It's all academic at the moment, but I have time to kill (as well as no driving license) so ..........(drumroll) I got fed up with certain bikes (like the Multistrada and Guzzi V85) because 17" front wheels are not very in trend ATM. I was even considering a Kawasaki for fecks sake! And then I thought that I would just stick to what i have. I am getting serious family opposition to getting anything of even daring to ride a motorbike ever again - even though the accident was not my fault, but, I and my bike seemed to come off worse. My bike was written off along with my health, but.......... I know that many here have Multis and ,no doubt, other bikes with larger than 17" front wheels, so, Question: does it make any difference to you in the real world riding with a larger than 17" font wheel?
Define “real world riding”. There are people that ride bikes with a 19” front wheel who will tell you no but there are people who ride bikes with a 17” front wheel that will have you believe it slows the steering and takes the “fun” out of riding. Suits some (1000s of GS and a few 950 Multistrada riders) and not others (on here, mostly 1200/1260 Multistrada riders) but you cannot just retro fit a 19” rim to a bike that was designed for a 17” rim, frame geometry is different. Andy
Post 2 sums it up. If the bike is designed with a 19” wheel, it will handle fine. Just less choice for tyres. That said tyre choice for adv bikes with 19” front wheels is much improved, to the point where you can take them to the edge and abuse them with the vast majority of road biased tyres.
As in riding on UK, Irish, and continental roads i.e. none of this bike review and mag crap with riding on Spanish race tracks or, or, at worse, an airfield runways in the UK, to "test" top speeds of over 150 mph, whilst ignoring the fact that if you did that shite on the M4, you would have no license within a week. As in, back in the real World. And ignoring current "journalistic" crap advice because you would lost your license within a week but doing normal riding where you have to respect speed limits (roughly) and don't have a van to transport your bike to Spanish race tracks. Very off-trend, I know, but if I every get to ride gain and all this virus stuff has gone, I wanna tour Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Europe.
So, a Multi was originally the plan but I was put off by the front wheel size and preferred the Supersport S with a 17" front wheel. And then I got fed up with the whole thing and thought, "Feck it! I will just stay with what I have" Which I may still do as nothing is ever certain!
And not even sure it will be a Ducati, as a KTM, or Guzzi appeal. Or, I don't know! With somebody uncertain as me, maybe I could be doing a better job of leading the country, rather than imbecile Boris .....
To go back to my boring topic: has anyone got any real world experience of going from a bike with a 17" front wheel to a bike with a 19" one? If so, did you notice any change in handling performance? Talking about real world handling on A-roads - bendy ones.
I have a MTS1200 2013 Skyhook , 42000 miles. I very recently test rode MTS950 and I was amazed at how sure footed and planted it felt at the front end, on wet greasy roads too, I was really enjoying myself feeling so secure and stable. Loved the handling and feel of those wheel sizes, did miss the extra BHP though.
I have both a 2010 1200 MTS (17” front wheel) and a 950s (19” front wheel). Bearing in mind that the differences on how they ride are NOT only due to the wheel size (i.e. wheelbase dimension, state of suspensions, riding position : MTS 2010 on the bike, 950s in the bike) , in my real world riding experience the differences are: 2010 MTS : more agile front, more eager to be leaned into a corner, definite understeer (as if the back and the front of the bike were following slightly different vectors in the corner) so you have to use your body to lead the bike to the right exit point. More physical involvement (more tiring), more fun. 950s : less “feel” of the front, greater stability particularly in large sweeping bends , once you have decided how to approach a corner the bike will keep the direction without a fuss, no need to change your position on the seat, no fatigue, more reliable, less fun (for me).
My 19” front wheel GS handles very nicely. I think it would compare well with any motorcycle of the same weight with a 17” wheel. I currently have a Monster 1200r and a GS. In warm dry conditions the Monster should be the weapon of choice. For mixed conditions with rough roads or wet roads, unknown roads, give me the GS. Recent progression of bikes was : In 2013, 2013 Multi 1200 2015 S1r 2016 GS *2017 1290 GT superduke *2017 GS. This was a 2016 and half model GS. 2020 added the Monster * The GS handles better, is more planted, holds a line better than the Superduke GT for mixed road use. On track the weight reduction and wider choice of sticky tyres would firmly give the KTM the advantage, but that is not your question. I have used same brand/type tyres on both bikes, Conti Road Attack3, so can compare..to the edge and ripped on both bikes. I admit to a personal preference for a 17” front, mostly down to the looks tbh, as the GS absolutely proves there is no issue with 19” fronts. It kinda looks ok on the BM, but looks weedy on many pseudo adv bikes. Which tyre? This makes a huge difference but not claiming to be that quick, I can push some tyres enough to make them slide. Tyres likethe Anakee things that used to be standard on the GS, best binned asap imo. They square fast and slide easy. It is easy to think a motorcycle does not handle when the main issue is just tyre fitment. Been there and spent money that was not really required with GSXR 1000, tyres did more than an expensive rear shock absorber! So, in nutshell, any quality road tyre for this genre, road biased such as; Michelin road 4/5 Conti Road Attack 3 Roadsmart 2/3 And you just will not have any issues.. There may be others now but I find no need to improve on these reliable tyres that all worked very well in 19” sizes.
Only wanting bikes with a 17" front wheel cuts out much choice for me , including some bikes that really interest me - like KTMs, Guzzis, Multistradas, Triumph Tiger, etc. Having lost the bin race for yet another week - I wasn't first and you have to put out your sh1t JUST before they come - and as they are allowed to show up from 7am, I can't get up early enough aaaannd my neighbours all go to bed stupidly early (my next door neighbours at 9:15pm) and by 10:30 nobody has a light on. I can't compete. so, back to the original subject, I think that there are many bikes with 19" front wheels that I like (as well as some with 17" wheels) and so I am just going to be flexible. My track record is not great and I will incur much family opposition to getting anything with two wheels (even a cycle) and so whether I have a 17" front wheel or a 19" one, is a minor issue that just seemed major to me as I have nothing else to think about!
And does anyone know if a 19" wheel, although heavier, has more gyroscopic effect, helps wheelie potential? I focus in on the important stuff!!!
Only has a 15 litre tank and so useless for touring - just like my deceased Monster was, but good fun and a heavy tank of fuel will certainly not help wheelie potential. The question is: how long after getting my license back will I lose it again?
I respect wot this guy says and all of the minuses fit in with what I want - no track days but just quiet road fun. It has wheelie control to get at the optimum agle (12 degrees, I think) but you can turn everything off and just do your own thing! When I get my license back and compensation money then I'm gonna get one. I'll keep my Ducatis as sensible tourers and try hard to do the desmo check properly.
Fitting 17” wheels to bikes meant for 19” wheels was the basis of the supermoto, but you’re right that going in the other direction (17” to 19”) is likely to lead to the tyre fouling the front of the engine or ancillaries. Perhaps @PerryL really needs a Hypermotard and two sets of dressed wheels?
I wasn't ever proposing, or considering, changes to the wheel size on any bike. Whilst it could be done with a lot of work, I would never consider thinking that I know better than any of the manufacturers and their engineers. I was just looking at possible buying decisions in the future when a) I get my license restored, and b) get some compensation money. Anyway, I've decided now: I'm gonna keep my Ducatis and add a KTM to the stable. And it has got 17" wheels! Talking of horse riding, gonna start doing that again, as well, when my leg is strong enough. And family opposition to horse riding will be as great as motorcycling. I'm stuck what to do on that
That is just 14 litres of petrol capacity. Jeremy McWilliams did much of the bike development. He would of realised that too big a tank detracts from wheelie potential....probably........
And apparently, according to Neeves, it should be pretty handy around Mallory Park - that used to be one of my favourite circuits AND I think that I get my best ever result there...... but NO - no track days!!!!
