset in the swingarm.
Im guessing hard to feel that difference other than on track with a fast change of direction.
Just seems too much effort for a gain of looks but a gain in weight too
 
#25 · (Edited)
Its never that simple of a conclusion.
Front is direct fit into the forks but the discs are something like 1mm further appart. This should be ok for clearance in the calipers but it will make the traction ring run tighter to the sensor.
unless the forks are pushed appart by the spacers that is.
I never actually tried it in because spacing wasnt right.
You could space the sensor out i spose.
Personally ive actually changed my mind about 3 spokes.
I had a look at all my previous bikes and the majority of them were 3 spokes and i didnt have any issues with them at the time plus they are so much easier to keep clean.
 
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