19" Motorcycle Wheels vs 26" Bicycle Wheels (rim and tires)

[OCD Garage]

Here's my newly built 19" wheel set. Holmes Hobbies rims and nipples, butted spokes by ebikes.ca, 2.75" Duro tires, Golden Motor Pro 901 running a Greentime 3000 watt 80 amp controller. The ride is very smooth, with greatly improved traction and braking control compared to bicycle tires.

 

[Rix]

OCD, what a neat build, total custom fabricated frame, compartmentalized for all you components, well thought out. What is the story behind your machine?

 

[OCD Garage]

Thanks Rix:
The battery packs have slide off mounts which I've included on a number of projects lately, it lets me shift my packs around depending on what I feel like riding. My original plan for the bike was to put both packs in the front triangle but in the end there wasn't enough clearance for key access, it just changed and evolved from there. The drop on the front frame section wasn't deep enough for the 1" tube hoop I'd bent for the lower chain stay to clear the chain line, so I used 1"x1/2" tube for the upper and lower stays as well as extending the upper tubes to form the rear rack. The rear battery was hung under the rack to keep the c.o.g. low and I decided to extend the wheelbase an additional 2" for stability. Originally I was riding my stretched cruiser e-bike to work but when I changed jobs the new bicycle room turned out to be narrower than the overall length of the bike, all the components from it went on this frame, the moped wheels are new... and they rock!

8)

 

[Rix]

Thanks Rix:
The battery packs have slide off mounts which I've included on a number of projects lately, it lets me shift my packs around depending on what I feel like riding. My original plan for the bike was to put both packs in the front triangle but in the end there wasn't enough clearance for key access, it just changed and evolved from there. The drop on the front frame section wasn't deep enough for the 1" tube hoop I'd bent for the lower chain stay to clear the chain line, so I used 1"x1/2" tube for the upper and lower stays as well as extending the upper tubes to form the rear rack. The rear battery was hung under the rack to keep the c.o.g. low and I decided to extend the wheelbase an additional 2" for stability. Originally I was riding my stretched cruiser e-bike to work but when I changed jobs the new bicycle room turned out to be narrower than the overall length of the bike, all the components from it went on this frame, the moped wheels are new... and they rock!

8)

Very nice, that is some neat innovation you got going on. Thanks for telling us about it. It is truly a unique machine.

 

[macribs]

I've got a pair of 19" Prowheel rims I am to lace up now. Seems the nipples from holmes hobbies need washers.
I saw that one should use washers like these:

Never seen washers like these except for some funny washers for roofing. But wrong outside diameter.
Anyone know where I can get washers like these? Or if those washers has a name?


Also I wonder what is the consensus on lacing? 1 cross? 2 cross or 3 cross? Would it be different for front wheel and rear wheel?

1 cross?

 

[Rix]

1X for rear, 3X for front. This combo has worked best for me.

 

[macribs]

Thx Rix. What spoke size? I can choose 8 gauge or 10 gauge for rear wheel?

Btw, Any ideas to where I can score those curved washers?

 

[Rix]

Thx Rix. What spoke size? I can choose 8 gauge or 10 gauge for rear wheel?

Btw, Any ideas to where I can score those curved washers?

I have used both 8g and 10g spokes, I am hard on stuff and the 10g have held up fine. So go with that on the rear. Those curved washers "used" to be custom made by Holmes Hobbies. Since he started selling his custom rims with the custom hole angles punched, he quite selling those concave washers, I think. That's what I heard, but I can't recall when or where. Hey JR, care to comment? Don't want to put out incorrect info. Apologies if I did.

 

[kiwiev]

Hey Mac you can make the concave washers easily with a centre punch and drill a hole into a piece of mild steel with a 3/4" drill bit, sit your washer in the hole and hit it with the centre punch works well with stainless washers

It's slow but it's only 36 or so per wheel.

Cheers Kiwi

 

[kiwiev]

Hey Rick

I have ordered a 24" front wheel from Sam with one of his 3" tires , I have a 17" rear 2 3/4" trail tire have you tried this?

And what's the looks and performance like?

It's for my black Vector build.

Thanks in advance Kiwi.

 

[Rix]

Hey Rick

I have ordered a 24" front wheel from Sam with one of his 3" tires , I have a 17" rear 2 3/4" trail tire have you tried this?

Thanks in advance Kiwi.

You had to ask. :lol: I have tried a lot of wheel combos. 17mc X 24MTB, 18mc X24 MTB, 19mc X 24MTB, 19mc X 26MTB, 24MTB X 26MTB. It would probably be easier to say what I haven't tried which is a 16MC wheel on anything. :lol: Here are some pics of what I tried. So what do you want to know?

 

[macribs]

So looking for ready made washers to use for the prowheel / holmeshobbies nipples I came across this page.
http://www.westfieldfasteners.co.uk/A2_Washer_SprgCone_M.html

Are those the right shape?

 

[kiwiev]

Hey Rick

I have ordered a 24" front wheel from Sam with one of his 3" tires , I have a 17" rear 2 3/4" trail tire have you tried this?

Thanks in advance Kiwi.

You had to ask. :lol: I have tried a lot of wheel combos. 17mc X 24MTB, 18mc X24 MTB, 19mc X 24MTB, 19mc X 26MTB, 24MTB X 26MTB. It would probably be easier to say what I haven't tried which is a 16MC wheel on anything. :lol: Here are some pics of what I tried. So what do you want to know?

NICE photos its good to see the front and back wheels don't look too out of proportion.

So for the riding i do which is mainly off road as in Cowardly Ducks Video do you think a 24 x 3" MTB up front and a 17 x 2 3/4" at the back will work ok?

Cheers Kiwi

 

[Rix]

do you think a 24 x 3" MTB up front and a 17 x 2 3/4" at the back will work ok?

Yes, you will be very happy with running a 17x2.75 or 17x3.00 tire with a 24MTB on the front. This size wheel combo is excellent for offroad riding, specifically hill climbing and steep descents. The reason I am currently running 18x1.4 MC rim is that it looks as good as a 19x1.4 rim, and performs better than the 19, and almost as good as the 17 rim and tire combo. I hightly recommend the 17 with a 24MTB on the front.

 

[Mammalian04]

do you think a 24 x 3" MTB up front and a 17 x 2 3/4" at the back will work ok?

Yes, you will be very happy with running a 17x2.75 or 17x3.00 tire with a 24MTB on the front. This size wheel combo is excellent for offroad riding, specifically hill climbing and steep descents. The reason I am currently running 18x1.4 MC rim is that it looks as good as a 19x1.4 rim, and performs better than the 19, and almost as good as the 17 rim and tire combo. I hightly recommend the 17 with a 24MTB on the front.

Any reason not to just go with a higher turn / lower KV and keep the 19" rear (or 18" rear)?

 

[kiwiev]

do you think a 24 x 3" MTB up front and a 17 x 2 3/4" at the back will work ok?

Yes, you will be very happy with running a 17x2.75 or 17x3.00 tire with a 24MTB on the front. This size wheel combo is excellent for offroad riding, specifically hill climbing and steep descents. The reason I am currently running 18x1.4 MC rim is that it looks as good as a 19x1.4 rim, and performs better than the 19, and almost as good as the 17 rim and tire combo. I hightly recommend the 17 with a 24MTB on the front.

Thanks Rick

I value your opinion

Cheers Kiwi

 

[Rix]

do you think a 24 x 3" MTB up front and a 17 x 2 3/4" at the back will work ok?

Yes, you will be very happy with running a 17x2.75 or 17x3.00 tire with a 24MTB on the front. This size wheel combo is excellent for offroad riding, specifically hill climbing and steep descents. The reason I am currently running 18x1.4 MC rim is that it looks as good as a 19x1.4 rim, and performs better than the 19, and almost as good as the 17 rim and tire combo. I hightly recommend the 17 with a 24MTB on the front.

Any reason not to just go with a higher turn / lower KV and keep the 19" rear (or 18" rear)?

Mammalian, you can go with a higher turn stator and run an 18 or 19 over the 17 and be just fine. Infact, one to the wheel size I intend to try down the road is a 21x1.6 rim laced up to either a MXUS 6T or a TC4065. The od of this wheel running a 2.75-21 MC tire will be around 27-28" and a motor with a high turn stator is necessary. Still no matter how you slice it with stator winds, the smaller the OD is on a wheel, the happier the hub motor is. For that reason, baring aesthetics and looks, a 16 or 17 MC rim with a tire on a hub motor is king.

 

[Rix]

I value your opinion

Just trying to help.

 

[cwah]

I have a 20" folding bike (dahln jetstream) and my tyres get worn out really quickly. I need to change my rear tyre every few monthsand although I tried all sort of tyres (marathon plus, hookworm, big apple, etc) they all die fast.

Is it possible to get a motorbike tyre on my bike? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks

 

[chucho]

I have a 20" folding bike (dahln jetstream) and my tyres get worn out really quickly. I need to change my rear tyre every few monthsand although I tried all sort of tyres (marathon plus, hookworm, big apple, etc) they all die fast.

Is it possible to get a motorbike tyre on my bike? If so, how do I do that?

Thanks

yes it is :wink:

I use this one

 

[cwah]

Where can I get it? Can I fit to my 1.75 wide bike rim?

If i need to get a new rim and tyre where best to buy from uk?

Thanks

 

[cwah]

Does my bike has enough clearance?

Thanks

 

[chucho]

Where can I get it? Can I fit to my 1.75 wide bike rim?

If i need to get a new rim and tyre where best to buy from uk?

Thanks

I think you will have no problem with your rims :wink:
I cant measure clearance till next week that i get back home... but that one i use are really big 3.0 :wink:
But you can fit nearly every 16" moped tyre :wink: so you can find thiner ones :wink: The only important thing is that your rim has high sidewalls for the tyre.

 

[cwah]

Yeah I'm not sure I can fit 3" tyre.

Here is the clearance with Big apple tyres:

These big apple are only 2.15" wide!
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/schwalbe-big-apple-bike-tyre-race-guard/rp-prod96410?gs=1&gclid=CjwKEAjwjMauBRDH-bOCo56b13wSJABA2-Hvm1plZo7sP9Cnuqd3iATTzTpMSaV9IqrPnRos6qfbwxoCuPLw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Rix]

Cwah, are those pics with a 26" wheel?