18" rear for XT 4PT
 

Hi...
I'm setting up my '03 XT600e and was wondering if anyone knows of an 18" rear wheel that'll fit the 4PT bike...
This bikes going to be for my next trip across Russia, (route as yet undecided, any hot tips much appreciated..) having just returned from S America on my DR350...
Love the site and have met some amazing people through HU..

Keep up the good work

Nick

You're likely to have to get your own rebuilt with an ally rim. There's various places that will do this for about £250.
What was the DR350 like on your trip?
Geoff

Thanks for the advice.

The DR was AMAZING! Only one small problem (tiny hole in the diaphragm...didn't stop the bike) in 13 months and 20000 miles.

It was easily powerful enough for 1 rider and luggage... and went with 2 for a while but struggled a bit. It was great off road being so light and outperformed other far more expensive bikes. And you don't attract so much unwanted attention...

I think the DR is a much under-rated travel bike. Reliable, economical, easy to fix... 3 important tick boxes ad I'd have another in a second.

Thanks again

The Low Budget Rider :)

That's very interesting. I looked at the spec for a 1999 model and the seat seemed to be fashionably high. Was that a problem at all?
Geoff

Nick, scan thru this old thread - wheel size details in there to save repeating it.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...e-wheels-55136

hubs & rims
 

You could just lace the hub of your 17" wheel onto a 18" rim. Just need the rim and a set of spokes. Remember that the primary transmission (crankshaft -> gearbox) is slightly differing from the models with 18" rear wheel, so you might want to change the sprockets on the chain to compensate for that.

As you see above one thing leads to the other; why go to this trouble? Tire availability?

Auke

@ Kent... the seat WAS high and not especially comfortable...but I'm tall so the height wasn't a problem. The comfort issue was resolved by gaffa taping a section of memory foam pillow to the seat :) = VERY comfortable and LOW BUDGET!
Still a cracking super cheap option for those that think they need a fortune even to get riding on a long distance trip.

@ Guzzi...cheers I saw that one but was fishing for confirmation.

Thanks mate

@Aukeboss...

Precisely... tyre availability was my 1st concern. Not much experience with 17" rims...

You?

tyres ...
 

Well I just stick to 18" rears .. 17" being to Beamerish for me. But if you are going to do long trips I wonder why you'd bother with enduro / mud tyres. On the long, long, long, asfalt roads in Russia, where you are going, you will wear out any real aggressive knobbly in no-time. So, then a 'allroad' tyre or 'lookthepartbutnotquitethething' knobbly like the Michelin T63 would be the choice, all available in 17".
On the other hand, there are some local knobbly tyres available in Russia, if you're really set on the Siberian mosquitos. Don't know about sizes but I'm sure Google or this forum could help - and you can just buy and install when the sh*t starts.

A

Thanks Auke... much apprecated. I'll bear that all in mind.