Motard wheels, opinions/input.

[michael]

Looking at some motard goodness and came across these, any input or suggestions would be great. Price seems damn good and to get rotors, sprocket and caliper adapter. Also what tyre sizes would fit on these rims (mainly for sorting gearing)


WARP 9 SUPERMOTO WHEELS YAMAHA YZ 450 WR YZF 250 426 super motard | eBay


Thanks,
Michael.

[I Fancy Holidays]

Ive been looking at a set for my wets, seem to be OK and i haven't found any issues reported (i think some of the guys at the track have them). 4.25" rims take 150, 5" rims take 160-170. The only real advantage of 5" rims is race tyre selection.

You may also want to take a look at torpedo7.com.au as they have wheels for $600 (and they are local). No disc's or sprocket though, can be a good thing if you were planning on upgrading your brakes. they are also 4.25" rear.

Torpedo7.com.au also sell bare 5" rims for $100. You just need to get them laced up.

[mekon]

I had trouble with my warp 9's. BEst I can get on the back 4.25 x 17 from memory is a 130 to stop the chain ripping through my tyres on a drz400e. Been through many combos. Perfect now. You might not have issues with a different bike.

[I Fancy Holidays]

Did you ever get yours relaced with an offset?

[mekon]

No, just found a better sized tyre, the offset would have to be horrific to alter the chewing. New chain, sprocket and then worked way through the tyres.

[michael]

Mekon, the issue was the tyre rubbing on the chain yes? not a quality issue.

Cant say im planning on racing, more of a commute/shenanigans.
$600 for wheelset, plus $200+ for front disc and bracket, plus $100 or so rear disc and $50 buks for a sprocket hmmmm.

[Shady7/8]

I bought a set of Warp 9s with a 4.25" rear for my 08 WR450 and had no issues with chain slap on the tire or rim. This would probably be due to correct spacers :p

Putting a 5" and a 165/56 on the rear of course did eventuate in tire chop, but no rim slap

I would recommend the Warp 9's as a road or starter track package! Even Motostrano recommends them!

Motostrano and Epicmotosports have good complete packages if you wanted a full kit


Don't forget to account for rubber!!!

The Contiforce SM tires are brilliant for street use!! (not to be confused with Contiforce touring tires - same pattern different compound)




Oh and come do a track session once you do get it sorted - just for a taster. They're great fun and after a few I got hooked and am now racing :p

[mekon]

Mekon, the issue was the tyre rubbing on the chain yes? not a quality issue.

YEs, my main complaint at the end of the day is they knew about the issue for a long time and still sold them as suitable forthe 400e, and recommended sizes and profiles of tyres to suit. Bah Bow! I'm more dissapointed in the pissing about I had to do and the loss of tryes. Just a commuter on the bike, although you do tend to let yourself go to the tard side on one and ride it over things. The build quality is great, they really picked up after the first couple of runs they did of this wheels. Price is right too. I doubt you'll have an issue. The main problem is putting them on a 400e that you've motarded. They'd fit well on a factory SM because of the space between the swingarm axle points (for lack of better description).

[Azzy]

LOL michael! my dad was just telling me to do the exact same thing

[filbert]

i went with the marchesini kompe motard wheels, cost me $1600 US plus all the running gear but i can squeeze a 160 into the standard swingarm and the 150 in there now has room to move.

i can't see on mine how the chain would hit the tyre but that could be because my sprocket is in the right place and running down the swingarm i guess.

[agrid]

I ran a 160 on a 4.25 and it was pretty ugly.

[michael]

Shadow- tyres will be the thing that prolly blows this over budget, but ill let future michael deal with that.....(HIMYM quote)

Ash- motard what, you got a dirty?

Well ive sent some emails away and well see availability, colours, and what not. Info in here has been very handy thanks a alot.

Michael.

[Rob]

If you do any decent jumping, cheap wheel sets will end up looking more like 50 cent pieces.

Seen all this before in the early days of WA supermoto club.

As always, you get what you pay for.

[filbert]

If you do any decent jumping, cheap wheel sets will end up looking more like 50 cent pieces.

Seen all this before in the early days of WA supermoto club.

As always, you get what you pay for.

That would be why talon hubs and excel rims still sell well in spite of the extra cost, if you don't think you can afford to do it right then make sure you can afford to do it twice.

[Shady7/8]

Shadow- tyres will be the thing that prolly blows this over budget, but ill let future michael deal with that.....(HIMYM quote)

I imported a set of Contiforce SMs for $250 buy plus shipping (bought it as spares when I bought my full kit, shipping was around $300 for everything)
Cheaper than buying here still.

If you do any decent jumping, cheap wheel sets will end up looking more like 50 cent pieces.

Seen all this before in the early days of WA supermoto club.
As always, you get what you pay for.

Firstly - he's mentioned he wants for street shenanigans, not racing (yet hehehe)

Also, cheap rims have improved a shite load, and as mentioned above even Motostrano recommends Warp 9s. Rather buy a new set of Warp 9s than a 7 year old set of Excels.

It's no longer you get what you pay for - read any of the threads on importing. There's still risk, but more and more it's cheaper manufacturing for same quality without a heap of middle men, including the rip-off-merchant-aussie-importers.

[michael]

Shadow, what gearing did you run on your WR? and what kind of speed was it happy to cruise at?

Unless these rims are made out of cheese i dont reckon ill bend them, not that im greatly in the know but ive seen what you guys who race put them through and im not there yet.....

Michael.

[Shady7/8]

I'm running 14/44 haven't had any need to change gearing - yet.
Speed I couldn't say as you lose the speedo gear drive... I've hit 160 on the road with dirt wheels on running 14/50, with more to give.
Although average speed on street rides is 70+ through the burbs (read of GPS trackers).
Check out Gearing Commander: Motorcycle Speed, RPM, Chain & Sprockets Calculator for an idea of gearing/wheel size changes make!

Collie full circuit I approach the top of 5th in WR mode but never hit redline.

All the other circuits I'm mostly 2nd or 3rd.

14/44 is great for street use too. I have a 13 at home to try, but just lazy!!

[michael]

yeah 14/50 with dirties is what im running now, itll sit on 90ish pretty happy or very short stints on the freeway (on ramp to off ramp) it maybe just feels worse because of the shakey/wobbly/vibes of the tyres....

14/44 seems the go then, wouldnt want to go any taller?

Michael.

[filbert]

My DRZ is 14/45 and tops at 147 at just below redline but stops pulling hard at 135ish if that's any help.

[Shady7/8]

For the road I'd stay on 14/44, you could go down a couple on the rear if you wanted - the beast pulls awesomely in the first few gears.

But for track well depends on the circuit - I'm not at that point yet, but will start to play around once I get used to Wanneroo Kart track.


Bear in mind my results for acceleration will differ slightly from yours as my WR has the YZ cams and pipe, hi-comp piston, plus dual map (WR/YZ)