Have you ever noticed that motorcycle wheels are different sizes? What is the difference between front and rear tires, and why do they sometimes look like they’re at different angles? This blog post will help explain what the differences are, as well as how to select the best size for your bike.
Motorcycle wheels are different sizes to make the ride more comfortable and increase performance, create better agility or simply outdo their competitors. While manufacturing a motorcycle and giving different sizes while also saves some costs to manufacturers.
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Different parts of a Motorcycle Wheel
There are several motorcycle wheel sizes and they vary by brand and type of bike. Each one has a specific name, like 17-inch (wheel), 18-inch (wheel), 19-inch (wheel), etc.
They also come in different widths; two of the most common are three inches wide for dirt bikes, four to five inches wide for sport/cruisers, and six or seven inches wide for full-on motorcycles like Harley Davidson (though these do not exceed ten inches).
- The first number represents the diameter, which is measured front to back from axle end to axle end where they meet on the tire bead. For example, if you had an 18-inch wheel it would be 18 inches long before measuring across its width at the tire.
- The next figure represents width, which is measured side to side from wheels shoulder to shoulder. If an 18-inch wheel has a 2-inch wide back then that would be 20 inches long before measuring its width at the tire, which would be about eight inches across.
That being said, there are wheels with different sizes for front and back but they are not as common as those designed with the same size in front and back. Some motorcycles have two or three different sized wheels on one bike so it is important to check your owner’s manual if you are uncertain about any of it.
Though there are several differences between types of motorcycle wheels, the most notable is that dirt bikes usually use far larger tires than street bikes and that street bikes use two front wheels of the same size and one rear wheel of a different size, while dirt bikes have two similar sized tires on the front and even smaller ones in the back.
Another difference is where they mount on the bike. Street bikes mount them on spindles on either side of the fork while dirt bikes mount both front ones to hubs at connecting points off of the axle.
So why are motorcycle wheels different sizes? Because companies make them that way to increase performance, create better agility or simply outdo their competitors. Now you know!
What are some different types of motorcycle tires?
There are several types of motorcycles but they range in terms of purpose and style. For example, some motorcycles are made for racing while others are built to cruise around on back roads with your friends.
Some people like dirt bikes while others prefer cruisers and so forth: the different types include: touring, sport biking, motocross, and custom motorcycles. Touring motorcycles are known for being big but easy to ride with a comfortable seat and suspension that absorbs vibrations from the road below you.
They usually have at least six gears or more, an enlarged gas tank that can hold several gallons of fuel and larger seats that allow room for two riders who want to take a long trip together across state lines or even out of the country.
The wheels used in touring motorcycles are usually 18-inch wheels. An 18-inch wheel also has two tires that are the same size but they’re wider than those on a dirt bike: four to five inches wide for sport/cruisers and six or seven-inches wide for full-on motorcycles like Harley Davidson (though these do not exceed ten inches).
These wheels come in all sorts of sizes and colours so you will rarely see two exactly the same: they also come with different choices for tires, depending on what kind of surface you plan to be traveling over.
For example, sport/cruisers that are going to be used in the city or on highways will usually have a tire that has a tread that is smooth and thin, which allows it to easily roll along with little friction between the rubber and road.
Sportbike is a term used frequently by manufacturers but it means different things to different people. It usually means a smaller, lighter motorcycle with less of a suspension, two or three-cylinder engines, and rear-wheel drive. They are built for speed but do not have much storage space onboard so they are best suited for racetracks.
Sport motorcycles are smaller than touring motorcycles with less suspension, two or three-cylinder engines and rear-wheel drive. These motorcycles are built for speed but do not provide much storage space on board so they are best suited for racetracks. Their wheels are more strong as they have to handle more torque and power compared to the touring motorcycles.
Motocross is exactly what it sounds like – motorcycles that are made specifically for off-road racing through mud, dirt, rocks and hills. They usually have high handlebars that allow the rider to be in an upright riding position which improves maneuverability around jumps and other obstacles on the course.
A motocross bike has large knobby tires made for gripping soil rather than smooth roadways and its engine might range from 125cc all the way up to 500ccs or more.
Custom motorcycles are exactly what they sound like – motorcycles that have been created by someone who had a vision of the perfect bike and then made it happen. They can include anything from hand painting one part to piecing together several parts from different bikes to create one monster machine all their own!
So what are some types of motorcycles? They are touring, sportbike, motocross, custom motorcycle, and more which is why they are so unique. If you want to read about them more check out this article here: Touring Motorcycles, Sport Bikes, Motocross, Custom Motorcycles. Title: What is the history of motorcycle wheel sizes?
What is the history of motorcycle wheel sizes?
There are many types of motorcycle wheels but they all have their history. Before motorcycles even existed companies would make bicycles with far larger wheels because it made them easier to ride, less tiring and faster on the road.
The first motorcycle patents used this front-wheel design as well but not for long because people learned quickly about its cons: instability, difficulty of handling and braking ability.
Today’s front wheels are much smaller than the original ones were but still very sturdy and balanced for several reasons which include carrying fuel or cargo at times, maneuverability, steering performance and reduced weight compared to other options like side-car attachments that carry more weight instead of just two people.
The rear wheel of a standard street bike is typically the same size but the front has at least two or three different measurements depending on whether or not it’s off-road, touring, sportbike, custom motorcycle and so forth.
So what is the history of motorcycle wheel sizes? They each have their own design, purpose, and yes even history!
What are some different types of motorcycle wheels?
There are many types of motorcycles in general but they all have their own unique set of wheels. A street bike for example would be a type of cruiser but cruisers can come in several varieties which include standard chopper, touring and more.
Street bikes have a front wheel that averages about 16 inches in diameter but can differ depending on its size, handling abilities, the type of rider it is made for and so forth.
A sportbike as an example is designed to go fast as well as maneuver quickly around corners or jump ramps with ease. These wheels are typically much smaller at about 10 inches which makes them less likely to tip over when going from side-to-side at high speeds.
Motocross motorcycles use a very different design because they need a wider front wheel due to the terrain they must overcome during races which includes hills, mud, dirt and rocks. You may find this type of motorcycle has a 20 inch front wheel instead of something like a street bike’s 16 inch one.
Touring bikes are similar to the sport variety but the wheels tend to be slightly larger at around 17 inches which allows them to go faster than others on straight roads or flat surfaces without too much difficulty.
Touring motorcycles also use an 18 inch rear wheel for better handling and speed compared to things like choppers which use a 16-inch rear one at most.
Custom motorcycles are exactly what they sound like – motorcycles that have been created by someone who had a vision of the perfect bike and then made it happen.
They can include anything from hand painting one part to piecing together several parts from different bikes to create one monster machine all their own! What are some types of motorcycle wheels? Wheels vary depending on their use and what you’re going for but they each have a different design, purpose and history behind them!