Ask Woody About Your Wheels

[Robb]

Hi Woody - another "how much and how long" question for you.

I picked up an '01 DR650 yesterday (yay!), because I missed my old one so much. Am using it strictly for street, and would like to do a few trackdays this year, cause I miss the track.

I'm figuring the standard 3.50" and 4.25" rims are the way to go, but I've heard of some folks going to 18" front/rears for a "semi-motard" setup. Again, I will NOT be going off road with this rig ... what would you recommend, 17" or 18"?

And now the usual question; if I send you my wheels complete, how long to turn them around, and how much $$? I'm thinking gold or blue rims, or black. Black spokes if you got'em, otherwise silver.

Thanks. BTW, rode my W650 a lot this week - you straightened the rear for me, it's perfect!

Robb

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by Robb

Hi Woody - another "how much and how long" question for you.

I picked up an '01 DR650 yesterday (yay!), because I missed my old one so much. Am using it strictly for street, and would like to do a few trackdays this year, cause I miss the track.

I'm figuring the standard 3.50" and 4.25" rims are the way to go, but I've heard of some folks going to 18" front/rears for a "semi-motard" setup. Again, I will NOT be going off road with this rig ... what would you recommend, 17" or 18"?

And now the usual question; if I send you my wheels complete, how long to turn them around, and how much $$? I'm thinking gold or blue rims, or black. Black spokes if you got'em, otherwise silver.

Thanks. BTW, rode my W650 a lot this week - you straightened the rear for me, it's perfect!

Robb

Robb,,,,here's a few pointers for all of you wanting wheels like this,,,

$$$$...set circa $400 aside for both wheels for spokes n labor,,, thats for a SUPERLACE using trick custom made ss pokes from Buchanan's,,,i've used them for 33 years and they build em just like i request.

a set of rims will set you back circa $300-600 depending on brand,size,and finish ,,FYI black anodized rims are for some reason always $15-30 more than the other colors,,,,polished rims add circa $80-120 each depending on size,,,same goes for powdercoating

before the current super-motard 17'' road-race tire rage,,,we roadraced these dual-sport/mx bikes using 2.50/2.75x18 front and 3.5x18 rear running 120/80 front and 140/70 rear...Dunlop 591s,,,,this combo allowed you crazy lean angles and would use up the entire tire surface equally front and rear

last but perhaps most important in all these conversions,,is giving me the data for how much clearance you have available front and rear,,,so it goes like this,,,BWOE front i'm running a80/90x21 it is 3''wide and i have 1.5'' clearance on each side of the forks ,,or i've got 6'' between the forks,,,same goes for the rear tire measurement plus we need the data between tire and chain as well as tire and swingarm. this info will tell me what we can realistically stuff in there.

in your case these tire/rim combos should work very well on the street and track

BTW,,,the above $$$ figures can be lower if you are on a budget and more if ya need bling

[jaydee1445]

Originally Posted by jaydee1445

Talked to chris yesterday, He said the 2.15 excell was out of stock and the 1.85 would'nt give up much street performance. Most of my off road is in Deep sugar sand and it seems the larger foot print of the 2.15 will float better on the sand. Am I correct?
Untill I can scrape up the coin for some Canyon rims I swap between Scorpions and 908rrs. I think the 2.15 will be easier to spoon rubber on also.
Do you have the sun 2.15 in stock?

OR ARE YOU INGORING ME
What about the 2.15 for the 9fiddy?
Sent my hub today

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by jaydee1445

OR ARE YOU INGORING ME
What about the 2.15 for the 9fiddy?
Sent my hub today

sorry,,their's only so much of me,,,chris and my sweetie are out of town for a few days,,,and i was just up to my ears,,,not to mention having an accurate answer for ya regarding what is in stock,,,will check when i go to the shop later on,,,

regarding the 2.15 on your 950,,,,i still assert it's fine for the street and smooth fire roads,,,that the 1.85 is a better size all around as well as for protecting itself in the rough stuff,,,and i myself have no personal experience in the sand,,,,with this rim size on your bike,,,

perhaps some others could chime in,,,i noticed that most of the paris dakar riders were on 1.60 or 1.85x21s

[garandman]

Originally Posted by woody's wheel works

////

before the current super-motard 17'' road-race tire rage,,,we roadraced these dual-sport/mx bikes using 2.50/2.75x18 front and 3.5x18 rear running 120/80 front and 140/70 rear...Dunlop 591s,,,,this combo allowed you crazy lean angles and would use up the entire tire surface equally front and rear

last but perhaps most important in all these conversions,,is giving me the data for how much clearance you have available front and rear,,,so it goes like this,,,BWOE front i'm running a80/90x21 it is 3''wide and i have 1.5'' clearance on each side of the forks ,,or i've got 6'' between the forks,,,same goes for the rear tire measurement plus we need the data between tire and chain as well as tire and swingarm. this info will tell me what we can realistically stuff in there.

I have a similar question. I have a second hub for my KLr that I would like to have built up as a primarily road wheel. A few folks have built 19" wheels with 2.5" wide rims and 110/80 or 110/90 tires. Most seem to build up 18", and a few now are going to the SuMo look with wide 17" rims. The fork spacing is 140mm, but it's a bit narrower at the base of the gaiters: I'm going to measure it tonight. Most folks seem to be using 110/80's although a few are using 120's.

The only tire choice I miss out on going to 18 from 19 is the Michelin Anakee (19 or 21 front only). I want to put a matching rear on, whatever I get, and folks report the max section they can fit is a 140: stock is 130/80 x 17. Looking at the clearance of the inner chain guard, I'm surprised even a 140 fits. So that limits the choices as well.

My focus is on commuting and back road fun, so good braking and handling on wet roads is important. What should I do? The hub is sitting on my workbench looking lonely.

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by garandman

I have a similar question. I have a second hub for my KLr that I would like to have built up as a primarily road wheel. A few folks have built 19" wheels with 2.5" wide rims and 110/80 or 110/90 tires. Most seem to build up 18", and a few now are going to the SuMo look with wide 17" rims. The fork spacing is 140mm, but it's a bit narrower at the base of the gaiters: I'm going to measure it tonight. Most folks seem to be using 110/80's although a few are using 120's.

The only tire choice I miss out on going to 18 from 19 is the Michelin Anakee (19 or 21 front only). I want to put a matching rear on, whatever I get, and folks report the max section they can fit is a 140: stock is 130/80 x 17. Looking at the clearance of the inner chain guard, I'm surprised even a 140 fits. So that limits the choices as well.

My focus is on commuting and back road fun, so good braking and handling on wet roads is important. What should I do? The hub is sitting on my workbench looking lonely.

SM wheels ,,4.25 x17 rear,,,3.50x17 front sporting
Distanzia 150/70HR17 Rear and Distanzia 120/70HR17 Front Tire
fits in there,,,

as well as what i mentioned in the previous post

will see if i can get pic or link like this....

KiLeR06 has a set like that,,,as well as Rick Danger's sm in post #90 in this thread

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showt...=148904&page=4

[porterdog]

:)

Soooo.... how about an update on the xr650 cush hub?

[emelgee]

Hi Woody

I'm in the UK and need to replace my front rim on my 03 KTM 950 Adventure, and I'm struggling to find a replacement in the standard 2.15" width - the UK Excel importer doesn't bring them in. I can get the 1.85" width no problem, but since 95% of my riding is on the road, I'd prefer to stick with the wider rim.
A couple of questions for you:
How much would you charge to send to the UK an Excel 2.15 rim in silver, with the correct drilling to fit the standard KTM front hub.
Spokes - will the standard KTM spokes be the correct length for the Excel rim, and the nipples the correct diameter for the rim holes? I can order a new set of spokes from my KTM dealer no problem, as long as they'll do the job. If not, then how much for a spoke kit?

Thanks,

Mark.

[woody's wheel works]

Originally Posted by emelgee

Hi Woody

I'm in the UK and need to replace my front rim on my 03 KTM 950 Adventure, and I'm struggling to find a replacement in the standard 2.15" width - the UK Excel importer doesn't bring them in. I can get the 1.85" width no problem, but since 95% of my riding is on the road, I'd prefer to stick with the wider rim.
A couple of questions for you:
How much would you charge to send to the UK an Excel 2.15 rim in silver, with the correct drilling to fit the standard KTM front hub.
Spokes - will the standard KTM spokes be the correct length for the Excel rim, and the nipples the correct diameter for the rim holes? I can order a new set of spokes from my KTM dealer no problem, as long as they'll do the job. If not, then how much for a spoke kit?

Thanks,

Mark.

mark,,,i'm out of town,,however ,i've forwarded your questions to my son chris,,he'll pm you an answer on monday,,if you'll be replacing oem spokes pop for the better ss x3 lace pattern ones that we use on the superlace,,,drilling costs the same lace and truing can be done by your locals,,,'cept you''ll have a stronger and better lasting wheel assy,,,rim circa $160 and beefy ss spoke kit $100+/-,,,FYI,,,the rims can be drilled for oem pattern and nipple sizes

[nimrod]

Woody - I have a '07 R1200GSA and am looking for a set of wheels to keep some pavement oriented tires on. Nothing fancy or exotic, just stock size is fine. Can you give me an approximate cost for something like this? Thanks, John

[Steeler7543]

Woody,

I have an 06 R1200GS with 3 Kmiles. In 4th or 5th gear, right between 5K and 5500K RPM, I get thie noise that sounds like surging, but the RPMs or performance of the bike does not change. I have the TKC 80's on the bike. The dealer switched wheels with another GS that had tourances on it and told me the noise was a harmonic coming from the tires. It sounds like an engine rather than tire noise to me. Your opinion?

[Chipper]

Woody, Any idea if 07 KTM 450 xcw rims (Excels) with lace up to my 01 400 exc? Have a chance to buy them right. Thanks

[woody's wheel works]

hi folks,,,,,

am in vermont and have been on road fpr the past few weeks,,,am in rural vermont ,,,taking care of the farm and my 88 year old mom,,,,,,,computer access 2 hrs evry 3rd day and slooooooooowwwwwww,,and just had another senior moment,,,forgot my specs,,,after draggung my buns across the mountain and thru the woods,,,so i can't even read your mail,,,,will be back next opportunity to answer your questions,,,,soon woody

ps you can ALWAYS call the shop toll free and my son chris will be ore than happy to solve your problems/answer questions,,,later,,,woody

[Baggi'tard]

Hey Woody, I'm quite interested in the rim sealing for my Baghira Street Moto wheels. They are Behr 17" MT 3.5 and 4.5 inch wheels. After getting a small nail the other day and determining I could not service the tube without breaking both beads and removing one side of tire from rim, I gotta look into this option. If this happens a long way from home, I'm kinda f'd.

The Behr rims are a bit rough on the inside. They have rather unfinished welds and the bead area actually has some "flat" spots (they only show up on inside, not outside of rim, which looks fine). Will these minor cosmetics allow going tubeless or do you think they might need some repair and refinish to do that?

Kyle

[JAFO]

Originally Posted by woody's wheel works

if you have a safety bead ,,,on your rim we can usually seal the wheel,,,we highly recommend giving it a quick true to make sure all spokes are tight/true,,,and there's nothing wrong with your oem rim,,,,,

I'd like to have this done. How much, round trip, to zip code 29420 (Charleston, SC)?