Has anyone tried an 18" Front Wheel with an 18" rear?

[Boopduke]

For handling, wouldn't an 18" front wheel be better than a stock 19" wheel (an easy swap for spoked wheels)? Perhaps, the difference is too small to be noticed. Has anyone tried an 18" front wheel in combination with an 18" stock rear wheel? I thought two 18" wheels would look better too. Almost all modern bikes roll on 17" rubber front and rear (the best compromise for handling and stability, apparently). 18" sounds like a reasonable compromise.

 

[dwyatt]

I did it for my roadracer, works great. 17" would be better by todays standards, but not period correct.

 

[jdizon]

I don't know about looking better. I've seen many 19/19 and 21/21 setups.

 

[jdizon]

21"s on this bike.

 

[slither302]

here you go;

 

[650performance]

All the AHRMA Sportsman 750 Yamaha roadracers use 18 at both ends and handle very well; certainly as well as anyone would ever want on the street. Most use 130MM rears and 110 fronts, typically with about 29 lbs. F and 32 lbs. R tire pressure. Avon AM series tires work well, will last awhile and have more grip that you'll typically ever need for the street.
Then there's always the business about truing the wheels and aligning them carefully, installing new steering head bearings and freshening the swing arm bushings.
Finally, consider upgrading the shocks (or freshening them) and perhaps adding some Race Tech emulators and springs for your weight so the wheels have at least a fighting chance of following the road surface.

 

[gggGary]

650performance; then you want rims to match the 110 130 tires too? 2.15 front 2.50 rear?
So perhaps the first question is what are your riding goals and what tires will best suit you, then pick rims that match available tire sizes....

Heads up the spoke holes need to be drilled match the hub diameter ie XS650 rear rims will have spoke holes that are not angled properly to lace to a front hub.

 

[Boopduke]

I did it for my roadracer, works great. 17" would be better by todays standards, but not period correct.

Thanks, that's what I wanted to hear. I'm a function over form type, although I agree that 17" would be going too far (life is full of compromises).

 

[Boopduke]

How do those fat tires handle? (question for slither302)

 

[Boopduke]

slither302

 

[Boopduke]

All the AHRMA Sportsman 750 Yamaha roadracers use 18 at both ends and handle very well; certainly as well as anyone would ever want on the street. Most use 130MM rears and 110 fronts, typically with about 29 lbs. F and 32 lbs. R tire pressure. Avon AM series tires work well, will last awhile and have more grip that you'll typically ever need for the street.
Then there's always the business about truing the wheels and aligning them carefully, installing new steering head bearings and freshening the swing arm bushings.
Finally, consider upgrading the shocks (or freshening them) and perhaps adding some Race Tech emulators and springs for your weight so the wheels have at least a fighting chance of following the road surface.

I'll might go 90 on the front and 110 on the rear. I like a bike to handle. Any thoughts?

Definitely Race Tech emulators and Progressive Springs. When I was younger I had two 650 Specials at different times. I always had the suspension set up by Race Tech.

 

[Boopduke]

here you go;

View attachment 23712

How do those fat tires handle?

 

[Boopduke]

I don't know about looking better. I've seen many 19/19 and 21/21 setups.

19/19 and 21/21 definitely look better. Chopper types favor larger front wheels like the stock 19/18 setup. I tend to think that 18/18 looks better than 19/18, but that's purely a matter of taste. 21/21 looks best. Too bad, I'm interested in what handles best on the street (not the freeway).

 

[slither302]

How do those fat tires handle?

Not sure, not my bike. Contact Jay at vintage customs. It's his shop bike so he has put some miles on it and he could give you an honest answer.

 

[slither302]

Tires are dunlop k70's front and rear and from what I can see 4.00x18 so two rear tires I guess?

 

[jdizon]

19/19 and 21/21 definitely look better. Chopper types favor larger front wheels like the stock 19/18 setup. ).

I thought stock was 19/16?

 

[jetmechmarty]

For a cafe style bike, I've pretty much decided on 18/17. I expect my tire selection will be 110/80-18 front and 130/80-17 on the rear. I believe the rim widths are 2.5" in the front and 3" on the rear. My choice for the rear matches what is on the latest generation Triumph Bonneville and Moto Guzzi V7.

I haven't tried this yet, so this is not gospel.

 

[Tim of DO THE TON]

18/18 on my XS. Running AVON RoadRiders, 100 front, 110 rear. When these wear out I'll replace the front with a 90 and probably a 100 on the rear.

 

[Boopduke]

I thought stock was 19/16?

You're right--I meant stock for a Standard XS650, not a Special.

 

[Boopduke]

18/18 on my XS. Running AVON RoadRiders, 100 front, 110 rear. When these wear out I'll replace the front with a 90 and probably a 100 on the rear.

That's my kind of thinking--90 on the front/100 on the rear. The kind of bike that will turn!