21 inch front wheel conversion

[Shep]

DAM, BUG8ER, SOD, FLIPPIN ECK OH DEAREY, feck

It seems that no 21" tyre ie. a Tourance or TKC80 is radial, they're all cross ply which will be much weaker, especially in the event of hitting pot holes whilst using the Tourance during rough road sections particularly in Siberia

So, need a bit more thought and may end up playing it safe using the original 19" front.......oops, possibly the reason BMW don't give 21" front as an option.

This is a great shame since it does handle well offroad. feck

That's a shame, but it might be a blessing really, i've never been a fan of bent spokes in a wheel thinking that the extra pressure on the hub could lead to hub failure with cast ally hubs

Shep

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Oh dear

Just put more air in

 

[Timolgra]

That's a shame, but it might be a blessing really, i've never been a fan of bent spokes in a wheel thinking that the extra pressure on the hub could lead to hub failure with cast ally hubs

Shep

Yes possibly, I've always had an unfounded question mark over the wheels strength whereas experience has shown me the standard wheel is very tough, but now it's become an issue of both the tyre and the wheel

Oh dear

Just put more air in

On rough roads I'd probably drop the pressure a tad to help prevent the bike shaking apart

 

[vilguy]

if you want to give an 18" rear a go mate give me a shout, i have 2 spare rear hubs available. And ill be getting one laced up too.

Local MX wheel builder is going to build it onto tubeless alpina rims. - approx £240 per wheel.

Hes in birmingham so no postage for me

What tyres do ktm adventures come on? I saw one last night on pirelli scorpions with the 21" front. Not sure if thats radial or cross ply on the front though. And the scorpions more road than offroad unfortunately. Hmmm theres that new R version too, wonder what that comes wrapped with?

 

[Garry H]

DAM, BUG8ER, SOD, FLIPPIN ECK OH DEAREY, feck

It seems that no 21" tyre ie. a Tourance or TKC80 is radial, they're all cross ply which will be much weaker, especially in the event of hitting pot holes whilst using the Tourance during rough road sections particularly in Siberia

So, need a bit more thought and may end up playing it safe using the original 19" front.......oops, possibly the reason BMW don't give 21" front as an option.

This is a great shame since it does handle well offroad. feck

I would stick with the standard 19 inch wheel for the trip Tim...
It's strong tried and tested....And everybody else is on a 19 too

Also remember how long it took to flatspot the 21" on the 800 last weekend
The big KTM's also have a repo for bending front rims
You may have a stronger rim but you will have 50+ kilos extra weight

 

[vilguy]

I just completely fuggered my 19" front on a good fun trail ride *thanks larf lads* around the coalville loop. Its now more bent than a bm salesman. So seeing as ive got a perfectly good hub sitting there i think itll be built into a 21" front much sooner than expected!

 

[Timolgra]

I just completely fuggered my 19" front on a good fun trail ride *thanks larf lads* around the coalville loop. Its now more bent than a bm salesman. So seeing as ive got a perfectly good hub sitting there i think itll be built into a 21" front much sooner than expected!

I saw that and wonder how my 21" would fare with the same impact

 

[vilguy]

Well these alpina rims ill be getting laced up are pretty heavy duty..There used alot on the aprilia sxv's. There tubeless rims and wont have bent spokes. The 21" should help reduce any heavy impacts as itll be hitting any obstacles at a lower point on the wheel... in theory!

Probably just as likely to fook up but in the mean time ill be able to have some decent nobbles on the front to help avoid the trouble in the first place.

 

[Timolgra]

Well these alpina rims ill be getting laced up are pretty heavy duty..There used alot on the aprilia sxv's. There tubeless rims and wont have bent spokes. The 21" should help reduce any heavy impacts as itll be hitting any obstacles at a lower point on the wheel... in theory!

Probably just as likely to fook up but in the mean time ill be able to have some decent nobbles on the front to help avoid the trouble in the first place.

It's just so hard to predict what would happened with a 'one off' wheel, although I have no hesitation recommending the set up I have as a general great offroad wheel, I've not had it long enough to be 100% it's not going to let me down in west Mongolia or a pot hole in central Kazahkstan

 

[Rushy]

Excuse my ignorance Tim but would it not be most be prudent to give some consideration to which wheel would be easiest to straighten/repair/replace out in the field so to speak. If so which wheel would it be , the fancy spoked tubeless beemer 19" or the spoked tubed but unproven 21" ?

 

[Timolgra]

Excuse my ignorance Tim but would it not be most be prudent to give some consideration to which wheel would be easiest to straighten/repair/replace out in the field so to speak. If so which wheel would it be , the fancy spoked tubeless beemer 19" or the spoked tubed but unproven 21" ?

Ha, the other million dollar question mate that I've been pondering because in the case of my 21" the BMW wheel is easier to repair.
I carry standard spokes, 21" spokes are handmade and have a machined insert in the hub.

I've hit a rock step on my GS which has stopped the bike dead and i couldn't believe there was no damage, I think Vilguy is either a maniac or unlucky but I see plenty of dinged 21" wheels ( of course that's mainly down to them being fitted to offroad bikes), particularly the soft version that's fitted to some KTMs.

Considering the problems others have in their life I'm not going to stress over this too much

 

[vilguy]

I did almost break my arse when i smashed mine up. And i swear the subframes bent / sitting lower than before... ...

My own fault for seriously mucking it up on a set of hoops.

Ill give a review of the 21" rim when i get it, the builder reckons he can do it with standard spokes too!

Just need to choose a colour...*very important!*

 

[Rushy]

I've really only seen piccies of bolloxed 21's on here too and there seems to be plenty of skillful nutters willing to off road the GS both here and overseas.

Mmmmm, less likely to bend and easier to repair ...............it's looking like its gotta be the 19

edit : I've never seen a bollxed 19 front on here until 20 mins after I wrote the above, when I saw this post below. Unbelievable

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1786293&postcount=1

 

[(RIP) Kaister]

I'm hoping its a camera lens thing - but in the very first photo the 3 spokes i can see coming out of the hub look bent - or not going in the right direction ??

 

[Welshman]

You just want to buy his wheel, but seriously I agree the 19" is robust!!

mine got a smilie, AFTER 100,000 Km of use which included lots on sand and rocky routes...

 

[Mike F]

Just in case anyone wants it, I have Tims 21" wheel and its for sale. I have another 21", long story I got let down a little on the one I was building and just grabbed Tims as I wanted one quick.

£250 no disc tube or tyre and I can add discs, tube, a variety of tyres. Let me know what you want.