New wheel question

One is to turn the right rear shock mount bolt around so the head is on the inside of the swingarm otherwise the tyre won't fit. The other is to use button headed cap screws on the front mudguard mount attached to the forks or the front tyre won't fit.

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Fullauto,

The stock position for the lower right shock bolt should already be this way. Why would the front mudguard mounting studs interfere with tire fitment? The spokes should be in the same position regardless of the rim width. However, I have always found it more convenient to use cap screws rather than studs for this.

So, the 100/90 on WM-4 does not create clearance problems with the stays on the stock front fender? And no chainguard headaches? That's great news!

Are your Morad rims valanced? If so, where did you find WM4-19's?

I called Avon USA and their tech guy said it was more a problem of uneven wear. I just said OK and left it at that but I'm not sure how a smaller wheel section makes the tire wear unevenly. That said, I'm going to go up to the WM3 but not the 4.

He is probably referring to the fact that on a narrower rim only the center part of the tire will wear as you cannot approach the lean angle necessary to get the tread near the edges on the pavement. The wider rim flattens out the contour of the tread and allows more of the tread surface to contact the road.

Ron, I'm referring to the mounting studs which attach the front guard mount to the inner part of the forks, not the stays themselves. When I first went to fit my front wheel, the tyre would not physically fit between them. So, i simply removed the studs and fitted button headed cap screws instead. Now, no fitment issues. Regarding the rear shock mounting bolt, that was how it was fitted to mine. I simply reversed it and had the nut on the outside. Now it is a tight fit, but will go in.
Powerdoc, 100/90 Roadriders on a 1.85" standard rim are great tyres. However, on a 2.5" rim, which they are made for, the difference will put a smile on your face. It is a truly wonderful combination.
The only downer for some is that despite some research, nobody seems to make dog pee collectors, oops, I mean valanced rims in 2.5" 19s. 18s, no problem.

Ron, I'm referring to the mounting studs which attach the front guard mount to the inner part of the forks, not the stays themselves. When I first went to fit my front wheel, the tyre would not physically fit between them. So, i simply removed the studs and fitted button headed cap screws instead.

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That's what I thought you meant. I always remove the nuts (or bolts) from the front fork mounts before pulling the wheel.
Even with my stock 750 with 4.10 K81 on the front, it's a pain to pull the front wheel without unbolting the mudguard first. It just makes it easier. If you are using the studs you can rotate the fork slider and the wheel will slip right out. :wink:

On my Interstate with a 100/90-19 Avon I use a Harley aftermarket mudguard with no front or rear stay (Brembo brake). The center mount is close with this tire, so I was curious if a stock fender would interfere with the front and rear stay.

I was hoping for a set of WM4-19 valanced alloys for my next project, but it looks like those are not available. Now I have to decide to go with WM3-19's or WM4-18's. The 18 inch wheels will drop the bike 1/2 inch unless I go up to 110/90 and 100/90 over 100/90 and 90/90. What sizes are you running?

OK, now we have settled the question, almost, of the proper wheel for AM26's 100/90, where can I get the proper WM3 wheel in stainless polished for an 850 mk3. Walridge has a "kinda" WM2, I was told the width was 2" in their SS wheel, at a rather nice price I might add, but the nice lady I spoke with wasn't sure they had a 19 incher with WM3 width. Yhey're calling me back on it today. Any help here? I'll go back to a chromed wheel if that's my only option.

powerdoc said:

OK, now we have settled the question, almost, of the proper wheel for AM26's 100/90, where can I get the proper WM3 wheel in stainless polished for an 850 mk3. Walridge has a "kinda" WM2, I was told the width was 2" in their SS wheel, at a rather nice price I might add, but the nice lady I spoke with wasn't sure they had a 19 incher with WM3 width. Yhey're calling me back on it today. Any help here? I'll go back to a chromed wheel if that's my only option.

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Why not go alloy?

No reason but cost.

Look, I hate to be the one to tell you, but a WM3 is not the "proper" rim width for Avon 100/90 Roadriders. WM4 is the correct size. The rest are just compromises. Don't know if you'll find a steel rim in 2.5 inch (WM4) but when you consider the cost of the rim in relation to spokes and labour, then the alloy rims are not much of a stretch when you look at the total cost of wheelbuilding. You will notice the difference when you pick up a steel rimmed wheel versus the alloy. There are handling benefits to be had with lighter wheels as well. Save up.

Roadrider Technical Specifications:
http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/roadrider

If the AM26 is a compromise on a WM3 it's more of a compromise on a WM2. Avon's suggested min. width is the WM3. The inside wheel width is about 5/16 greater on the 3 over the 2. I measured the outside width of the old wheel, a WM2 which is about 2.75 inches, I was surprised it was that wide. I'm probably never going to "hit the ton" so to speak and hard cornering at ultimate speed won't happen either; I'd use the K81's but they are actually more expensive at the vendors I've looked at and the handling, according to other board respondants, isn't as good. Although a lot of folks are apparently using the AM26s, most of them haven't said which wheel they use.

Powerdoc,
While a WM2 is definitely a compromise for an AM26, I have one bike with K81's on WM2, another with AM26's on WM2's, (and a third with AM26's on WM3's). IMHO the AM26's give me more confidence than K81's on the WM2 rims. I have just gotten the other bike back on the road with the WM3's (and they are 18 rear, 19 front) so I don't have enough seat time to render an opinion other than so far they seem fine. I went down a size on this bike from a 120 (Dunlop) rear and 100 (Dunlop) front to 110 rear and 90 front because the turn in seemed slow compared to my other two.

Hope this helps.