Wheels and rotors

[lljjmm]

I have 2000 Valk Interstate with the original "2 J" wheels and rotors.  I have a  front "1 J"  wheel I wish to use for a spare.

What "rotors" are needed so it fits my Interstate? 

I have reviewed the archives and found a bunch of varying information, what is correct? Thanks 

[gordonv]

I looked on the site to confirm. There is only one set for the front, 97'-03'.

[lljjmm]

So if I put my existing front rotors from my "2 J" on the "1 J" wheel it will work with the existing calipers?

[Bighead]

It should.

[rhinor61]

Here is list of what fits what year wheel/bike model.

FRONT---

DISK, R. FR. BRAKE
45120-MZ0-003
1997-2003 All

DISK, L. FR. BRAKE
45220-MZ0-003
1997-2003 All

--------------------
REAR---

DISK, RR. BRAKE
43251-MT8-000
1997 thru 1999 non Interstate

DISK, RR. BRAKE
43251-MBY-671
1999 Interstate
2000-2003 All

[Chrisj CMA]

It's only the rear wheel that has a special rotor requirement.  The difference between those two fronts are just the smaller bearings for the'97

[Jess from VA]

The only other complicator is the actual wheel being used. 

If the wheel in question is the correct OE for the year/model of the bike, then go with the chart (or parts fishe).

If, however, you have a used wheel from some other year, then go with the correct part for the wheel, not the year/model of the bike.

This would be a good and simple subject for a shop talk article. 

[Chrisj CMA]

The only other complicator is the actual wheel being used. 

If the wheel in question is the correct OE for the year/model of the bike, then go with the chart (or parts fishe).

If, however, you have a used wheel from some other year, then go with the correct part for the wheel, not the year/model of the bike.

This would be a good and simple subject for a shop talk article. 

Yep, and for front wheels this only applies for bearings, all front rotor years are compatible

[Tfrank59]

I have a 98 tourer, and a 2001 spare rear wheel – anybody know what's incompatible about those rotors?  Bolt pattern? inside diameter?  Kind of a drag – I thought they were interchangeable

[Jess from VA]

This has something to do with raised button head rotor bolts (early) and flushmout/countersunk rotor bolts (late), and problems from the raised bolts and the later year calipers, I think.

I've seen pics of this in the past on here.

It may be something that can be remedied and still use the wheel, maybe. 

[Tfrank59]

So it sounds like you can use a later rotor On an earlier model with the flushmounted bolts but not an earlier rotor On a later model wheel with the button head bolts.

[Chrisj CMA]

So it sounds like you can use a later rotor On an earlier model with the flushmounted bolts but not an earlier rotor On a later model wheel with the button head bolts.

No, wrong... You can use any year wheel on any year Valkyrie as long as it has it's (the wheel) own year rotor, no mix and match between wheel and rotor in the rear at all.

[Tfrank59]

OK for future reference, I just compared a 98 rear rotor with an 01 rear rotor, and all the diameters are exactly the same.  What makes them not interchangeable is on the 01 it is not recessed (counterbored) thinner where the bolts are like it is on the 98.  (That's why the 01 has flat headed screws, and the 98 has more like fillister head or button head screws) The inner part of the 98 rotor is only about 3 mm thick (recessed by about 2 mm on each side), and the inner part of the 01 rotor is about 6 mm thick, recessed only by about a half a millimeter on each side.  So if you tried to bolt the 01 rotor to the 98 hub without modifying it, the rotor would be offset outboard by approximately 1 1/2 mm (~.06"), and it wouldn't lineup in the caliper properly. Bummer.

[lljjmm]

I think it would be less confusing if everyone would state if they are talking "front wheel" or "rear wheel" in the discussion.

I agree, this is definitely one for a Shop Talk article.

[Jess from VA]

So Tfrank, you could either try a spare wheel swap with someone, or find the early rotor parts for your wheel, no?

[Tfrank59]

Yeah I'll do the whole wheel swap if I have to.  I'm the guy that has a spare '01 rear wheel that looks kind of ugly. I was just wondering if I could swap just rotors if my '98 rear rotor got worn down more, but apparently not.

[lljjmm]

Thanks guys, the info given got rid of some of the confusion between the front and rear wheels/rotors of what fits what.
I kind of wonder why the front wheels come both in the "1 J" and "2 J" wheels, when  all the years front rotors fit them and will work on all years of Valks. By deduction then all front wheels (1 J and 2 J) may be the same just produced in different years and number stamped different.

[Jess from VA]

Other than smaller '97 wheel bearings, I'm not sure of the difference, except later years were polished and clear coated (which is definitely easier on the low back on scrub-a-dub days).

[lljjmm]

So I took the front rotors off the "2 J" wheel and installed them on the  "1 J" wheel, they fit like they belonged. Then I installed the "1 J" wheel on my Interstate and every thing fit, calipers and all,  with no issues.

Thanks guys.

[hubcapsc]

So it sounds like you can use a later rotor On an earlier model with the flushmounted bolts but not an earlier rotor On a later model wheel with the button head bolts.

People have been known to shim an old rotor and use it on a newer wheel... I don't think you
could "unshim"  ??? a new rotor onto an old wheel. Even though shimming "works" it doesn't
seem ideal to me...

What matches (this is from memory) is all STD-Tourers through 99. 99 Interstates and everything
else for the rest of the run have the new style wheel/rotors...

-Mike

[Tfrank59]

Well when it comes to the rear wheel/rotor, according to my measurements to use an 01 rear rotor on a 98 hub a guy would have to actually set up the rotor in a lathe and machine off .06" from one side of it where the bolt pattern is–-that's the only "un-shimming" that would do it. . And I'm pretty sure that stainless they made the rotors out of would machine like kryptonite if a guy were to try it.  No, I'd just go-ahead and swap the whole wheel or buy the right year rotor--we're talking just the rear wheel here.