Front Wheel
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Great Lakes State
Roflmfao Dan...You got it Bro, You will be the first to see it after instal. But I can say, it will look just like mine. Lol
I wouldn't put anything larger than a 19" front wheel on a touring bike without raking the frame. A 19" wheel looks great, and handles perfectly with a stock frame and trees. Too many guys want to stuff a big wheel up under the front end, without properly correcting the geometry.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 311
Likes: 0
From: Great Lakes State
I wouldn't put anything larger than a 19" front wheel on a touring bike without raking the frame. A 19" wheel looks great, and handles perfectly with a stock frame and trees. Too many guys want to stuff a big wheel up under the front end, without properly correcting the geometry.
Ok cool. No I don't want some 26 incher...Lol. If I can do a 19' with no front end work, and same handling, than I'll stick with that. They just say that the smaller rims are hidden by the rotors, so the bigger the better for show but to a point where I don't want to lose handling or do any front end work. What about the rear, seems like a lot of $ for a wheel you don't see?
Former Sponsor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 10,968
Likes: 54
You can also run a 21" wheel. I run a 21 and 18 and the bike handles and rides great. No lowering on teh front end, just put the wheels on and go. No problems up to 110 mph. Lots of bad info out there.
But, if you do 18x3.5 front and 18x5.5 rear it will ride the same as it does now but sits a tad big (1/4"-1/2") higher off the ground. Many people like the 19 front 18 rear combo, but the other option is a 17x6.25 for the rear with a 200 tire. Give me a call and I help you sort through all of this.
But, if you do 18x3.5 front and 18x5.5 rear it will ride the same as it does now but sits a tad big (1/4"-1/2") higher off the ground. Many people like the 19 front 18 rear combo, but the other option is a 17x6.25 for the rear with a 200 tire. Give me a call and I help you sort through all of this.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 432
Likes: 63
From: Savage
I have a 21 front on my SG with lowering springs up front. Aside from the front feeling a little heavier below 5MPH, the ride is the same.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 17
From: San Jose
I have a 21 on mine. I am going to go against the 21 handles fine at stock height theory.
When I first put on the 21 I could not stand the fall over effect effect, When you raise the axle height by 1 1/2" it changes the geometry plain and simple.
By lowering the front end 2" I've got the handling pretty good now but the ride, not so much. I am going to try and raise it up 1/2" to 3/4" hope to improve the ride and not hurt the handling much.
My riding style is curves, I don't judge the handling by strait line speed. It has to handle in the turns. a 21" wheel requires a lot more input to control turn in and out of the curves. I am really getting used to it now and am really attacking the corners pretty good.
If I had the make a decision right now as to what wheel I could have for the the rest of the time I owned my bike, I would take the 21" off and go back to a 18" or maybe 19"
JMHO
When I first put on the 21 I could not stand the fall over effect effect, When you raise the axle height by 1 1/2" it changes the geometry plain and simple.
By lowering the front end 2" I've got the handling pretty good now but the ride, not so much. I am going to try and raise it up 1/2" to 3/4" hope to improve the ride and not hurt the handling much.
My riding style is curves, I don't judge the handling by strait line speed. It has to handle in the turns. a 21" wheel requires a lot more input to control turn in and out of the curves. I am really getting used to it now and am really attacking the corners pretty good.
If I had the make a decision right now as to what wheel I could have for the the rest of the time I owned my bike, I would take the 21" off and go back to a 18" or maybe 19"
JMHO