19" front rim on a Dakar

[dakarjim]

I finally got round to having a Tourance put on a 19" GS rim that i acquired yesterday.

i have been having some issues with the handling of my bike - it was weaving at motorway speeds, and trying to ride slowly in a straight line was damn near impossible (which, for the record, i have never had a problem with before)

I was advised to try a 19" rim to improve the road manners of my bike. I know that it is supposed to be used offroad as well, hence the 21" wheel, and that maybe i should of bought a normal GS, but i like the look of my Dakar more, and will in all honesty never do any offroading on it

All i can say is, for those of you with a Dakar that thinks a gravel driveway is offroading, you should definately consider putting a GS wheel on the front.

It makes the bike much more stable and easy to control at very slow speeds, and cornering is much more confident - the bike feels planted compared to the stock wheel which i always thought was a bit twitchy. As a bonus it lowers the seat height slightly - i was on tiptoes before but now both feet are nearly flat. The sidestand still works fine - i always thought it was a little short anyway.

When i've had a chance to do some high-speed motorway stuff with luggage i will let you know how it compares to stock.



A very happy Jim

ps the tyre is a 100-90 19" tourance £39.99 from Busters

 

[snoopy]

Yeah it was the best mod on my Dakar. The 21" was sluggish...

 

[AxeGrinder]

I just purchased a used rear, and a 19" front for my Dak, to fit in winter months with road tires on...not fitted yet, so can't comment on the difference.

Sounds like it was a good move...look forward to hearing more about the subject?

 

[rc mad]

i've never had a problem wth the 21 inch front wheel. Can balance the bike at a standstill easily and it doesn't weave about at any speed No complaints with handling either

Only time the bike weaves about is if its fully loaded with panniers and a top box and i've forgotten to wind up the rear preload. It'll start weaving at 85mph. With the preload wound up theres no weave at all.

 

[Timolgra]

Drop the forks an inch in the yokes and keep the 21" front wheel.

 

[AxeGrinder]

A bit more info:

I have no trouble with the 21" wheel, moving slow thru traffic, or at motorway speeds...only had a little weave at 90mph plus...which I don't do anymore! Altho I did get a shock when I tried to hold the throttle with my left hand, whislt trying to do something with the right...a little more unstable than a 17incher, when trying that trick and definately not recommended!!!

I have put sports bikes to shame in the twisty's even with TKC's...I only wanted the smaller wheel for winter commuting...

Defo keeping the 21" incher for summer and off road.

 

[dakarjim]

must admit i never thought of dropping the forks a bit!

i still reckon its worth doing if you can pick up a 19" rim; maybe its just me, but i reckon the bike feels a lot more stable. i used to ride a funduro before the Dak, and could drag the pegs on it. I bought the new one without a test-ride and was suprised at how much worse i thought the handling was!

fwiw the weave at motorway speeds was at anything over 80, with or without luggage, and regardless of preload setting. i know its not the SHB's, its just been serviced and the dealer said there was nowt wrong with them

i wonder if there was a problem with the wheel balance? dont know if that would cause problems like i was getting, but they seem to be gone now anyway

 

[dakarjim]

I have put sports bikes to shame in the twisty's even with TKC's...I only wanted the smaller wheel for winter commuting...

makes me wonder how well the sportsbikes were being ridden!