02-25-2015, 10:28 AM | #2176 | |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 1,004
|
Quote:
Comparing with an old pic of the blue RX3, I knew the rear had to be a 17 (too much space around the rotor). The front should have looked smaller in proportion, but it didn't, so I knew they must have bumped the size. I do QA for a living so I love this kind of puzzle |
|
|
02-25-2015, 11:40 AM | #2177 | |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
Quote:
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
|
02-25-2015, 11:42 AM | #2178 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
|
To me, that's the answer. A 21" would be nice, but a 19" likely means no messing with the fender. There is an adequate selection of 19" front tires.
__________________
Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
|
02-25-2015, 11:48 AM | #2179 | |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 247
|
Quote:
Good question and thanks for asking it. I spoke with the engineers at Zongshen when I was there a few weeks ago, and the short answer is yes, there was more discussion, but no, we are not going to pursue it. The Zongshen engineers convinced me that this is not a good way to go. There are more than a few issues associated with the BMW concept of lacing the spokes on an outer lip to run tubeless tires, and we both decided we did not want to pursue this approach. The issues include increased cost, increased difficulty in mounting/dismounting tires (not a good idea for the kind of riding that may require fixing flats in the middle of nowhere), challenges in keeping the wheels trued, and more. For the foreseeable future, we're going to run wire wheels and tubes. Joe |
|
|
02-25-2015, 11:51 AM | #2180 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 247
|
You are right; the 19-inch bolts right in and doesn't require fooling around with the fender. It does change the handling, the bike's stance, and responsiveness a bit. It works with the stock sidestand, but the bike leans a few more degrees to the left with the 19-inch wheel on the sidestand. A 21-inch wheel would not fit with the stock fender, and it would require sidestand modification.
|
|
02-25-2015, 01:20 PM | #2181 |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 223
|
What changes, Joe?
Does it 19" wheel slow handling and responsivness or?
Also, Do you recommend any of the tubless methods in aftermarket for our ue? ie: tubliss, etc? |
|
02-25-2015, 02:15 PM | #2182 | |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 247
|
Quote:
I personally do not recommend any of the gimmicks for making a spoked wheel run tubeless. A few of my friends have tried it with mixed results. A guy I know who makes wheels for a living advised against it. Me, I just look at all of those spoke nipples in the wheel and recognize that every one of them is an opportunity for a leak if you attempt to seal the wheel so you can run tubeless. Other people will have different opinions and that's what makes the world go around, I guess. Converting a spoked wheel to tubeless is not something I would ever do, especially on a motorcycle that takes me to some "out there" destinations. It's solving a problem that doesn't exist (in my opinion). As we have pointed out here and elsewhere, our three test bikes (the first RX3s to enter the US) have optimistic speedos. The larger front wheel and the larger Trail Wing tire corrected most of that error on the one bike we tested yesterday (i.e., the one shown in the photo). We have specified improved speedometer accuracy on the production bikes and Zongshen committed to providing that, so I don't see it as an issue on the bikes currently en route to the US. |
|
|
02-25-2015, 02:19 PM | #2183 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
Quote:
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
|
02-25-2015, 03:03 PM | #2184 |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 223
|
Just what I was looking for, Steve.
Thanks. I kind of suspected that it would slow responsiveness down from increased gyro effects and more unsprung weight also. Makes sense to me now. I also think I know why you went 19" instead of 21, also, re % on road vs offroad expected use of the RX-3 average owners rides.
The biggest issue was the rear 15" situation re tires when not home or shipping address is available or known. Glad you fixed that. Probably the #1 best thing (excepting importing the bike, that is, you've done re the RX-3 for USA buyers. Apparently everyone else agrees with that, as I have seen NO comments for the 15" wheel/tire combo. Guess if it ain't broke, I'll just ride, for now re tubeless issues... I need some tire tools (proper ones) though. I remember changing tires/fixing flats, especially in the field! it being a HUGE PITA when I used to ride as a teenager... (screwdrivers are NOT proper tools to change tube or tires!! hehe |
|
02-25-2015, 03:10 PM | #2185 |
Banned
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 223
|
OOPs!
Joe, I called you Steve my bad, sorry.
|
|
02-25-2015, 03:14 PM | #2186 | |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
Quote:
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
|
02-25-2015, 03:28 PM | #2187 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Arvada, CO
Posts: 1,004
|
Based on the latest blog pics of the new 17/19 wheels, the tires look like Bridgestone Trailwings TW39 (front) and TW42 (Rear). They seems like a good 60/40 (hwy biased) tire. If they wear anything like the TW101 & TW152 on my V-strom, they should last a long time, except a lot better offroad.
I like the idea of buying the 19" wheel/tire and switching back and forth from stock depending on the ride. But I wonder how much difference changing the front will make offroad if I keep using the stock rear till it wears out. |
|
02-25-2015, 03:30 PM | #2188 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
|
CSC just posted a tutorial on adjusting the drive chain. I have added a link to this tutorial under the Maintenance subheading in the RX3 Sticky thread.
http://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=14228
__________________
Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
|
02-25-2015, 03:33 PM | #2189 |
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 247
|
That's okay. I want to be like Steve when I grow up, so it was kind of a rush for me...
That's Steve on the left. I'm the good looking one in the maroon jacket on the right. |
|
02-25-2015, 03:42 PM | #2190 |
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 159
|
You could regain someone of the sharper handeling by dropping the forks in the triple clamps a bit. Will the 19" wheels be availbe to order and be delivered a long with the stock 18" wheels?
I guessed 4 of the 5 last night and was thinking bigger front wheel but just kept thinking a 21" would look lot bigger. Never occured to think 19", but thanks for the entertaining back and fourth Joe! The owner ship experience for the RX-3 is proving to quite unique in all good ways and we don't even have the bike yet! Joe once this bike starts getting high visabulity with a bunch of us early adopters running around the back roads I hope CSC is prepared to grow! |
|
|
|
|
|