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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> 18" front wheel for Ryca?
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Message started by beacon on 03/15/12 at 17:40:26

Title: 18" front wheel for Ryca?
Post by beacon on 03/15/12 at 17:40:26

Has anyone tried using an 18" front wheel on a Ryca? If so:
1) how did it effect handling?
2) did you use the stock hub?
3) which rim did you use, and where did you get it and the spokes?

Title: Re: 18" front wheel for Ryca?
Post by singlesgoinsteady on 03/15/12 at 17:48:42

I'm going to keep a 19" in front on mine, but, my experience tells me the 19" will be a little heavier, a little slower turning. The real key to turning performance will be from selecting the right tire, if quick turning is what you want. A wide/square tire will oversteer or swing you way wide on tight turns as opposed to skinny round tires which will fall right over into a turn. That said, I'm getting the big Dunlop K70s, which I don't think they make in an 18" front. So make sure the tire you want is available in 18".

Title: Re: 18" front wheel for Ryca?
Post by teabowl13 on 03/15/12 at 18:25:55

I've got 18" vintage rims going on my RYCA inspired Roadster build (see link below) Haven't gotten the front one laced up, but spokes are available from Buchanan Spokes in CA. Basically, any 18" wheel rim with 36 spokes will work. The 36 spokes part is important; most are 40 spokes.

I got Akront shoulder rims; top of the line in the '70s. One was $60., the other $160. I guess it balanced out in the end...

Excel makes new rims that will work also. I looked into those, but wanted vintage for what I am doing. (I priced them at about $70 I think?)

It should be pretty easy if you want to do it; Personally I think the 19" rim looks weird on the RYCA bikes, but Singlesgoingsteady is right; The tires RYCA is using don't come in an 18" front. I ordered Kenda Challengers; very similar in make and price.

Title: Re: 18" front wheel for Ryca?
Post by MotoBuddha on 03/16/12 at 09:30:20

I did an 18 on mine -- an aluminum 36 spoke one I got from eBay. I had it laced to the stock hub with stainless steel spokes and nickel nipples by Woody's Wheel Works for slightly less than Buchanan, even though the spokes were from Buchanan.

The half inch difference in radius between the 19 and 18 will help quicken the steering just a tad more. If you're used to cruisers, that can feel twitchy. If you're used to sportbikes, a Ryca modded bike will still feel sluggish.