Checking interest: Custom 10x6 center offset front wheels. Group Buy?

[Billy Golightly]

Since Douglas is pretty unreasonable at $125 a pop and 3 months to make them I found another source to purchase just the wheel halves, un-welded and un-drilled. They did mention you could bolt the rims together and make a two piece rim if you so desired. They quoted me a price of $50, and $64 per half which is not much cheaper then the douglas ones but at 1.5 week turn around time infinetly faster. If there is enough interest in purchasing (and quanity discount from the manufacturer) I would like to buy 10-15 halves and do a group buy type thing. I guess if you wanted to weld and drill it yourself you could or I could do it for a couple of extra bucks. I don't have any price #s yet, but for the sake of conversation until I do get some lets say $50 for each halve, unwelded and undrilled. I think (and hope) it will be considerably cheaper if we get a large quanity of them. I will post more info when I get it, but at this point, is anyone else interested?

[SYKO]

well I'm kinda interested billy, I guese If enough people want them then put me down for a set, I can weld and drill my own..

[Dusty]

i may be ineterested also.....

[Billy Golightly]

Intalking with the guy a little bit more, would most of you guys prefer ready to go bolt on wheels, or a "kit" wheel where you do the welding and drilling yourself? They are .125 thick 6061 heat treated aluminum.

[Lomax]

.125 is kinda thin, what is the bolt pattern that we need here and I'll see what I can come up with.

[Billy Golightly]

4/170 is the bolt pattern for the front of the 85-86 250Rs. I've been looking and havent found jack. Very lucky to have stumbled onto this place that can make them.

[Derrick Adams]

.125 is kinda thin, what is the bolt pattern that we need here and I'll see what I can come up with.


The other issue to watch here guys is the diameter of the rolls in the rim. If the rim isn't designed for the 4x170 pattern you may not even be able to drill them out for that. I know that was one of the biggest issues from Douglas. They made the inner roll as far out as possible and still wouldn't say it would fit the hub (which it didn't. The hub must be ground a bit.)
Also, not trying to shoot you in the foot, but .125 wall rim on the front with an already decreased side wall may not be a great idea. (unless it's for flat-track). I've seen Brandon pretzel those thin rims from very small jumps.

[Billy Golightly]

Thats all I'll probably use mine for, but I dont know about anyone else. I guess I should just buy 2 halves and see how it fits and how tough it is and then go from there...

[SYKO]

yea i'm scared about the thickness, I dotn want to turn a brand new rim into a rubics cube the first time I ride it...

[gasmask]

hey Billy it's Ralph. keep me posted on the rim. i would like you to fix mine for me... let me know...

[Lomax]

well i did some checking with one of my smaller wheel companies and it would be a huge deal to try and get anything done so I guess your plan is the best.

[3leggeddog]

well,i like to leave things up to those who know the buisness the best,in this case,douglas.they make high quality wheels,and we know they fit.not trying to step on toes,and know the wait is terrible.but it's so worth it.as derrick said,i have pancaked a few .125 itp's.i got maybe 8 races on these,and both have big flat spots.be careful not to buy somthing too thin.

you guys remeber jason hall used 2 front banshee wheels.cut em in half,and rewelded em.maybe billy can buy and mod a few sets and sell em?

[Beer_Smurf]

I curious what you guys are trying to do with these wheels.
I've been away for a bit, can ya clue me in?

[Billy Golightly]

I curious what you guys are trying to do with these wheels.
I've been away for a bit, can ya clue me in?


Tire availibility is the main thing...there isn't much around anymore in the 11 inch wheel diameters. Especially outside of a general tread pattern. Nothing for flat track, very little for duners.

[Billy Golightly]

Email I just got:

Billy,

Here is some pricing that might help you decide which way you would prefer to get your wheels.

Individual wheel halves--$88.38 (you machine)
Ready to bolt on rim--$106.17 (we machine)
This pricing reflects a bulk purchase.
It saves a little time if we only have to polish the rim halves without having to machine the centers.
I think that sending a sample would be a good idea to confirm everything before we do any large quantities.
Let me know what you think.

Paul


I know one thing I cant weld and drill them for the price they are... Is anyone up for it?

[Beer_Smurf]

Tire availibility is the main thing...there isn't much around anymore in the 11 inch wheel diameters. Especially outside of a general tread pattern. Nothing for flat track, very little for duners.

I see where you are going.
It has been my experiance that the catalogs, Dennis Kirk, Rocky Mtn., etc.
only list the most popular sizes and there are actually more tires available than it seems.

Funny thing is, "back in the day" there never were really many choices for fronts to start with.

For the sand I might suggest having a Front Max shaved into a mowhawk.

Has anyone asked what the minimum order for a run of tires is?
Perhaps the 23" Holeshot fronts or similar to fit an 11" rim?

Good luck and thanks.

DD

[3leggeddog]

the biggest advantage to me is the tire avalibilty,but also performance.i can not belive the difference in the my bikes handling.it's like it's on a rail in the corners.i think the 21 inch tire puts just enough weight,and preload for the bike to really carve the corners.great mod if you ask me

[Beer_Smurf]

the biggest advantage to me is the tire avalibilty,but also performance.i can not belive the difference in the my bikes handling.it's like it's on a rail in the corners.i think the 21 inch tire puts just enough weight,and preload for the bike to really carve the corners.great mod if you ask me

Sounds interesting.
I wonder, since you are using such small rear tires, going to a smaller front just fixed the geometry (steering head angle) problem created by the size of the rears.
If you look at (back in the day) short track pics, you can see the issue was sometimes adjusted by moving the forks in the clamps.

I would be curious to hear about your results with a new 23" with fresh tread and a fork adjustment.

Great to see you getting after it!
Keep up the good work.

[Billy Golightly]

I just placed an order for 2 halves so I can check them out and see how it fits. I'll report back here with the pictures and info on how it fits. If anyone else is interested please let me know...

[3leggeddog]

[QUOTE=Beer_Smurf]Sounds interesting.
I wonder, since you are using such small rear tires, going to a smaller front just fixed the geometry (steering head angle) problem created by the size of the rears.
If you look at (back in the day) short track pics, you can see the issue was sometimes adjusted by moving the forks in the clamps.

I would be curious to hear about your results with a new 23" with fresh tread and a fork adjustment.




well moving the forks up is not an option.i already use every bit of travel it has,if i moved the forks up,i would bottom the tire right into the fender,ALOT!.you may be correct is your statement though.i run 18's on this bike all the time,being my mx bike,so very rarely does it see 20's.so with that in mind,the smaller front tire is critical.it handles alot better now.

[TimSr]

Im going to rub against the grain on this one and just explain why I am less than thrilled about this "modification".

Yes, there are more 10" tires to choose from, but there are also plenty of 11" and 12" tires to choose from. Typically most people do not change front tires frequently to accomodate different types of riding, depending on the whim of the day, like I do with rear tires. Basically this means I dont need a wide selection, all I need is one tire that suits me. I am still on my first replacement front tire since the original stock one wore out a couple years ago.

As for "handling", it should be clarified as "cornering". Anything that lowers the center of gravity will make your trike (or quad) corner better. This is great for a race track, but the smaller your wheels the more you deal with ground clearance issues, and especially on the front wheel the more you eat every rut and hole you roll across. For general trail riding, a smaller front wheel, or 18" rear tires for that matter are no blessing. Would you rather hit a large chuckhole on a small wheeled Vespa Scooter, or full wheel street bike? You can lower the front weight and center of gravity to some extent just by sliding the fork tubes up in the clamps (no more than will restrict your suspension travel). Ive seen Brandon's front wheel work quite impressively on the MX track. I was very unimpressed by it when we rode trails in Haspin. Great to put on your race trike, but I wouldnt put one on a mutli-use trike like mine.
This is just my opinion, and Im probably in the minority, but Im in no hurry to get one, and TriZ fronts are a lot harder to find than the Honda ones.

[Billy Golightly]

If all/mostly your going to do is trail ride then a stock setup is fine, no argument there. However if you want, or NEED an extended selection of tires your SOL. There are ZERO 11 inch flat track tires, there less then half a dozen dune tires for an 11inch rim. Most flat tracks will not let you run a knobbie tire anywhere on your machine. If you get lucky and find a track that does then your exactly that, lucky. There are very few knobbie tires left anymore in relation to the amount available for 10 inch rims.

Keep in mind you can still put a same size tire on a 10inch rim you had on an 11 if ground clearenece is your main concern, if you ever decide to change over for something else then you have a wider selection to pick from. You dont have to run a 21 or 18 inch front tire with the 10 inch rim.

[Beer_Smurf]

If I remember correctly, one setup was to to use a hand grooved small car radial for a flat-track front back in the day.

I am still back to the question of, Has anyone looked into having tires made.
If not...
Do we have any wishes?

Good discussion.

[Billy Golightly]

I dont think anyone has looked into custom tires...I don't know the exact process but I'd be willing to bet a wheel is a lot easier to make then a tire. If I'm wrong, someone please let me know :)