Chocolate Rims - Xchallenge

PaulXC · Jul 2, 2009

I had heard they were a bit soft but I'd banged my XC around Wales and the Peaks and had never had a problem ..... until now.

Just pulled the XC out of the shed as I thought I'd at least clean it before the Ryedale and found that on my last outing with SkyGod I must have smacked in the front rim.

I don't remember anything particularly hard but I know the wheel was OK before I went out coz I'd just changed the tube.

Bit of bugger really and I was wondering whether it would be OK to rally with this weekend. But my mate Jon, ( he's not of this parish) whose XC is also parked round at mine at the moment while he's away said I could borrow his front wheel - top man ! :thumb2

(On a "I bend it I mend it basis of course").

Quick wheel swop later and all is ready for the weekend.

Now ... what do I do ? - do i buy a new wheel from BMW or does anyone know of a wheelebuilder in the NWest who can replace the rim with something a bit tougher?

Cheers

Paul

FERRET · Jul 2, 2009

Paul,
ive had similar damage on my KTM front rim, have managed to straighten it by giving the rim a good clout with a rubber/hide mallet, it went back into shape and has never caused any problems, if you are reguarly using the bike off road which you are i suppose its inevitable, ide try to get it back in shape and maybe save some money, you might put a new rim on and do the same next outing

ferret

PaulXC · Jul 2, 2009

FERRET said:
Paul,
ive had similar damage on my KTM front rim, have managed to straighten it by giving the rim a good clout with a rubber/hide mallet, it went back into shape and has never caused any problems, if you are reguarly using the bike off road which you are i suppose its inevitable, ide try to get it back in shape and maybe save some money, you might put a new rim on and do the same next outing

ferret

Yeah - I think you're right. Looking at it again I think it should clout out. I only really ride it on the trails so I don't think I'll notice if the wheel isn't quite true.

Paul

Spout · Jul 3, 2009

PaulXC said:
I don't think I'll notice if the wheel isn't quite true.

You didn't

Good luck fixing it BTW

swissrob · Jul 3, 2009

has the spoke hole above the ding got a crack in it???

JohnnyBoxer · Jul 3, 2009

PaulXC said:
Yeah - I think you're right. Looking at it again I think it should clout out. I only really ride it on the trails so I don't think I'll notice if the wheel isn't quite true.

Paul

What psi are you running in the front tyre??

May have contributed to the rock damage?

PaulXC · Jul 3, 2009

JohnnyBoxer said:
What psi are you running in the front tyre??

May have contributed to the rock damage?

I was running it at 18 psi - I think.

Adventure Stu · Jul 6, 2009

PaulXC said:
I was running it at 18 psi - I think.

That's a fair bit higher than I run for rocky trails. I've been as low as 12-13psi for rockier stuff with no issues and on one occassion in the Pyrenees 10psi in the front. Not too soft as to end up with 'impact' punctures. I wouldn't have thought a softer tyre would've helped prevent rim damage. Punctures yes.

JohnnyBoxer · Jul 6, 2009

PaulXC said:
I was running it at 18 psi - I think.

There's the potential problem :blast

I run my XChallenge on Pirelli MT21's @ 25psi front and rear in summer or winter, on rocks or mud or gravel like the Plain (this weekend)

No rimlocks

Pirelli MT21's have a very stiff sidewall anyway, so letting the the pressure down to 15-18psi has little effect on grip and tyre print on the trail............however for those 'big rock hits', you'll bend the rim or give the tube a 'snakebite' puncture

Therefore I run at 25psi all the time

Remember the XChallenge is a relatively heavy dualsport and @150kg with fuel and then the rider weight, there's not a lot of point running below 20psi and also then road handling is compromised

I never struggle for grip and the use of the throttle/rider skill/technique has more to do with finding grip (you saw me Paul, back in January in the Dales on that ice climb when you and the others struggled big time, including KMD on a WR250 and I never lost traction once)............ than what psi you run the tyres at

Tyre psi is more critical on a sub 120kg full bore enduro bike, than something like an XC

Spout · Jul 6, 2009

JohnnyBoxer said:
I never struggle for grip

Liar

But I agree with everything else

JohnnyBoxer · Jul 6, 2009

Spout said:
Liar

But I agree with everything else

I was generalising

Most people use too much throttle and spin out

Been riding a HP2 on the Plain this weekend............ :mmmm

nice

105HP does make it spin a lot though

Finds 'air' very well though

Flipfly · Jul 6, 2009

Spout said:
Liar

But I agree with everything else

I agree, I've seen his hand slip off the rock face of sanity before, and claw at the edges of normal behaviour

JohnnyBoxer · Jul 6, 2009

Flipfly said:
I agree, I've seen his hand slip off the rock face of sanity before, and claw at the edges of normal behaviour

PaulXC · Jul 7, 2009

JohnnyBoxer said:
There's the potential problem

I run my XChallenge on Pirelli MT21's @ 25psi front and rear in summer or winter, on rocks or mud or gravel like the Plain (this weekend)

No rimlocks

Pirelli MT21's have a very stiff sidewall anyway, so letting the the pressure down to 15-18psi has little effect on grip and tyre print on the trail............however for those 'big rock hits', you'll bend the rim or give the tube a 'snakebite' puncture

Therefore I run at 25psi all the time

Remember the XChallenge is a relatively heavy dualsport and @150kg with fuel and then the rider weight, there's not a lot of point running below 20psi and also then road handling is compromised

I never struggle for grip and the use of the throttle/rider skill/technique has more to do with finding grip (you saw me Paul, back in January in the Dales on that ice climb when you and the others struggled big time, including KMD on a WR250 and I never lost traction once)............ than what psi you run the tyres at

Tyre psi is more critical on a sub 120kg full bore enduro bike, than something like an XC

Yeah - learnt the hard way! I usually run them higher than 18 but I just put some new HD tubes in and figured I try them with lower pressures to see if grip wise it was better.

It was them damm stoney trails in the Peaks that got it.

I haven't had a chance to price up the new rim yet but I suspect it won't be a cheap mistake.

Paul

pinkytiff · Aug 12, 2009

Rim Repair

PaulXC said:
Yeah - learnt the hard way! I usually run them higher than 18 but I just put some new HD tubes in and figured I try them with lower pressures to see if grip wise it was better.

It was them damm stoney trails in the Peaks that got it.

I haven't had a chance to price up the new rim yet but I suspect it won't be a cheap mistake.

Paul

I've just noticed a similar dink in my rear rim - took it to the local specialist and his recommendation was :-
- remove wheel & tyre
- remove rear disk to get a clear swing at rim
- gently heat the rim
- clout it with a plastic mallet
- job done,.................in theory

I was running mine on 15 - 18psi on pretty rocky stuff. Think I'll now try a bit more like JohnnyB

Chocolate Rims - Xchallenge

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