► Wheel sizes - 21in, 19in, 17in, alloys/wire

  • Thread starter Thread starter fred boyd
  • Start date Start date
I have just spent the last couple of weeks in the company of someone who rode the standard F800 GS on very twisty roads as fast as any sane person could conceivably want to. The tyres were Tourances. He is an experienced racer and saw no problem with the bike on the road in standard trim.
 
When my old Funduro needed a new rim Hagon Shocks were recommended to me:

http://www.hagon-shocks.co.uk/HagWheel.htm

Haven't used them myself, lack of funds at the time, but, they seem to be able to build to any spec.

If you do get this work done, let us know how you get on, will be interesting to see an 800GS with a smaller front wheel.

Personally I think that if you want a super-moto look and feel then buy a super-moto - the 800GS is too bulky IMHO.


Jolyon
 
fishburger said:
with my F800 GS,would like to go for 17" front wheel and change both wheels to tubeless option,will probably run Tourance or Anakee,same set up as I had on my 1200gs.
Can anyone point me to a place where I could get new wheels buildt with existing hubs?
Building spoked wheels here in Norway seems to be a lost art,at least not easy to find the right people.
If possible I would like to get the BMW stainless\tubless spoked rims as I had on my old 1200 gs.
Thanks for any help
fishburger
Click to expand...

Probably best to wait a bit as BMW will be giving us a FSupermoto soon. Or get in contact with AC Schnitzer in Germany, they have shown a while ago a F800GS with the wheelsize you mention. Can't find the photos now, maybee somebody else can point you to those.
 
Hi
Have been in contact with Hag Wheels,cant help even if I supply the rims,Bmw seems to be very spesial wheels.
AC Schnitser gave me a quote of 400 euros for a rebuild a month ago for the front wheel,when I was ready to go, I got an email which said that there was some issues and that they would not supply this wheels at the moment,might be possible at a later stage.
fishburger
 
Someone turned me on to Woody here: www.woodyswheelworks.com

He will do the job if the rim has a 'safety bead,' which the KTM rims do. Dunno about the F800GS, since mine is on the assembly line about now.
 
Hi
I sent an e mail to Woodyswheelwork 6 days ago, no answes so far:confused:
The way forward must be to get a set of the 1200GS stainless tubless rims,including the hubs and modify the aft wheelhub for belt or chain(for road use only)
I have measuerd the 19" tubeless frontwheel on the 2008 1200GS,this wheel seem to fit straight on to the F800gs apart from the axel,which is a little tinner on the F800 compaird to the 1200.All other measurments on the components around the hub is equal to the F800 gs.

What you need is new bearings to fit the F800 axel,that schould be an easy task,or turn the 1200gs axel down to size to fit the F800gs
The problem is the aft wheel,its not a difficult thing to do if you have the right tools,but I do not have the nessesary tools,and they are expencive to buy.
Lathe and mill
fishburger
 
Different wheels ?

Since my surprise test ride an a 800GS I am, erm.....surprised at how impressed I was with the bike. Seeing it at shows and sitting on it didn't do it for me. Then whilst having a long overdue service done on my GSA12 I gave it a go. Then it turned into a good go :D. This bikes just like a supermoto when you want it to be and a sensible commuter when that's all you want too :thumb2.
So after this I started read all the posts and find some info, this little bike had become a strong contender to oust the heavy weight smug b..tard :eek.
Then I spotted the post about the AC Schnitzer version. Wow SM wheels :eek: :cool:. This was the final straw to break the bank balance. BUT I can't get any details or prices out of Schnitzer, (i know its early days) but they do list prices etc for most of the other parts. I tried the contact option but no reply as yet. Don't understand why my english was perfect. :nenau. To a German company :o. I'll try again maybe.
So finally to my question..........Does anybody have any info or contacts or ideas that might help me to source some 17" ers to fit the 800? I'd really like some Marchesini's but no reply from them either...probably because its still August.
Whadya think...............
:beerjug:
 
Thanks Bob,
do you know if the parts are only available through dealers or can they be bought direct?
I too think the bike is great as is but its something I would like to try and mostly the looks really appeal to me. I realise I am probably going in a direction 180 degrees to most on this board but what the hell, I did the same when I bought my 1100GS all those years ago :rob
Thanks for the info :thumb
 
21' vs 19' front wheel on 800gs

Had a test ride of the 800gs today. Rode the 650gs about 2mth ago, currently ride a Suzuki sports/tourer with 17' front wheel.

While i recognise that I was only riding on tarmac. I took the bike into the same twisty industrial that i took the 650gs. The 21' front wheel had a dramatic effect dynamics/speed of direction change. This is in comparison to it's closest rival the 650gs with a 19' front wheel.

I have seen else were on this forum, and also admit to myself, 90% of my riding (if not more) will be on road. So I clearly recognise the benefit/drawbacks of a smaller 19' front wheel. Better dynamics and better breaking capacity (wider rubber), not as stable off road.

It would not be hard to retain the hub and brake discs and get the wheel re-strung with a 19' rim. The only question remains, how hard is it to get the speedo re-calibrated?
 
I was discussing this with a friend who's in the motor trade and he reckons the speedo data is taken from engine revs using electronics to do the calculations (with dealer input variables for sprockets and wheel sizes). Check this with your dealer and let us know the outcome.

Tim
 
Speedo data input...

Tim Cullis said:
I was discussing this with a friend who's in the motor trade and he reckons the speedo data is taken from engine revs using electronics to do the calculations (with dealer input variables for sprockets and wheel sizes). Check this with your dealer and let us know the outcome.

Tim
Click to expand...

Interesting; I'd assumed the speedo data came from the back wheel, as my bike (non-ABS) still has an ABS-type ring and sensor (I think) on the back wheel, and I couldn't think of any other reason it would be there. It would save all that mucking about in the event of sprocket changes, and I can't see why you'd want a different sized rear wheel...
 
The 1200GS gets its speed from the rear wheel as did my RSVmille via a sensor. Probably a good bet that the 800GS does similar.:nenau

If getting a new hoop on the front, why not do the rear as well, and go for non-tubed rim/tyres? for proper road tire fitmentness:thumb2
 
Has anyone?

Has anyone fitted a 19" front wheel?
How did u do it? (keep the hub or complete new front)
What happened to the speedo? (were adjustments needed?)
 
I found that on my '04 F650 Dakar a 19" rim was certainly better on the road than the 21" standard. I expected the same traits as the old 650 single with my F800GS... dropping in to corners etc.

But no.... you wouldn't know that it has a 21" rim. It goes round corners better than I can, so it'll do for me nicely :thumb

Might have a narrower tyre section on the road than a 19" rim... but it's got a longer one ;)

:beerjug:

www.adventure.gs
 
wheel rebuilds

For those asking about changing the size of wheels for the GS Central wheels have said they can rebuild my 800GS wheels as they are tubed. I am just considering weather to have a front 18" or both 17" SM wheels with spare off road wheels. Contact
www.central-wheels.co.uk
anybody know how much a set of 800 wheels are?
:beerjug:
 
Maybe coming back to BMW but need wheel advice

Hi everybody.

Used to own a 1200gs and it was a great bike but hated the diesel feel and sound of its engine .
Went to the NEC show to look at a few new bikes, specifically the 09 multistrada and monster which I didn't like, won't touch a fuel injected KTM again ( the FI is by far the snatchiest I have ever come across) , girlfriend hates the Buell ulysses so I was scratching my head until I saw the AC snitzer 800 in MCN which piqued my interest.
Snitzer isn't able to supply the bike due to issues with the wheels, plus the 17" front front looked too small although i bet the handling on road was far better, so Im going to ask you lot:

Could I buy an 800gs and convert the front to a 19" easily , and will I need the ABS sensor ring off the 650 ( which uses cast 19" wheels) or do you know the ABS will be fine ?
I converted a KTM adventure to a 19" front and the abs worked fine but this doesn't mean the bmw will.
 
There's no need to reduce the wheel size, it handles very well as it is, BUT.......

All you'd really need to do is get the wheel re-rimmed. Depending on the quality of parts, it'll cost from about £200 up to get done.

Due to the way ABS works, there should be no issues with retaining the original ring, and I'd be willing to bet that the 650 and 800 both use the same part anyway....... but I could be wrong :D
 
Thanks Wizard.

The bike will be solely used for touring on-road , and a 19" front with decent rubber gives more feedback and grip . I don't mind £200 for this. I have just sold my adventure and in the process of selling another bike so I will have enough for an 800 and some toys :)

I guess you hit the nail on the head, they probably use the same ABS sensor ring.. but does anyone know for sure?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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