1200 LC 21" Front

[Jacobsroodt]

The biggest LC letdown is the absence of 21" front tyre - KTM offers 19" and 21" options for specific applications.
A 21" front rim improves dirt and sand riding. Many 21" conversions were done on Air Cooled 1200s but I have not seen one on a LC yet.
Are there merits to fitting a 21" front to a LC, or is it still too heavy?

[SGB]

It goes well enough in sand with the 19".  21" conversion is over priced, over rated and the side effects caused by the change in geometry make it a no-no in my books.  I would however like stronger std rims so that we can run lower tyre pressures without risk of smileys.

[Jakkals]

Ek stem saam met SGB en dit geld nie net vir die LC nie maar vir alle modele wat ontwerp is met 'n 19".

Die 19" teenoor die 21" doen glad nie so swak in sand soos wat daar voor gegee word nie, ek wil dit amper toe skryf aan 'n oumens storie en geld maak ghimic.

[TheBear]

Die 19" teenoor die 21" doen glad nie so swak in sand soos wat daar voor gegee word nie, ek wil dit amper toe skryf aan 'n oumens storie en geld maak ghimic.

Is mos hoe die modern wêreld werk.  Ek was so paar jaar terug redelik betrokke in die quad storie.  Dis skrikwekkend om te sien watse twak jy kan smous as jy net eers so paar manne oorreed het.   

[Jacobsroodt]

Ek het die vakansie 'n Honda XR 150 met 19" voorwiel op die plaas gery. Die fiets was baie senuagtig op grond. Toe ry ek 'n CTX200 bushlander met 21" voorwiel. Die verskil was dag en nag. Natuurlik is die twee verskillende fietse, maar die 21" is net soveel meer stabiel.
In baie toetse verkies die ouens die KTM 1190 oor die LC as dit by grondpaaie kom, en die F800GS met sy 21" wiel wanneer dit by grond en veral sand kom.
Die ouens wat 21" omskakelings op hul R1200GSe gedoen nie kyk nie terug nie.
Op 'n fiets wat grondpad ry maak 'n 21" voorwiel net soveel meer sin, maar dis maar my beskeie opinie.

[TheBear]

Ek het die vakansie 'n Honda XR 150 met 19" voorwiel op die plaas gery. Die fiets was baie senuagtig op grond. Toe ry ek 'n CTX200 bushlander met 21" voorwiel. Die verskil was dag en nag. Natuurlik is die twee verskillende fietse, maar die 21" is net soveel meer stabiel.
In baie toetse verkies die ouens die KTM 1190 oor die LC as dit by grondpaaie kom, en die F800GS met sy 21" wiel wanneer dit by grond en veral sand kom.
Die ouens wat 21" omskakelings op hul R1200GSe gedoen nie kyk nie terug nie.
Op 'n fiets wat grondpad ry maak 'n 21" voorwiel net soveel meer sin, maar dis maar my beskeie opinie.

Niks fout om 'n opinie te hê niel, en dit hoef ook nie beskeie te wees nie.  Is mos WildDogs die, nie WhimperingPoodles nie. 

Die vraag is bloot, is dit die geld (groot geld as ek reg onthou) en dit wat jy on-tar verloor werd?   Vir sommiges sal dit sekerlik wel werd wees, maar ek twyfel of daar baie sal wees.

Ek dink nie iemand wat die 21" conversion gedoen het sal ooit erken dit was 'n swak ideë nie.  Dis mos maar hoe mense is.

[T Rex]

 

[Jakkals]

Einde van die dag is dit maar die fiets se ontwerp en jou persoonlike mind set,

Die wat reeds die 21" conversion gedoen het sal nie somer negatief daaroor wees nie a.g.v mind set en natuurlik omdat dit 'n redelike duur toetsie is.

'n Fiets wat goed ontwerp is het nie sulke mod's nodig as dit vir die doel waarvoor dit ontwerp is gebruik word nie, die ouens wat die goed ontwerp gaan kyk nie hoeveel 19" rims daar op die rak lê om te besluit wat met wat moet uitkom nie, daar is 'n rede hoekom sekere fietse uitkom met 21" en ander met 19"

Vriend van my het 'n Gagiva Elefant met 19" voor wiel, die fiets kom uit die ou dae en ek dink nie hy staan terug vir ander as dit by sand ry kom as ek sien wat hy met sy fiets doen nie.

[Malmoer]

My se ding altyd vir pelle en nuwe vriende.
"It is not the arrow it is all about the indian"

In my opninie. Die 21 maak n verskil. Maar n handige ou gaan meer uitgerig kry op n 1200 bmw as n onhandige kerel op n 690.

Helfte van die farkles op bikes is geld maak.
1. Kry die ryer se beskerm reg. -check
2. Kry die bike se beskerm reg - check
Ry die blerrie ding.

Plain and simple really!!

[Bernt]

It goes well enough in sand with the 19".  21" conversion is over priced, over rated and the side effects caused by the change in geometry make it a no-no in my books.  I would however like stronger std rims so that we can run lower tyre pressures without risk of smileys.

SGB, absolutely. Today I rode the wood bush roads in the Magoebaskloof. Front TKC pressure at 0.8 for that mud but there is a good mix of rocky areas so I take my chances with rim dents

[Hinksding]

Quite interesting comments.  Id like to believe that someone with SGB's experience and various bikes that he rode could give a well formulated opinion.

I've only had one bike all my life.(Did change the front to a 21er however which costed  less than R4k) Im no ridinggod, and not defending my choice here.

A Dutchman once stayed over at my place. He used to design Choppers. He told me about 7 variables that influence the behaviour of a bike's front end, behavoir, steering etc (geometry). Rake angle, fork length, wheel diameter, front end height etc.

By changing a 1200's wheel diameter you change the geometry. I experienced that without a doubt on tar. All of the suddend the bike started a headshake around 170km/h which it never did. About gravel and sand riding we dont have to argur, I know what I know. All Im saying is that the difference is not marginal.

Im in the process of selling my bike, but will remove the front wheel if I might buy another 1200 in the future.

One question however: How many bikes in the Dakar with a 19er at the front?

[Bens]

 

[Garfield]

Quite interesting comments.  Id like to believe that someone with SGB's experience and various bikes that he rode could give a well formulated opinion.

I've only had one bike all my life.(Did change the front to a 21er however which costed  less than R4k) Im no ridinggod, and not defending my choice here.

A Dutchman once stayed over at my place. He used to design Choppers. He told me about 7 variables that influence the behaviour of a bike's front end, behavoir, steering etc (geometry). Rake angle, fork length, wheel diameter, front end height etc.

By changing a 1200's wheel diameter you change the geometry. I experienced that without a doubt on tar. All of the suddend the bike started a headshake around 170km/h which it never did. About gravel and sand riding we dont have to argur, I know what I know. All Im saying is that the difference is not marginal.

Im in the process of selling my bike, but will remove the front wheel if I might buy another 1200 in the future.

One question however: How many bikes in the Dakar with a 19er at the front?

How often do us mere mortals ride the Dakar with our 1200's?

No doubt a 21" will make life a bit easier off-road.

If someone wants to do it, has the means to do it and it makes the person ride certain terrain easier, then by all means go for it 

One question though, what profile tyre on your 21" rim as opposed to the 19"?

[fudgypup]

I have run a 21" front on my oilhead '11 GSA for about four years now.

I kept the 17" size on the rear and have had no issues, although I wish I'd gone 18" in the rear just for better tire selection but then I'd need a shock sleeve and a longer side stand.

I heard there is slightly less clearance on the new LC for a 21" than before and that even without the fender on, you may have some clearance issues.  I have not been able to verify that though.  I think I heard that Woody's Wheel Works set one up recently.

Jimmy Lewis is a former pro racer, Dakar/Baja/Dubai etc... and he did a write up on the 21" front wheel on another popular forum (aolrider).  He spoke highly of it but prefers the 18" rear to keep the geometry the same.  Like I said, I have had no issues.  No head shake, nothing.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/rufgBjFtUik" target="_blank" class="new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/rufgBjFtUik</a>