18” Rear Wheel in MX?

kylemenz1
Edited Date/Time 6/13/2022 7:20am
Does anyone run an 18” rear wheel in MX? Do any pro level riders? What’s the main reasons that a 19” rear is better? I understand why for Supercross, but can someone give me a breakdown in benefits for MX?

Personally I’m a fat & slow vet rider and I like the 18” more. It feels more planted, hooks up better, and has a more comfortable feeling to it. I even feel like I can corner better in ruts and sweepers.
1
1
|
ATKpilot99
Profile picture for user ATKpilot99
Posts
10464
Joined
4/13/2010
Location
Lake Geneva, WI, USA
ATKpilot99 6/11/2022 10:54am
6/11/2022 10:54am Edited Date/Time 6/11/2022 10:58am
Right around y2k some riders were experimenting with an 18" rear outdoors but it didn't catch on . About the same time as the 20" front fad . 18s never went away off road .
2
Leeham
Profile picture for user Leeham
Posts
1159
Joined
10/29/2018
Location
Rochester, WA, USA
Leeham 6/11/2022 11:11am
6/11/2022 11:11am
It likely to be more comfortable due to more sidewall therefore can soak up bumps a little better. However in some conditions, depending on the size of the 18, it can ride out of ruts. Also can be a quite a bit heavier vs a 19 but can be a factor in traction. Heavier tire, harder to spin the wheel.

For someone like you, its just fine.
brimx153
Profile picture for user brimx153
Posts
3344
Joined
5/3/2012
Location
IE
brimx153 6/11/2022 11:37am
6/11/2022 11:37am
I loved the lower profile 110 s you could get 110 80 19 . Seems to go opposite way now with 120 90 19 feels a bit like 18 tyre with more side wall
bvm111
Profile picture for user bvm111
Posts
10130
Joined
7/1/2008
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
bvm111 6/11/2022 11:37am
6/11/2022 11:37am
if you like it, run it… no one is saying you can’t .

Probably provide more comfort over chop, protect better against pinch flats, easier to install… shit i think i just convinced myself to do it!
7

The Shop

See All »
Gworm
Profile picture for user Gworm
Posts
2807
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO, USA
Gworm 6/11/2022 11:51am
6/11/2022 11:51am
I laced one up a few months ago on my 13 250sx and now I’m going to do it on my other bikes.

I grew up with 18s and have never felt good in corners with a 19.

They became fashionable for supercross whoops I believe, so I won’t miss the 19 ever.
3
1
Gworm
Profile picture for user Gworm
Posts
2807
Joined
4/5/2017
Location
Monett, MO, USA
Gworm 6/11/2022 11:53am
6/11/2022 11:53am
But hey, I also cut 3/8 in off each end of my bars… and I’m a big guy.
1
kylemenz1 6/11/2022 1:00pm
6/11/2022 1:00pm Edited Date/Time 6/11/2022 1:08pm
Gworm wrote:
I laced one up a few months ago on my 13 250sx and now I’m going to do it on my other bikes. I grew up...
I laced one up a few months ago on my 13 250sx and now I’m going to do it on my other bikes.

I grew up with 18s and have never felt good in corners with a 19.

They became fashionable for supercross whoops I believe, so I won’t miss the 19 ever.
I'm the same. Grew up desert and trail riding. Rode all my desert/trail bikes at the track and always had fun. I've never threw an 18" on a MX bike until a couple months ago, and I've got to say I like it much better. 18" Hoosier.

I see a lot of WORCS guys practicing at local tracks and they seem to get around just fine.

1
inthebadboycorner 6/11/2022 1:25pm
6/11/2022 1:25pm
As a c class squid riding my yz450, I rode a friend's yz450 with an 18 on the rear, I couldn't feel any difference.
3
jbonemalone
Profile picture for user jbonemalone
Posts
301
Joined
12/4/2016
Location
Otis, LA, USA
jbonemalone 6/11/2022 7:53pm
6/11/2022 7:53pm
I come from a mostly off road cross country background.
I would always lace up 18” wheels on my moto bikes because an 18”er isn’t really a detriment on the mx track but a 19”er will definitely get bent in the woods.
I find I could pull holeshots easier on the 18 as it had more bite from a stop.
It does ride up out of ruts here and there though.
Awesome at soaking up chop too.
1
1
Gravel
Profile picture for user Gravel
Posts
1869
Joined
2/22/2014
Location
Ridgecrest, CA, USA
Gravel 6/11/2022 9:03pm
6/11/2022 9:03pm
The only downside to 18s is if you get a tire with soft sidewalls and try to moto with low pressure. It’ll steer itself under a heavy load, like a jump face. I’ve jumped right off the side of the track when I put some pirellis on a few years ago. Went from 12psi to 14 and fixed it.

Otherwise, 18s are better in every way for me.
bite_the_curb 6/12/2022 7:29am
6/12/2022 7:29am
ATKpilot99 wrote:
Right around y2k some riders were experimenting with an 18" rear outdoors but it didn't catch on . About the same time as the 20" front...
Right around y2k some riders were experimenting with an 18" rear outdoors but it didn't catch on . About the same time as the 20" front fad . 18s never went away off road .
i remember looking at my 2001 cr250s owners manual and seeing the part number for an optional 20 inch front wheel!
1
Stuntman949
Profile picture for user Stuntman949
Posts
2857
Joined
11/10/2015
Location
San Clemente, CA, USA
Stuntman949 6/13/2022 7:20am
6/13/2022 7:20am
I liked it for the square edge.
Alex814
Profile picture for user Alex814
Posts
1236
Joined
12/18/2014
Location
USA
Alex814 6/13/2022 1:25pm
6/13/2022 1:25pm
My 1989 CR250 has an OEM 18 inch rear wheel. I don't mind it at all.
250 cross
Profile picture for user 250 cross
Posts
278
Joined
10/30/2020
Location
Belding, MI, USA
250 cross 6/13/2022 2:16pm
6/13/2022 2:16pm
Husky MX bikes had 17" rears in late seventies, used to say it was good for another inch of (uncontrolled!) travel. I can remember lacing one up to replace an 18" for a buddy. I had three or four with the seventeen.

Post a reply to: 18” Rear Wheel in MX?