My ears are burning!

Yes, I can't find it either - even looking at the list of threads I started! Maybe Fran has an answer? - I do hope it's not been lost in any forum upgrades or anything, merely mislaid?

Anyway, and coincidently, Talon phoned me up this week asking about some spec measurements (the guy who used to build the Tenere wheels has left you see), as someone was looking at having a rear made up...

So, they now have the correct spec to make up a rear wheel with their cush drive hub (immeasurably better than the stock one x), and an 18" rim if you so wish (and why wouldn't you eh?)

To answer Gory's question - yes, the hub/cush-drive they use is the KTM LC4 pattern one - with different spacers and a disc packer ring to get the correct spacing - so if you want to order spare sprockets, it is the KTM PCD you need (I forget what it is in mm off-hand). The rear disc is also a KTM bolt pattern, and a 240mm disc works just fine (especially as you can't get a 245mm KTM disc x).

The gearing I ran for Heroes-Legend [with an 18" wheel and Michelin Desert tyre] as I recall was 14/50, although 14/48 is probably closer to the stock gearing of 15/45 on a 17" rim... if some maths nerd want's to correct me, go ahead - I don't care!

Either way, running an 18" rear wheel and a 'Desert is going to throw your speed out significantly - around 15% certainly... basically I used to reckon the speed was over reading by about 10mph anything above 50mph... but tend to rely on either the GPS or the IMO (when it was fitted) for a true reading.

Hope that helps... now someone find that missing thread, please!

Jenny xx

Hey Jenny , while the discussion moved this way I thought I could ask if there are any issues fitting a 18 inch rim with a michy desert in the swing arm?

No - it's a bit cosy mind, but not a problem - you will need to get a new/longer chain anyway with the change in gearing, so just make sure the wheel is a little further back in the adjusters...

Jx

would an 18" rim + stock silencer setup create some issues when bottoming out?

Thanks a million for that excellent information Jenny, it's my mate who was enquiring this week and I wasn't 100% on the exact detail. So that's made him a happy man for sure!! It's a bit strange they'd lost the specs though.

I can say when I first tried the 18" with the stock exhaust, stock springs, I had metal mule lowering links in. I was running a 140/80 Dunlop D908RR and it did hit the stock exhaust on decent hits. Nothing more than a bit of a polish to be fair. I wouldn't use the lowering links now I'm well used to the bike.

Gory has direct experience of this (the 908RR being a similar size/profile to the Michelin Desert btw.)...

I'd say there is a enough room if using the standard linkage - the rear of the bike only has only 8 inches of travel anyway, and the 18" wheel with a Desert on was about two inches bigger diameter as I recall, so an inch closer to the exhaust... I think you'd have to be landing a pretty big jump to get the rear end to bottom out.

Of course I didn't have this problem as not only had I fitted a single can, but also raised the rear end by +35mm with the OTR linkage too... there is masses of room under the back end now!

Jx

Depends if you've still got the OE spring in the back ;)

hi, not really adding much to the thread,

i see the write up on my rally prep has also gone, 'paddy dakar'. i would have thought it would, like jenny's post been a useful resource for anyone prepping a xt for out of the ordinary riding. perhaps a stripped down locked version of the post would be more useful?

anyhow

i am still using a 18'' lc4 rear wheel which i used for the rally, i've had deserts, karoos, mitas chunky's, even mich comp4 enduro tyres on over the last 25,000 odd miles with no problems.
the ratio i've used has been 15-46 with no clutch issues, ok! for real gnarly offroading i slip in a 14 tooth

Definitely Stoic, I remember your write up too! It was good, shame it's gone!!
Incidentally what's your rpm at 60 miles per hour with that 15/46 gearing?

hi, the thread may be gone from here, i still have a copy if anyone wants it as it was created as a word doc, just pm.

as for the speed, when i go home i'll check that!