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11-21-2022, 11:14 AM | #1 |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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19" vs. 21" front wheels
I heard a YouTube comment that highway ride with 21" wheels gets more wobbly than with 19" (or less) wheels.
I wondered, "Is THAT why manufacturers fit 19" (or less) front wheels to LIGHT-weight 'Adventure' bikes? Is that why I read/hear so many statements like "I wouldn't (want to) ride a dual-sport more than a few Exits on highway"? ... forgetting short-gearing and high cruising rpm's for a moment. I'd be interested to hear what those of you who have ridden bikes with BOTH 19" and 21" wheels feel. Thanks - in advance - for your insights. |
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11-21-2022, 11:22 AM | #2 |
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Houma, La.
Posts: 11,707
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The wobble may be more from the tire type and rake of the bike. On my Hawk with knobbies is very unstable at speeds over 65 mph where as the dual sport tires on my KPX is just as stable as my Vulcan S doing 70-75 mph. Both these bikes have 21" wheels.
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2024 Linhai 300 ATV 4x4 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S (Sold) 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel |
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11-22-2022, 09:58 AM | #3 | |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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turning vs. wheelbase
Quote:
I imagine that squirmy dirt knobbies don't exactly enhance straight-line stability, too? |
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11-22-2022, 02:33 PM | #4 | |
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 8,100
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Quote:
Compared to a Supersport both bikes are a bit big and slow to turn in. but compared to the rest of the bike market they are agile corner carvers. What they both really are is high speed highway missiles. My VFR1200 is dead stable at over 100mph even with the luggage on. Some of that is the chassis setup. and some of it is the aerodynamics of the bike itself.
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Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124 |
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11-21-2022, 11:26 AM | #5 |
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: De Soto, MO
Posts: 1,943
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My Lifan X-pect did not like hwy speeds, stability-wise. 19" wheel. My KPX is much more stable with its 21" wheel, and a bit more weight.
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2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Nope, finally retired. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself |
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11-21-2022, 12:10 PM | #6 | |
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Argentina
Posts: 756
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Quote:
The Rim size is the easier thing to blame, when they don't want to see the whole picture. John Johnson took his Crf450f to the highway, he didn't like the way it ride, so he put the blame to the rims... Not the fact it's a lightweight motorcycle with a power to weight ratio that's amazing, high center of gravity and wheelbase that's somewhat short. Of course we can't blame the motorcycle, because it was never made for highway or on road use But you know what motorcycle also use 21" as their front rim?? The Africa Twin Adventure sport. There are things that are far way more important when it comes to wobble. If we talk just about chinese motorcycles, tread type will be way more important than 19 vs 21. I had motorcycles with 19 and 21 and they did behave the same, because i use the same type of tire. |
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11-21-2022, 01:05 PM | #7 |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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Interesting observations, Thanks.
The centrifugal force generated by 19" (or 17") vs. a 21" didn't make sense to me that a 21" would be more 'wobbly' ... based upon just the size difference. As a newcomer (NO bike, yet), considering motorcycling for exploring, I'm dismayed by motorcycle INflexibility, compared to alternatives (e.g. an ATV or Jeep Wrangler). The notion that you need a different bike and different tire for each road/trail leaves me disappointed. I recognize that part of that perception is marketing hype/bling; but, nevertheless ... Street tires that slide out from under you on soft/loose surfaces and dirt tires whose knobbies squirm, especially in corners ... do not inspire confident riding. Coupled with the oft-quoted 8x more vulnerability, riding a bike vs. a car ... and requirements to be constantly scanning the road/trail, I wonder if I'd ever see any scenery ... except at a STOP ? Last edited by Discoveror; 11-21-2022 at 01:38 PM. |
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11-21-2022, 07:06 PM | #8 | |
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Argentina
Posts: 756
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Quote:
"Ohhh no it's a death trap that wrangler!!! you can't outrun a Ford Mustang in a highway!!!" "Pff that Wrangler is not safe try to do a hard steer at 130 mph, you are going to roll over!! that won't happen with a nice car!!!" The issue is not the Jeep, the issue are the folks that don't understand what's the main purpose of wrangler. Adventure Motorcycles are quite flexible, some riders aren't. For some reason some riders think that every motorcycle must be a super sport bike and those riders love to trash talk most type of adv motorcycles unless they are the top dogs like an African Twin, Super Tenere, some BMW. Some folks just love to trash talk the Klr 650, because it has "vibrations", because it doesn't go 120 mph, because Kawasaki is not making a new engine every year.. But hey it's a bulletproof engine that been around for the last what 30 years?? The engine has proven reliability. It's not fast but it has more than enough torque to carry stuff and some good off road. Yes is not a Yamaha R1, because it was never meant to be an R1. |
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11-21-2022, 01:11 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: odessa MO; donna TX
Posts: 152
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I agree with JerryHawk and Wild Dog. Too many variables to answer with real definition. Are the rims true? Has the wheel/tire combo been properly balanced? What is the type of tire? I've ridden lightweight adventure bikes, heavyweight ADV bikes and dual sports bikes up to 95 mph+ without issue. Do you think it's a good idea to ride at high speed with non DOT knobbies?
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11-22-2022, 10:14 AM | #10 | |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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Quote:
Are most knobbies non-DoT approved for street use? |
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11-22-2022, 01:54 PM | #11 |
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: odessa MO; donna TX
Posts: 152
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The DOT designation means they are approved for street use.
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11-21-2022, 01:42 PM | #12 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,913
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Large diameter wheels roll over obstacles easier than small wheels so 21" is better off road but 19" is fine. There were some old dirt bikes that came with a 23" front wheel but I don't see those used any more. 17" front and rear is comon on street bikes for better, quicker cornering. Scooters are even quicker handling with 8" to 16" wheels. I've owned bikes and scooters with front wheel sizes of 8", 10", 14", 16", 17", 18", 19", 21".
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11-21-2022, 06:31 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Omaha, NE
Posts: 8,100
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Larger diameter = increased centrifugal force = more resistance to changes in direction. This is why sport bikes have 17" front and rear wheels with low profile wide tires. Great for handling and corners compared to the tall skinny wheels and tires of dual sports and cruisers.
That said, ad the rest have pointed out the chassis setup and overall geometry of the bike play a big role. Too. Lowering the back of my Hawk increased the rake and trail a decent amount, which lead to a much more stable and lazier steering bike. It loves to cruise along at highway speeds. When I had the.other shock on and the back of the bike sat higher than stock it was much more twitchy at high speeds. Same tires with both setups.
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Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124 |
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11-22-2022, 10:19 AM | #15 | |
Join Date: Nov 2022
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 90
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Quote:
Lessons WELL taken ... credible supporting example, too; thanks Megadan. |
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