Remember the F800GSA we had last summer? Well then you may also remember that although the bike handled intermediate dirt duties pretty well, the weak point by far was the front wheel. Or more precisely, the front rim.
CMG is not well known for babying testers and long termers and that certainly was the case with the GSA. And it wasn’t long into our test, while scouting a route for the Fundy Adventure Rally, that I spotted a washout on an otherwise very smooth gravel road.
I was motoring at a good clip and I’ve done enough gravel to know that hitting the brakes will only induce a lurid slide, but offer little actual stopping force. There was only one option – pin’er!
Unfortunately the F800 motor is not what you would call “punchy” and the prospect of raising the front wheel and jumping the deep rut was nil to zero. But hitting it at speed with a light front end seemed to be a better option than hitting the brakes and dropping the front wheel into it and risk being thrown over the bars.
The result was a good thwack that went straight up the bars and vibrated around my body, as the front wheel dipped, whacked the trailing edge of the washout, but mercifully rolled over it rather than into it. I immediately pulled over and found that one side of the wheel rim had been peeled away, but still usable.
Having straightened a similar bend on my KLR’s rim with a big hammer, I knew it could be fixed, but I opted instead to use the more sophisticated hydraulic press of my neighbour. With the press, it’s a simple task and over the summer I had the GSA’s front wheel off numerous times to do similar repairs, sometimes squeezing back several dings in a single sitting.
Although this kept the GSA on the road (and in the dirt) over the summer, as fall took hold the many nips and tucks that had occurred to the front rim left it looking more distorted than Jocelyn Wildenstein (look her up, it’s not pretty- and that is an estimated $4 million later).
It was no good, a rim transplant was in order and so I called the go-to guys for anything wheels related – Woody’s Wheel Works. I spoke to Chris who recommended the following:
For standard street use we recommend the narrower 21×1.85″ rim & 17×4.25″ rear. For 50/50 we recommend 21×1.85″ front & 17x.3.50″ rear. For really serious off-road, recommend 21×1.60″ front & 18×3.50″ or 18×2.50″ rear. The Excel 21×1.85 rim is a 36×8.5mm hole, black Japanese lace pattern, part # is IDK408.
Assuming you want in black, cost is $291 for Excel, $199 for DID Dirt Star, & $199 for SM Pro Platinum. All are superior to the stock Behr rim with the Excel being the strongest. In each case you minimally would need to replace the nipples to fit the rims as all of these rims have larger nipple holes then the stock Behr rim.
The BMW Nipple Part # is 36 31 7 719 730, and you’ll need 36. You can either go with whole new Stainless spoke set for $125 or can buy the rear nipples which are $54 for a set. Otherwise, typically when we build, we replace the spokes as well, as we improve the angles and the quality.
Time and budget meant we couldn’t go for the complete package but the next stop was Excel, who kindly shipped me a rim, BMW shipped the nipples and I had Sackville’s resident wheel builder Norm Sheppard do his magic with the transplant surgery.
Unfortunately by the time it was done and back on the bike, BMW wanted their GSA back and I only managed a quick road tour before dropping it off at the local dealership at the end of the season. As you’d expect, there were no issues with the new rim, but one thing struck me when chatting with Chris at Woodys – they get a considerable amount of F800GS wheels in for new rims.
Which is a bit of a shame, as the 800GS line of motorcycles are an excellent dual sport option. Yes, a little more punch and a few less vibes from the motor would be welcome, and you are paying top dollar, but if you’re considering one and intend to take it out in its natural habitat, add an Excel front rim or pre-built wheel from Woody’s and you should be good for some great adventures.
Oh, and do let us know how it holds up in the dirt!
Yep, and cheaper and rolls over rocks better too. I think she has the “Botox’d cat” look down though.
Looked up Jocelyn Wildenstein. The bent rim is better looking.