Changing front rim to 17"

[Kobus Wiid]

Has anybody on this forum done a front wheel size change to 17"

I want to do quick reversable change between 19" and 17" front wheel, in order to get better handling on tar.

 

[liguorien]

Re: Changing front rim to 17"

I was thinking of doing the same... Let us know what you find...


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[Roge]

Quite what it Wil do to the handling by deepening the steering angle. It may turn too quick or be difficult to hold in a straight line. You may have to compensate by shifting the forks in the clamps which would negate a quick change

 

[20valves]

You're gonna lose a bit of ground clearance too.

 

[Don in Lodi]

You could try running the fork tubes up in the clamps, that will quicken the steering for you without going to the expense of a building a whole new rim.

 

[markjenn]

I'm not aware of anybody doing it and I suspect it would be a fairly big/expensive job. You'd either have to adapt a new hub to the S10's forks, axle, discs, carriers, spacers, abs ring, etc. or figure out how to adapt the existing hub to a rim that is unlikely to be compatible with the S10's odd double-flange spoke pattern.

- Mark

 

[Grumpy]

I may be wrong, buy could it mess up the speedo reading as well?

 

[20valves]

I may be wrong, buy could it mess up the speedo reading as well?

Maybe, not sure if the speedo reads the rear or front wheel sensor for speed. Some Yamahas get the speed from the output shaft in the transmission but I don't think the Tenere does.

 

[KPK]

Why not just raise the rear an inch(100 bucks) and lower the triples on the forks(for free). The stock size front with a good street touring tire and the bike will easily drag hard parts, even without lowering the front any. JMHO

 

[mcbrien]

At 60mph the speedo reads about 66 so the smaller wheel might fix it ::010::

I may be wrong, buy could it mess up the speedo reading as well?

 

[markjenn]

I may be wrong, buy could it mess up the speedo reading as well?

You bring up a interesting question. Regardless of whether the S10 takes speedo input from the front or back wheel speed sensors (or perhaps even both), you will dramatically alter the relative rates at which they turn which has implications for traction control and ABS. As I recall, the 21" conversion that a few have done was Okay with this (the computer was able to compensate), but since no one has done a 17" that I'm aware, it would be uncharted territory.

Another gotcha: I doubt you could find a compatible 17" spoked rim which is tubeless. So even if you could find a 17" conventional spoked non-tubeless rim that would be compatible with the S10's spoke layout, you'd have to revert to tubes in the front tire.

- Mark

 

[markjenn]

At 60mph the speedo reads about 66 so the smaller wheel might fix it ::010::

Actually, it would make it worse as the front wheel would spin faster for any given road speed.

- Mark

 

[fredz43]

The speedo comes off the rear drive, so changing the front should have no effect. Put it on the centerstand, put it in gear, give it some throttle and you will see the speedo register speed

 

[Rasher]

The bike has really lazy geometry so I doubt it would become unstable or hard to control in a straight line unless you fitted a wheel stolen from a shopping trolley.

I have dropped my forks about 7-8mm and it feels noticeably more nimble, but I also have a better rear shock, on the stock shock ground clearance was fairly easy to reach the limit off. Regardless this is a zero cost mod and takes 10 minutes to do.

I have also fitted +10mm linkages (to help when two-up on a long tour) but did not like how they "felt", could be a personal thing, and as stated my suspension is also different to OE - these are not expensive and could be sold on if you did not like them.

Grippier road tyres also help, I found Roadsmart 2's work very well. I also think changing to linear springs up front improved feel and feedback on mine - another relatively cheap mod (compared to having a spare wheel / discs)

I don't think the smaller wheel would work so well mainly due to ground clearance issues negating the benefits.


I would:

1. Try dropping forks 5mm - 10mm and seeing how you like it

2. Fitting grippier rubber

3. Getting forks modified

4. Upgrading rear shock

All of the above worked a treat for me ::008::

5. Use a taller linkage (dog bones) - my last choice purely because I did not like them - and your even higher up, not so good for shorter folk.

 

[EricV]

Woody's Wheel Works can probably make something up, at a price. The Super Tenere uses a different ABS sensor ring than past Yamaha bikes, but I don't know if it's the same as the '13/14 FJR. If it is, you might be able to swap the FJR's cast wheel to the Super Ten. You would need to verify brake rotor spacing and may need some custom wheel spacers, but that's not a big deal. The wheel itself would be spendy though, considering the relative new-ness of that Generation of FJRs.

In relation to the OP comment of wanting better handling on tar, it begs the question of what's the handling issue you have with the bike in stock trim? It is a 600 lb adventure touring bike, not a sport bike. But it's not that much of a dog to ride briskly.

 

[dandil726]

I slid the fork tubes up on mine because I wanted to lower the bike ( 5.6 Ft); about a half inch. It handles fine.

 

[greg the pole]

if all else fails...buy an fz9.