I recently had a front tube fail at speed (110+ K's). The bike went into a monumental "tank-slapper".....Scary stuff !!!!!

It is pretty well accepted that the Tenere rims are far too soft for the intended purpose of these bikes...(well at least my interpretation of what they should be capable of..)

So it is my intention to rebuild the front wheel using a more appropriate rim, UHD tube (Bridgestone) and suitable tyre.

Not having much luck sourcing a rim here in Australia and was wondering if anyone on XT660.com had done the exercise..??

Thinking along the lines of an Excel rim and stainless steel spoke set. But would appreciate any suggestions/recommendations.

I'm firmly hanging onto the wooden desk as I type this, but I ride a lot of rocky roads around the Barossa Valley and the Flinders Ranges here in South Australia. I've read about the 'soft' rims we're suposed to be supplied with and after some great thumps that front wheel has taken up in the Flinders, on rocks the size of small footballs, I've often expected to see some distortion on the rim - but....nothing so far!

I think I'll wait until one gets smashed. But, at the same time, I'll keep one eye on this thread for options....

cheers

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2010 XT660Z
Suzuki DRZ400E
Suzuki PE175Z

Try the link below, they may be able to help you out.
John titman Racing wheel building
They are located in Brisbane Queensland, they may be able to supply a rim and spokes for you to lace up or could build a wheel for you. I personally have never used them but have heard good things about them.

I did a 600+ K's dawn to dusk ride on 21/12/12 (Longest day of year) through the Hunter Valley.... Probably worked out to be 60/40 dirt, tar.

Running front and rear tyres at 25psi. Hit a couple of sharp edged ruts that I am sure made contact with the front rim, also a few largish rocks were hit pretty hard.

I always thought my rims were pretty true, till I put the bike on a stand recently to check the spoke tension and found the rim wobbled more than a drunken sailor after a night on the town.....Spent quite a bit of time re-tensioning the spokes and getting the rim reasonably true, but, to be honest I have no faith in the rim surviving a multi day ride through rough country.

The blow-out happened on tar, on a straight section of road...Fortunately there was no other traffic about, as the bike veered into the oncoming lane!!!. Had around four or five major corrections before finally managing to get things back under control. Sphincter rating 10/10....

The hole in the tube was on the inner radius (spoke side), but on close inspection there was nothing obvious there that could have caused it.

I won't feel 100% confident on the bike till I have built the wheel up to a higher specification....

After getting a price on OEM front rim ($300 +) and spokes ($200) what a joke, OTR can supply an EXCEL rim INCLUDING SS spoke for just over $300 PLUS postage. Problem solved. Might even go the whole hog and get the flash hub as well.
And postage isnt too much, about $50 for my crash bars and front guard and bits and pieces.
Will investigate a local purches / price before l part with cash but hard to buy local these days. Sad.
http://www.off-the-road.de/XT-660-Z-...0Z-Tenere.html

One decent dirt blast adventure ride in the aussie outback, fairly fast going but nothing too strenuous compared to previous bike trips on previous bikes and now I have to replace my front rim. Two dents and a crack. Also had sanremos on my cagiva gran canyon and had to replace both due to cracks.
My 83 XT600ZL had stronger rims.
Oh well, better start doing my wheel homework.

I know the cause of the puncture. I had my rear puncture on the inside too. Its the two little dimples on the spoke nipple. The raised parts worked their way through the rim tape and tube. I took a dremel and smoothed off all the spoke nipples.

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check out www.redbikejohn.com for all the latest race reports from the CHEC and enduroland.

Bent my front rim on a ride back in May. New rims and tyres front and back. 21 x 1.85 up front with a 90/90 21 Pirelli Rally and an 18 x 2.50 out back with a 120/90 18 Dunlop 606.

Watch this video of the front rim.

I have also a Excel rim AND SPOKES from OTR...



https://plus.google.com/photos/11833...09348755702687

Can someone please advice who OTR is?