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Speed difference between 18" and 16" rim
- chrispysaki
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I have an 18" rim on my 1980 KZ750 E1, but I also have a 16" rim from a 1981 KZ750 H2 available, and I'm wondering which would make it faster off the line. I'm thinking the 18", is better since it's covering more ground per revolution at the sprocket.
Also, it's a 4.00 rim — does anyone see why I couldn't fit a 130 tire on it without distorting the sidewalls?
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- loudhvx
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My 18" rear tire measures 80.4 inch in circumference.
At 5500 rpm I'm going 70 mph.
If I changed to a 16" rim with same wall-height on the tire, the circumference is 74.1 inch.
At 5500 rpm I'd be going 65 mph.
But if the tire is bigger such that I only lose about 1 inch in diameter instead of 2, then at 5500 I'll be going 68 mph.
1981 KZ550 D1 gpz.
Kz550 valve train warning.
Other links.
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- mzandmz
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New to Family, 1979 KZ440 LTD
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- bountyhunter
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It is the overall wheel size that matters. A smaller rim probably will have a smaller wheel diameter, depends how fat the tire is.I understand the way different sprockets result in different low-end and top-end speeds, but is there also a difference in speed that comes with rim size?
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- Patton
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I understand the way different sprockets result in different low-end and top-end speeds, but is there also a difference in speed that comes with rim size?
I have an 18" rim on my 1980 KZ750 E1, but I also have a 16" rim from a 1981 KZ750 H2 available, and I'm wondering which would make it faster off the line. I'm thinking the 18", is better since it's covering more ground per revolution at the sprocket.
Also, it's a 4.00 rim — does anyone see why I couldn't fit a 130 tire on it without distorting the sidewalls?
Just to clarify, where all else is equal, the smaller overall diameter tire, will be faster off the line.
In this illustration, tire A will be faster off the line than tire B.
It's akin to comparing hole shots between 1st gear and 2nd gear.
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- PLUMMEN
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Still recovering,some days are better than others.
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- trianglelaguna
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here we go again??????
1976 KZ900
2003 ZX12R
2007 FZ1000
2004 ninja 250R for wife
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