21" REAR wheel - PICS please!

Is this purely aesthetic or is there some functional benefit to a larger rear wheel that I'm not seeing?

The only bikes that look good with wheels that tall are boardtrackers.

brycegp said:

Its been done...so a philosophical discussion wasn't what I was looking for...just pics of guy's bikes that have done it. Thanks!

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With all due respect, he's trying very politely to tell you that from a functional perspective it's a dumb idea. There's a reason that there are no performance tires in 21". Yes we all understand that as an individual you have choice and as a Murican, you can do what TF you want, but you did ask and it is a public forum.

21" is fine for a custom show bike but not so good on a street bike. Do you have a picture of what you are trying to achieve or some examples of the sort of look you are going for? 836 kit cam and CR carbs don't exactly cry out of silly tires. 18 or 19 front is OK. 18 rear has a reasonable range of tire choices to keep that bike shiny side up.

If you are looking for a slammed rocket sled look, low wide tires tend to work well with the low fat tough bulldog type look. Appearance is all about balance and harmony and the whether the image resonates in onlookers minds. What looks "right" relates to what we have seen before that we found pleasing and it could be from nature or cars or bikes, but our brains compare what we are looking at to everything else we have seen to decide if it's friend or foe or in this case, cool or odd.

If you want to push the aesthetic envelope, it's important to have an overall theme planned and teh design elemnets like wheels have to match that overall look. If individual design elements don't match, it doesn't work. Doesn't matter how trick that particular feature is on its own, it has to work with the theme.

And if you plan on riding it, it has to be functional and 21" tires really don't cut it in that arena.

Here's the real problem... With a 21" wheel and extended swinger, you'll basically make your rear suspension non functional. Especially when attempting a "low stance" Hence the fact that you can only really use one on a hardtail. Though it doesn't seem that people offering any input outside of "yeah awesome do it" will matter.

Also... I'm not basing any of my comments on looks. I could care less wjat yours or anyone else's bikes look like. But, when safety and functionality come into play you should know that this forum has a somewhat narrow acceptance of "envelope pushing". The last thing anyone wants to see is someone build a pretty bike that'll put them in the ER.

Also, 21" tires generally come in one basic size. Skinny. So, if you do decide to run with this plan I have a few (very real, not philosophical) things you should keep in mind.

With a basically useless rear suspension the bike is honestly going to handle poorly. Combine that with the 21" front that I'm assuming you will run and the ability to manuever and properly corner will be drastically reduced (there's a reason sport bikes run 17"s and steering dampers). And seeing as you have what is essentially a road going version of a race motor, the skinny rear tire will barely be able to maintain any traction once not perfectly upright (and hardly even then).

Again, do what you will. But, when folks try to actually have an intelligent discussion with you in regards to the question that YOU proposed perhaps a little less attitude is in order. The folks here are just interssted (most of them) in keeping you as safe as one can be on a custom built machine.

Good luck with the build. Hope it all works out.

VonYinzer said:

Again, do what you will. But, when folks try to actually have an intelligent discussion with you in regards to the question that YOU proposed perhaps a little less attitude is in order. The folks here are just interssted (most of them) in keeping you as safe as one can be on a custom built machine.

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I am, in fact, open to opinions. I do offer willingness to listen to INTELLIGENT responses. Thought out and respectful opposition is fine with me. but online forums are like beer...put an asshole in front of one and eventualy they'll show you how much of an asshole they really are. spouting off at the mouth (fingers in this case)...saying shit that usually causes fights. And then when it does, they are like..."whoa, you can't take 'advise'?" Assholes are funny when they fart...but the laughing stops when you get a whif of what came out...and what comes out always STINKS!

I simply asked for pics of guy's bikes that have done it. I didn't however ask for insults and asshole responses. If someone has a conflicting opinion on the subject and chooses to deliver it in a way that is conversational and NOT CONFRONTATIONAL, then I listen. And I might even have a fix to some rational argument against the idea...who knows? The fastest way to shut someone down is to insult them...and then I'm asked why I don't listen to reason.

VonYinzer said:

Though it doesn't seem that people offering any input outside of "yeah awesome do it" will matter.

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See above response.

VonYinzer said:

Here's the real problem... With a 21" wheel and extended swinger, you'll basically make your rear suspension non functional. Especially when attempting a "low stance" Hence the fact that you can only really use one on a hardtail.

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Good point. And this is something I've anticipated...so there are design changes I am considering to remedy this. but again...its been done on Non-rigid bobbers / choppers...so applying a sport (dare I say "cafe") aesthetic to a similar design seems acheivable.

The bike below is a well-known Yoshi build...and encompasses some of the design direction I am considering. This has a hopped up drive train...slammed and long. What you may not know is that Yoshi has since put rears shocks in place of the rigid struts making it much more comfortable to ride. And it works...

I realize that is doesn't have a 21" rear...but I'm trying to locate low-pro rubber that will keep the same OD. So Im just swapping sidewall for empty space...almost. There would be a 1.1" (or .6") size increase to the rear OD using the size below.

120/70-21 is available (but only in Front, it seems). OD is 27.6"
130/60-21 is available (but only in Front, it seems). OD is 27.1"
120/90-18 is a typical rear replacement to stock. OD is 26.5"

Ugh... Ok. Again. Hope it all works out. Ill keep my asshole stupid replies to myself in the future.

> ...saying shit that usually causes fights.

As we all know, forum violence is the scourge of the digital age. Why just the other day I got shot by a guy because I put a picture of a small clay figurine in his thread.

Anyway for giggles I searched google images for 'motorcycle 21" rear wheel' and found a whole shitload of silly-looking bikes, some of them from this site...and Google didn't say anything that could be construed by the thin-skinned as remotely rude.

The stench of entitlement is thick...

Here ya go...



enjoy

gijoe13844 said:

The stench of entitlement is thick...

Here ya go...



enjoy

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This is only a little funny until the air cleaner, then it's hilarious.

Rich Ard said:

> ...saying shit that usually causes fights.

As we all know, forum violence is the scourge of the digital age. Why just the other day I got shot by a guy because I put a picture of a small clay figurine in his thread.

Anyway for giggles I searched google images for 'motorcycle 21" rear wheel' and found a whole shitload of silly-looking bikes, some of them from this site...and Google didn't say anything that could be construed by the thin-skinned as remotely rude.

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then post the pics. that is after all what the thread was intended to achieve...

...still chugging that forum brew, I see.

no

brycegp said:

then post the pics. that is after all what the thread was intended to achieve...

...still chugging that forum brew, I see.

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Or take a hint and search google...like rich said...google will give you exactly what you want with no sass! Half of the appeal of online porn over a real woman I would imagine...maybe like 3/4.

I can google...that's where I went first. but many bikes go burried...and no amount of googling will find them, which is why I posted. I know many of the guys around keep an archive of pics and documentation on builds they've seen in the past.

I just wanted to see what came of previous attempts...on a sport inspired bike...not a bobber or chopper. This place seemed to make sense the logical place to find it...

Sorry for posting.

brycegp said:

...on a sport inspired bike...

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The problem is that you're going to be hard-pressed to find that as the larger wheel will detract from the bike's performance. Also you're being a wiener so people further down the thread will be less likely to help you look.

No skin off my nose man I like pushing these threads along. Post up if you give it a shot, but it'd be a shame to put that beefed up engine in a frame with so much rolling weight out back and poorer handling than stock.

First one was a joke...this really isnt...inline twin, tracker style wheels. Will handle like crap.

http://www.kuwaitmoto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/caferouge22.jpg

21/23

I mean they are both jokes in my mind but this one appears to be built by a real person not a B list celebrity.

Performance machines, in the flesh.