21 inch front wheel from DR

[kamil_o]

Hello everyone,

My name is Kamil. I ride Freewind for one year and I'm looking for a solution to make it more off-road capable.

I've read somewhere that it is easy to fit 21 inch front wheel from DR 650 to Freewind. Has anyone tried this? Is it really possible and/or makes sense?

Kurz auf Deutsch:
Ist es möglich, 21-Zoll-Vorderrad von DR in Freewind installieren?

[Brummbär]

It´s not so easy! One problem is the speedometer drive (DR has a mechanical drive). The next is the fender and the stabiliser bar at the XF.
So you have to chance some parts more.

[AoS]

A couple of years ago the user Rally-Freewind told that he converted the bike with wheels from a DR 650. Maybe you can contact him, but it's been a while since he has been seen here (July 2003). His mail address was marcomandera@freenet.de, maybe that's still active.

Though, the rational advice regarding off-road riding is this: Sell the XF and get a Suzuki DR, a KTM or any other real off-road bike. Or keep the XF for the street and get another bike for off-road riding. The XF is a street bike and won't become a real off-road bike whatever you do.

But if you still want to do the conversion for the fun of it, feel free to come back and tell us about it. I like it when people do things that aren't just rational and sober.

Regards,
Dirk

[Maad]

The easyest way to make a 21Inch-Wheel fit is to use the original wheel nave and spoke a 21-inch-rim to it. So you can use the serial brakes and axle. Because the new Wheel is higher you must built a new fork-stabilizer like a U-profile.

But Freewind will never be a real Enduro. Too much weight and a too soft suspension. So drive the freewind and take a look for a real Enduro.

Regards
Marek

[kamil_o]

Many thanks for your advices. Maybe putting whole fork from DR650S/SE, or rather RS/RSE, would be easier?

For now I don't want another bike because Freewind does it's job quite well with good wind protection and low seat. I just need it to handle a bit better on loose surface. I often take off-road shortcuts when driving to/from work to avoid traffic jams, on the other side I need to drive quite fast on highway (110-140 km/h) when travelling to other cities.

[AoS]

Many thanks for your advices. Maybe putting whole fork from DR650S/SE, or rather RS/RSE, would be easier?

I'd think so, but since I haven't tried I don't know. Maybe it's even plug-and-play, that depends on the dimensions of the yoke. You can ask round in the DR forums about the yoke, I can tell you the dimensions of the XF's yoke.

cu,
Dirk