Question about rim size

[Chuck D]

Has anyone here encountered a fitment issue when moving up from the stock wm2 size rim to a wm3? The reason I ask is because the Avon website recommends a 2.15 width (wm3) for my preferred tire, the AM26.
I'm getting a wheelset built by Buchanan's and have a choice of either rim size.
I imagine the oem spec of the wm2 was for the original "Speedmaster" tires. A check of the Avon site supports this.
So back to my original question, will the wider rim work within the confines of the swing arm?

[AgentX]

I was planning WM3 front and rear for the reasons you mention...even some of the 3.25 front tires (K70 and Heidenau K34 notably) are mfr spec'd for a WM3.

I hadn't imagined there'd be a problem with this on either end, but I can't tell you with any authority.  I thought the stock Bullet came WM2 front and WM3 rear, though.

Edit:  Which rims are you going for from Buchanan?  The Excel?  With your bike I bet the shouldered rims, eh?

[barenekd]

The 4.00-19 AM26 works on a WM2 rim OK, but as you see the WM3 is preferred. WM2s are standard for the 19" wheels on G5s. If I were going to upgrade rims, WM3s without question on the rear anyway. Using a tire wider than a 400 or 410 might give you a problem with the swingarm, though. IT's a bit narrow.
Bare

[Chuck D]

AgentX
Well, if you check out Hitchcock's, the alloy rims that they sell and recommend for a standard iron barrel are the same wm2's front and rear. That makes sense for the "speedmasters" since the recommended rims for them according to Avon are 1.85.
Yeah, The Excel shouldered rims definitely. I've been wanting to do this for a long time. This bike deserves it.

[Chuck D]

The 4.00-19 AM26 works on a WM2 rim OK, but as you see the WM3 is preferred. WM2s are standard for the 19" wheels on G5s. If I were going to upgrade rims, WM3s without question on the rear anyway. Using a tire wider than a 400 or 410 might give you a problem with the swingarm, though. IT's a bit narrow.
Bare

Bare,
Thanks for the reply.
I've been using the AM26 in a F90/90, R110/90 combination on the stock rims for a while now and am very pleased with them, even though they are not the ideal combination. With this opportunity to do it correctly, I don't want to (expensively) flub it. I don't imagine it is that drastic a change, but I figured I'd brainstorm it here first. Your insight is very helpful. Thanks again.
Chuck.

[ace.cafe]

Chuck,
It should work fine.
If we have any touching issues, we'll mod the swing arm.

[bobscogin]

What's the least expensive way to lace an 18" on the rear?
Doesn't the UCE have an 18" rear? If so, I wonder if the rim and spokes would work on the earlier Iron Barrel or AVL?

Bob

[ace.cafe]

Bob, if you can lace on a bicycle wheel, you can lace on a motorcycle wheel.
You just need to measure the spoke lengths. I know the wheel would work as long as it is 40 spoke.
You'd have to measure the diameter of the spoke hole pattern in the hubs and compare to see if the spokes would work.

Regarding the 18" wheel, it does  slightly limit ground clearance, and the two people who I know that did 18" wheels, removed them and went back to 19".
I have not tried it myself.

[motomataya]

The UCE parts should work. I believe it the same hub, turned around on the newer bikes.

[bobscogin]

Thanks all for the input. I have a part number for the UCE rear hub. It's 861011, but can't confirm it's interchangeability with the Iron Barrel and AVL hub since I don't have that part number. Can anyone check it and confirm?

Bob

[ace.cafe]

Thanks all for the input. I have a part number for the UCE rear hub. It's 861011, but can't confirm it's interchangeability with the Iron Barrel and AVL hub since I don't have that part number. Can anyone check it and confirm?

Bob

My parts book for the Iron Barrel says the rear hub part number is 804006.

However, they may use a new part number for the UCE parts. But I don't know if they do.

[bobscogin]

Thanks, Tom. Even if the hubs aren't identical, I would think that the spoke flange diameter would be the same, thus the 18" rim and spokes from the UCE would work. I know it's unusual to change the rear to an 18", but I'm building a '98 Bullet into an off road trials/trail bike with a 21" on the front and would like to run a 4.00X18 trials tire on the rear. I did find a Shinko trials tire in 3.50X19, so that may suffice. As for trying to use the UCE rim and spokes, I'm just trying to find an option to the high cost of Buchanan's parts and figured the OEM parts may be cheaper.

Bob