Dirty Wheels

[loudbeard]

Damn prices of these things are all over the place. I have an '04 CRF450R that is pretty woodsy and I want to increase it's resemblance to a Swiss Army knife. Currently has the stock 21/19 set, will likely mount rubber to do some MX with. Want to buy a set of 21/18's for the bulk of my riding which is woods. Also want another set of 21/19's for occasional ice riding. I won't get much ice in unless it stays really effing cold in southern MA/RI.

Dubya wheel set: Talon hubs and DID ST-X hoops are like $1500 before brake rotors. Whole Lee Fawk. Not doing that.

Warp 9 wheel set: complete with brake rotors about $950, also includes their up market 7050 aluminum hoops. Likely candidate for woods wheels.

Wheels from Gina: $299 on eBay add another $70 per EBC basic rotor. Good candidate for ice?

Build your own. I'm not super intimidated by lacing up some hoops, there are YouTubez for that. I'm having a hard time finding a source to actually purchase Talon Billet hubs from! I know Dubya sells them but are they the exclusive vendor?

Any other thoughts?

[Chippertheripper]

Does risk make a set that fits? From rocky mountain.

[nhbubba]

Dubya is the US distributor for Talon. Drop them a line. I found myself in need this summer trying to source some spacers for a set of Talon SM wheels I dragged home for the WR. Turns out I had late model YZ hubs when I needed not-so-late model WR. Turns out they make a spacer kit and their support guy was quite helpful. Even volunteered to sell just the spacers instead of the full rebuild kit (including seals and bearings) I had expected to be on the hook for.


Lacing is a pain in the ass. Well, lacing is easy, truing sucks. I re-trued a 19" for ice on the WR last winter. That was not an enjoyable use of time. I suspect this is an art.

I used Tusk spokes for my re-lace and they seem solid.


Heard positive things about Warp9 dirty wheels.
Also heard positive things about Tusk.. or whatever Rocky-Mountain sells.

I'd go to either of these before fleabay/china.. even if they are probably about the same.

[loudbeard]

Ah, the Tusk wheels. I think after buying rotors I’m at about $700 for a set. Color choices are kind of lame though. I would likely spring the extra $250 for the Warp 9 set.


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[tls25rs]

I bought a set of the Tusk wheel last winter/spring 21/18 for my YZ for the same reasons you are and they have been just what the doctor ordered. One of the less expensive options and yet hold up just fine when used.

[Paul_E_D]

I'm in the same boat. I had some aftermarket wheels for my KX and the spokes loosened on every ride. Soo annoying. easier to swap rubber.

[number9]

I'm in the same boat. I had some aftermarket wheels for my KX and the spokes loosened on every ride. Soo annoying. easier to swap rubber.

Is there anything you're not good at? I tried swapping a tube on the CRF and it was most frustrating thing I've ever fucking done in my life. God I'm never doing that shit again, ever.

[Chippertheripper]

Changing rubber is all technique. Less brute force, more finesse.

[typeone]

Changing rubber is all technique. Less brute force, more finesse.

amen. tiny bites! (and loob)

[Paul_E_D]

Is there anything you're not good at? I tried swapping a tube on the CRF and it was most frustrating thing I've ever fucking done in my life. God I'm never doing that shit again, ever.

I bought a rabaconda stand. Makes it easier. But after a bunch of swaps my technique is improving. The stand is still nice, but i don't use nearly as much force as i used to.

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[typeone]

i don't use nearly as much force as i used to.

there's a really good joke in there, but i'm kinda tired.. . pass me the Tums, just dialed up PornHub for a nightcap

[loudbeard]

I'm fine changing rubber although I tore a few tubes figuring it out. It's more a case of right tool for the job. I want to run 21/18 in the woods for tire choice and more sidewall. That leaves me with a set of 21/19. I could certainly run MX tires on them and then swap to ice in the winter, I guess I just thought with all the horror stories I wouldn't want to get into swapping on studded tires very much so I was thinking of a cheap set for the minimal ice riding I'll actually do. Fuck it, I'll man up and do the tire changes for the 21/19's.

I do still want a nice set of 21/18's though. Went through the Dubya wheel builder...Honda machines sure do look sexy with gold hoops!

[nhbubba]

Ice rubber is way stiffer. You're generally swapping it when the weather is colder. And there are these man eating spikes on the tires. These aspects conspire to make changing ice rubber a real pain in the ass. I would set aside a set of wheels for ice rubber and leave them on there permanently. Just getting the tube in and seated can be a project.

Dedicated hoops for ice rubber is well worth the $, IMO. And we all know what a tightwad I am with the $.


Changing regular soft(er) compound woods & mx rubber is a dream in comparison.


Motion pro makes an aluminum "T6" lever kit that features a little lip on the edge of the spoon. These irons rock as the lip helps quite a bit in avoiding pinching the tube on install. Really helpful when mounting ice rubber as pinching a tube is SUCH a pain in the ass. I have these irons in my trail kit and have been meaning to buy another set for general shop use.. just because of the little lip.


I have a harbor freight tire changing stand lag bolted to a pallet with ~$100 worth of those 'mojo' block things, including the big bar. Changing street and track rubber with that setup is nice. But dirty rubber is just as easy to use irons. Were I to do it over again I'd just buy one of those portable bench-top tire stand/bead breaker combos and some quality irons. A lot less $. A lot less poop to store. And just as effective IMO.

[csmutty]

Ice rubber is way stiffer. You're generally swapping it when the weather is colder. And there are these man eating spikes on the tires. These aspects conspire to make changing ice rubber a real pain in the ass. I would set aside a set of wheels for ice rubber and leave them on there permanently. Just getting the tube in and seated can be a project.

Dedicated hoops for ice rubber is well worth the $, IMO. And we all know what a tightwad I am with the $.


Changing regular soft(er) compound woods & mx rubber is a dream in comparison.


Motion pro makes an aluminum "T6" lever kit that features a little lip on the edge of the spoon. These irons rock as the lip helps quite a bit in avoiding pinching the tube on install. Really helpful when mounting ice rubber as pinching a tube is SUCH a pain in the ass. I have these irons in my trail kit and have been meaning to buy another set for general shop use.. just because of the little lip.


I have a harbor freight tire changing stand lag bolted to a pallet with ~$100 worth of those 'mojo' block things, including the big bar. Changing street and track rubber with that setup is nice. But dirty rubber is just as easy to use irons. Were I to do it over again I'd just buy one of those portable bench-top tire stand/bead breaker combos and some quality irons. A lot less $. A lot less poop to store. And just as effective IMO.

Upgrading to a manual changer is not that much more money. I got mine used for $400.

And what are the stock wheel costs? Might be cheaper to score a stock set and just lace up an 18" rim with spokes.

[nhbubba]

Manual changer? You mean a pneumatic? I know Kurtz, Rada and a bunch of you have those. I figure that'd be overkill for my use. Especially once you count the air setup.
Although maybe to be able to do automotive tires and wheels. That said, Town Fair barely charges for their time. And they balance.

[Chippertheripper]

I ha e a difficult time with “right tool for the job, crf450, and woods” all being used in the same breath. Granted, I’m on a thumper that’s only marginally smaller, but it just doesn’t jive (jibe, for all you hip ass old fucks) with my normal mental state. Can it be done? Sure. Am I macho enough to pull it off? Nope.

[Paul_E_D]

With the cost of wheels, you can pay someone to swapp tires quite a few times... just sayin.

[breakdirt916]

this whole thread creates so many feelings of rage, tears, and frustration...the cost of wheels for a dirty bike whaaat )...the bloody knuckles from spikes...the frustration of tire changing...the ease for which others can change them

[typeone]

I do still want a nice set of 21/18's though. Went through the Dubya wheel builder...Honda machines sure do look sexy with gold hoops!

add a blue seat cover and you have classic HRC styling. dig it.

[loudbeard]

I ha e a difficult time with “right tool for the job, crf450, and woods” all being used in the same breath. Granted, I’m on a thumper that’s only marginally smaller, but it just doesn’t jive (jibe, for all you hip ass old fucks) with my normal mental state. Can it be done? Sure. Am I macho enough to pull it off? Nope.

Ever hear the phrase “you shit with the ass you’ve got, not the one you want?”

[aldend123]

This is a pretty popular bike, and surely cross-references with other hondas from that era. What's wrong with some ebay sets off a tear-down? Especially if they'll end up as ice wheels.

[csmutty]

Manual changer? You mean a pneumatic? I know Kurtz, Rada and a bunch of you have those. I figure that'd be overkill for my use. Especially once you count the air setup.
Although maybe to be able to do automotive tires and wheels. That said, Town Fair barely charges for their time. And they balance.

Motorcycle Tire Changer | Manual Tire Changer | Coats

That's the one I have.

[nhbubba]

Meh. That's just a fancier version of the HF stand I have. It wouldn't even handle the wheels off my truck, which I think the HF stand would..

[csmutty]

Meh. That's just a fancier version of the HF stand I have. It wouldn't even handle the wheels off my truck, which I think the HF stand would..

You have a balancer? Otherwise the tire machine is pretty much useless since town fair mounts for free but charges for balancing.

[nhbubba]

And we've come full circle. As I say, I wouldn't waste the $ or floor space on this thing again. A benchtop/portable stand with bead breaker + some quality irons and you're good.