Advice on replacement rims

I hope to confuse and confound the rest of the world as much as Ms Peel did me on tire size and air pressure for handling hi power on tire edges. The fat=flatter tire advantage applied to every other motorcycle I've tired but not on Ms Peel. I've caused lost traction on rear or front and both tires in turns on every bike I've tried but was it so much harder to break free on Ms Peel I no longer see other motorcycles as worthy comparisons when any leaning conditions involved. I don't consider anything under 45' counting as a turn on Peel. The best handling I had on Peel was with almost 60 lb rock hard air pressure which made tires feel like hi speed ice skate blades instead of sluggish boogie board blunt handling.

So the rest of the world should follow the good advice found in fullauto's report and fit what successful Norton racers do for best handling feel on half fast corner cripples that need the wider profile to make up for the imprecise chassis reactions when front tire is pointing outward trying to force rear to lean inward to hang a turn on power. I once was confused as rest of the world too on what to spend for on rims and tires but blood forced out of my brain in turns made me follow Peel's preferences for peaky patches in leans. So don't be confused, no one w/o an articulated totally Neutral handling cycle should try to follow Ms Peel on hard pressure skinny peaked tyre patches.

Looking at this thread with great interest as still haven't decided on what combination of tyre (tire)& rim size to go with for Bike #2.
Bike #1 runs std 19" VM2 rims with a 100/90 Avon Venom up front and a Dunlop TT100 4.10 x 19 at the back .
I for one find this suits the road conditions I ride on in New Zealand and my ability , and up until recently i wasn't in a position to have the choice of tyres and rims for the bike. Now that I have the second bike and some spare wheels, I will be able to mix and match tyres and rims on the same day (s) over the same road conditions to the best of ny ability to give myself some feed back. Also will do the same on track days and hopefully get the best result for Bike #2's starting point.
Pity we aren't all on the same continent, all these bikes with different tyre/ rim combinations, one world class rider, same track or stretch of road and I am sure there would be a combination that would shine above the others!!!
Keep up the good work
Regards Mike

Hi, Just wondered if you had an update on the rim saga?
I'm rebuilding a '72 750 and need to change the rims (it had a big fat 16" rear!), and I was thinking of going with a WM3 rear and WM2 front.
I want to keep both at 19" dia, and I thought a WM3 rear would be better for a 100/90 Roadrider, maybe combined with a 90/90 front.
Or should I go both WM3 x 19 with 100/90?
I will be using the bike for fun, but want it to handle!


Cheers

Robin

Nobby said:

I will be using the bike for fun, but want it to handle!
Cheers

Robin

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I think that is one in the same.

I have 19" 2.15 shouldered Excel's with the Roadriders am26 100/90v -19 on both front and back. Perfect handling at all speeds. Look ma, no hands. But there are many good options and many will offer them here, I am sure.
Avon states that the min/max rim width is 2.15 to 2.75 for these tires.

JimC said:

No, a WM-3 rim is 2.15", a WM-4 rim is 2.5".

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Jim,

Actually there is no such thing as a WM-4 rim. Dunlop/Jones never defined wider rims than WM-3, so WM-4 is a pseudo-classification.
Furthermore, neither CWC nor Devon Rims will supply a 2.50" wide stainless rim. If you know of someone supplying these, please let me know.

-Knut

Thanks Pete, I think I might try the narrower WM2 with a 90/90 on the front, as you say there are plenty of good options!

Nobby said:

Thanks Pete, I think I might try the narrower WM2 with a 90/90 on the front, as you say there are plenty of good options!

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Here is a great source. WM-1 to WM 14. Not that you would want them, but you can get the so called unavailable WM4 -19 40 hole in many, many types.
http://www.buchananspokes.net/