18" rear wheel on a KX500

[triffecpa]

How popular is this mod?  What are the main advantages?  Is there another Kawasaki product (model and year) that be used as a donor, or do you have to do the "new rim/spokes/and relace" trick?  Thanks.  Tracy

[Paul]

Extremely popular with the desert racer, the extra sidewall allows more rim protection with less chance of a "pinch flat". There are more tires available and they are generally less expensive. It is a very desirable modification.

[Rick]

Yup, I'd like to have one if anyone has one to donate...

[mikesmith]

Its a good thing,but I have a hard time dumping a good "19 rim thats never giving me a problem in all the rocks I ride in.

[sdkx500]

Dunlop makes the Desert AT in 19" which, if your not a really fast and hard rider will give you plenty of protection. I used on a whole year and never had a flat. Then again, I ride REALLY slow. I did go to a 18" but only because I got a good deal (almost free) on a set of wheels.

[Ramski]

Uh, how in the heck did I just post the above reply under sdkx500s username? That is really weird. Anyway, the above reply was by me and not sdkx500.

[sdkx500]

Ramski,
It keeps happening.... People are posting with my username.  I changed my password but it is still happening.  Must be a glitch.

[Paul]

Thanks for bringing this to my attention, I'll check on the database and see what's going on  :blink:

[triffecpa]

so, which other Kawasakis have a 18" rear wheel that will fit the KX500?

[Paul]

You'd really rather get a KX500 rim and have an 18" put on it, the reason is the KX500 hub has 3 bearings in it, two on the drive side and one on the brake. Aftermarket doesn't and I don't believe any other Kawisaki does.

Manny can you double check that?

[triffecpa]

Thanks Paul - Tracy

[mikesmith]

The older KX500's ('96 or '97) on down only have 2 wheel bearings.

[Rick]

There are some Suzuki rear wheels that have the right spoke pattern, but I don't remember which years.  I think it was early 90's.  You can cross reference an excel part number to the Suzuki section in any online catelogue and find out the correct year.

Like mikesmith, I, too, have a hard time parting with a good wheel.  And since I have never been able to ruin a rim (even when we cut the sidewall out of a tire while running solid inserts in a California National    :blowup: ), I don't expect to opt for the purchase any time soon.

Rick

[toddwunsch]

The Dunlop 739 Desert AT is probably the best 19" tire you can get for desert riding.  I ran that in Baja and while I didn't get any pinch flats, I did take a nail about 20 miles out of San Felipe.  Road the tire flat all the way into town.  No problem.  The only problem I had was getting the #@$#* thing off when I got into town.  Nonetheless, my 6 year old son thought it would be really neat to buy me a yellow rear tire for my birthday back in May.  I appeased him and put it on.  It is a Michelin Starcross 110/90/19.  I figured I would just go out and rip the knobs off in one ride.  Nothing doing...  I've been on 6 rides with that tire and the knobs are down about 15%.  Thanks little Toddy !!

[demographic]

You'd really rather get a KX500 rim and have an 18" put on it, the reason is the KX500 hub has 3 bearings in it, two on the drive side and one on the brake. Aftermarket doesn't and I don't believe any other Kawisaki does.

Manny can you double check that?

Talon hubs have two bearings on the drive side and one on the brake side also, Thats what it said in the advertising blurb I got with mine anyway, but I have not had to replace em yet so have not checked