Used Spare Spokes, OEM, or Woody's For My Strada?

[Ignaciob]

I love my Strada, but the absolute plan before I purcahsed was to add a set of spoked rims after I did some homework. Along the way I've learned more than I think I really wanted to related to 17" or 18" rear rims, 19" vs. 21" front rims, the vagaries of F650GS models, years, ABS, the holy grail of finding used "Dakar" rims, and even a foray into Funduros and the mystery of trying to get used things through Canadian Customs.

Used Market - A Lot of Sketchy Pictures and Questionable ABS options - $800 - $1000 range

I have been trolling eBay and can find fairly easily 17" F650GS rear rims 3.00 inches wide usually in the $300-$400 range in various conditions and the hubs are supposedly direct fitment. The stock Terra rim is a 18" x 3.00...or maybe some are 17" x 3.00.

On the front end you can also find easily used 19" F650GS fronts in the same price range, but finding a 21" from a "Dakar" model in the 1.60 width is far tougher. I saw one, but it was in Canada, iffy condition, had tire on it with part tread, ABS ring, and $450. The Terra rim is 21" x 1.85.

And finding any of them with bosses already drilled for ABS rings is bit hard to ferret out. I'm handy with a drill, but dropping a grand on used wheels to find out I can't have ABS is suboptimal. I've about run out of patience for this route...but it's like yardsailing and you hope you find one and snatch it up.

Then again, if I can find a set of gently used rims from a regular F650GS with ABS bosses in the $600-$700 range I might be able to live with a 19" front wheel.

New OEM Terra - Meh...They's Work Well - $1050 range
Another option is to get a set of OEM Terra rims and I'd get a fairly decent price quote from Asheville Eurosport for a set of Terra rims (not sure if they have ABS bosses or not) for $1019 plus about $40 for shipping. This is a tough one to pass up. All you Terra owners seem quite content with OEM.

Woody's Custom Rims - The Ones Dakar Riders Would Be Envious - $1700 range

Which leads me to splurging for the Cadillac of rims...a custom set by Woody's. They still use the stock Husqvarna/BMW hubs (as nobody has made custom hubs yet), but the spokes will be stainless, and I'd upgrading to a black anodized Excel rims for $150. Final damage? $1651.16 plus about $40 bucks for shipping.

Frankly, I was about to purchase as I posted this, but figured out they were assuming some Rad hubs, but Rad doesn't make anything yet. (follow-up and they make machined aluminium front, but would use a Husky OEM Cush rear).

Throw on a set of tires, tube to each, transfer the rotor and ABS ring, swap to new fender and fork protectors (already ordered) and add probably $350 to each option to be riding in the mountains.

It's my birthday Saturday so should I splurge? $2K for a set of rims on a $7K bike is a serious wad of cash (or actually frequent flier miles on my credit card) Or should I sit on my hands this summer and wait until this winter for Rad to actually make a hub and possibly offer a competitive option to Woody's?

I don't flat out *need* spokes yet.

 

[Next]

Ignaciob,
I say either don't mess with it, or go all the way. When it comes to bikes I find that when I buy EXACTLY what I want it tends to be the most satisfying in the long run--I think this is because it is a luxury item/hobby. With other things I make compromises for cost/benefit all the time. This doesn't always mean the most expensive item is the most satisfying (case in point TR650). It felt darn good to tell the wife I was going to spend half of what I told her when I decided to go with the TR over the F700/F800 BMW.

I will also say that I wanted to get spokes for the Strada at first. I ride about 50/50 or 60/40 (road,gravel), and with a knobby front tire I am pretty satisfied with the bike as is, and no longer have any urge for spokes. It has done 2000+ miles in 4 days and then still run up and down the fire roads with no problem.

As for figuring out what you really want you might try the old coin flip--It has served me well for everything from choosing a restaurant to choosing grad schools. If the coin tells you to do one thing and you balk, then you know that you really prefer the other option. Simple. This is especially useful after exhaustive pro vs. con deliberations between the self.

The good news is that no matter what you decide I don't think you can go wrong Let us know which way you go, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

 

[Ignaciob]

Ignaciob,
It has done 2000+ miles in 4 days and then still run up and down the fire roads with no problem.

I've tried that...with a V-strom...and bent the front rim in two places and popped the bead when I went down a pothole infested fire road in Oregon. So, that's why I either was going to go back to an XR650R, but went with the Husky instead. Spokes WILL be on my Strada before I go do something like the Utah Back Country Discovery Route next year.

 

[msmith345]

Spokes WILL be on my Strada before I go do something like the Utah Back Country Discovery Route next year.

If that's the target...next year...then that's a whole long time to find the right set. Me? If I've got the money in hand, my "deliberations" will last a few days at most, and I'll justify it to myself and get what I want. I haven't gotten screwed by it yet.

I'm pretty fond of the 19/17 set up on the Strada. I bought at list price and had never used ABS on a motorcycle, I even kinda like the red a bit better, so the selling point I was after was the Strada wheel setup. But if I were to go for a spoked setup, and had a target date a year out, I'd probably just keep an eye out for some stock hubs. Surely, with all these owners gathered in one place, someone is bound to wad a rim and replace the entire wheel, leaving a perfectly usable hub that will take up room on their shelf for a few months. Then they'll decide they probably won't do anything with it and list it in the classifieds section come winter.

 

[RidingDonkeys]

Woody's makes a mean wheel. If you are going to ride hard, then go for it. If you've got time though, then you might wait for an upgraded hub, or a steal of a deal on some wheels from a F650GS. Used wheels run as good as new wheels, so long as they are round.

 

[Ignaciob]

Well, it's my birthday. I splurged for a set from Woody's and will be about a month before they're done. They have to use the OEM rear hub once the Husqvarna warehouse moves and catches back up.

Going with a black anodized front hub from RAD. And both front and rear rims will be black anodized Excel. Of course, stainless spokes.

Now I'll start looking at shoes and thinking TKC80 or Pirelli MT21..or maybe a rear TKC80 and MT21 front.

 

[RidingDonkeys]

Sweet! This is going to be one hot Strada!

 

[Kenneth Webb]

I have Woody's work on my Terra. I selected the silver Excel Takasago rims and had them Superlaced onto my stock hubs. If memory serves it was about $1100. If you go with color rims, Rad hubs, cush hub, etc., the cost can escalate dramaticly. I took my rims to them and they did it in one day. Beautiful work, and the wheels are MUCH stronger now, a well as being completely round! I am no longer worried about bending my hoops when I hit a rock or other solid object. If I do, I'm going to have bigger problems than a bent rim.

 

[Ignaciob]

Update on this. Woody's called and buying a Husqvarna rear OEM hub ala carte is no longer an option. Husqvarana only sells complete wheel assemblies now. (this may fit in with the debate of what exactly 10 years of product support really is...and this is one way to cut that corner a bit). What they had quoted as a $300 hub would now have to become a true "BMW" OEM rear hub and they're $750 new****************************************

So, I had to rethink things. $2000 for a full set of custom new everything was OVER the tipping point for me. So, I asked Woody's to continue building the front wheel....so that will be $778.08 plus probably $20 shipping.

Since some Terras do run 17" rear rims...I found a gently used 3.00" x 17" used rim off a Dakar for $345.00 delivered and is on the way. It even has an ABS ring...so we'll "see" if that magically works on the Husky or not. I may have to swap with my Husky ring.

At the same time I *may* decide to disassemble the rim (if I get brave enough) and have parts cleaned, and then anodized (or maybe the rim powder coated) to match the front. Or I run it the season amd if I can't stand the looks of things or smaller diameter of the setup....I could send off the hub to Woody's and build up a complimentary wheel using the relatively cheaper used hub. In that case it's a donor hub for $345 vs. the $750 and I get to throw away spokes and a rim.

I'm walking without a net here....but having fun.

 

[RidingDonkeys]

So if you're going with a 17" rear, you might want to look closer at the tire size you put on the rear. If it were me, I'd shoot to get it closer to the outer diameter of the 18" rear with tire on the Terra. This way you get the same ground clearance, and don't change the handling dynamics. Just a thought.

 

[Ignaciob]

So if you're going with a 17" rear, you might want to look closer at the tire size you put on the rear. If it were me, I'd shoot to get it closer to the outer diameter of the 18" rear with tire on the Terra. This way you get the same ground clearance, and don't change the handling dynamics. Just a thought.

I thought about that.

The interesting thing is that the Terra 17" rear rim (guessing the Euro version with ABS) on 140/80R17 tires is essentially the same thing I'm doing and would be a +1.48" diameter difference front to rear (1/2 since the axle is in the middle...so 0.74"). The current Strada rear and my used Dakar rim are the same on the back so no change on the back (according to calculations anyway). So, I think I can drop the front forks 3/4 of an inch easily.

I'm not sure I can (more accurately 'want') go with a 150/80R17 tire on a 3.00" wide rim...I'm guessing there's not a clearance issue on the bike swing arm. That would make the delta .42" instead...more doable by the forks.

And I'd guess longer dog bones would be a third option.

 

[msmith345]

Yeah, just keep in mind, the wider the tire that you squeeze on that narrow rim, the less contact patch you'll have, and the shorter the tire life. The outer diameter might end up close in geometry to the 18", but handling wouldn't be the same.

 

[Ignaciob]

Custom 21" Woody's rim is being delivered Wednesday and I cleaned up my 17" used Dakar rim over the weekend. Planning to go with a 140/80-17 TKC-80 and 90/90-21 D606 the first time around. Still have to procure a set of tubes (Woody's adds a rim band as part of the install...yea****************************************) I'm stopping by my local motorcycle shop tonight to see what they have for tubes.

This will be an interesting week as I journey down a fairly similar, but slightly different path to RidingDonkey to Terra-fy my Strada.

Also being delivered is a set of Wolfman racks and dry bags and hoping my Alt Rider skid plate comes in by August 2016.

With the Iron Butt Rally over (I got 5th place!) and a 32 hour rally next month (Big Sky - Into the Unknown) I'm looking forward to some adventure riding and daisy-sniffing. Took the Terra out last night with my friend trying to add miles to his new F800GS for first service and even purposely engaged ABS front and rear on gravel. I'm glad to report it works exactly as advertised with stock Terra rims.

Also be interested to see if that Dakar rim's ABS ring works on the Husky--it's my understanding from reading elsewhere on the forum that the Husky samples rates between front and rear wheels when you first start up and sets ABS according to that sample. So, I'm crossing fingers that the 17" wheel on non-US Terras with ABS is the same thing...or at least HOPE that to be magically and non-dramatically true.

Hopefully some pictures next week after I finally decide when and who exactly I buy tires, tubes, and accessories from. I've got some Revzilla cash burning a hole in my online pocket and tire of buying just PR3's for the FJR.

Finally, I have a set of ADV Monster LEDs (the CREE flavor) coming and looking forward to adding those flamethrowers for late night forest rat illumination.

 

[danielcure]

Cant wait to see!

 

[Ignaciob]

Rim and tires arrived last night!

The Woody's front has all those übercool elements including "billet", "anodized", and "stainless". Cell phone picture doesn't do it justice and I'll be doing better photos later.

I picked up tubes the day before locally.

I mounted the rear TKC-80 up fairly easily using my Harbor Freight and Mojo bar. The front (a Dunlop 606) is going to be a bit more delicate and really don't want to mar up things with spoons. Hoping to finish up including swapping fenders, adding fork guards, resetting fork tube height, and some pictures. Planning on taking it to the mountains next weekend for a little bit of off-roading and camping in the Cascades.

 

[RidingDonkeys]

Find some old vacuum cleaner belts, or buy some new ones for cheap. Cut them up, and use them to protect your rims. You'll occasionally have to give it a tug to get it out once the tire pinches it, but it works, and it is a cheap solution.

 

[Ignaciob]

Find some old vacuum cleaner belts, or buy some new ones for cheap. Cut them up, and use them to protect your rims. You'll occasionally have to give it a tug to get it out once the tire pinches it, but it works, and it is a cheap solution.

Yeah, I caved on the front new rim...I just can't get my giant meat paws into those 90-21 crannies to position the stem or tube with any confidence and decided to add to the local economy by having my local shop do that particular one. It'll be tomorrow night before I get all done.

In the meantime I'll balance and mount the rear, do an FJR tire I need to do, get the fender installed, and look over my new package today (the ADV Monter Crees).

 

[Indorider]

That front wheel looks tough! I hate mounting tires on fresh rims but where I live it terrifies me even more to have someone else do it. Interested to see the final product and hear how the new lights work out. I'm in the market as my TE's lights are about as useful as a candle on the trail.

 

[Ignaciob]

No mounting tonight, but I did get the fender installed...I think I like the Terra fender AND the Strada fender at the same time.

And to the observant there are some new doohickeys being tried out on the hand guard area. This may not be their permanent home and haven't even wired to the motorcycle battery yet, but these suckers are the RIGHT thing to add some serious late-night forest rat illumination.

 

[Ignaciob]

I'm glad to report this morning that a used wheel off eBay advertised as "BMW F650 GS DAKAR Rear Wheel" that is 17" x 3.00" and purchased for $345 shipped will, in fact, work on the Strada! Five things I noticed when swapping the rear wheel:

1) I bought the Dakar wheel complete with a tone ring. I counted 48 slots on it--the same number as my existing Strada wheel so that part did not have to be swapped. It appears identical to me. Mark another BMW part as being on our Huskies.
2) As I loosened the positioning bolts on the swing arm...water came out. Folks are right that our swing arms seem to retain water like a fat chick with no date to the prom. Gonna have to investigate the best way to mitigate that. I imagine there are other threads for that.
3) The sprocket, hub, and rubber doughnuts come out and swap very easily. Yea!
4) The brake rotor swap is a bit more time-consuming as the fasteners have threadlocking compound on them. I replaced with a dab of comparable stuff when I moved over the rotor.

and perhaps the most important nugget:

5) You REALLY want to remember to pull the spacer off the existing rim on the brake caliper side and put it in the Dakar rim BEFORE you put the new wheel on. Especially before you think you're home free and start torquing the 24mm nut down! Suffice it to say there's this horrible "Pop-POP!" noise of something breaking that you instantly know really shouldn't have broken. You quickly realize that the small plastic and brass ABS sensor that was supposed to be a close tolerance fit has become an interference fit...followed shortly thereafter by becoming a much larger tolerance fit as it's expelled from the hole it was happily living, and dangling like the loose wire it now is. After a few expletives, some soul-searching, and careful ABS sensor examination you regain yopur wits, grab a tube of quick-set epoxy, commit to a 90 second part squeezing ritual, tidy up a few other bike details to make sure the glue has set, mount the forgotten spacer, gingerly remount the ABS sensor, and then feel reasonably confident your life lesson wasn't TOO difficult or as expensive as it could have been.

I put it all back together, confirmed ABS initialized, and rode a total of two blocks with three or four turns. ABS worked as expected for a new TKC-80 vs. the previous street tire. My neighbors have nice new knobby chatter marks in front of their house.

And I and am now the proud owner of a Strada in the middle of a sex change operation to become a Terra. The operation should be complete later today after my front rim has a new shoe mounted.