Motorcycle Rim Lock Guide: How It Works and Which Size to Choose
A motorcycle rim lock clamps the tire bead to the rim to help reduce tire slip. It is commonly used on tube-type dirt bikes and enduro motorcycles, particularly when running lower tire pressures off-road.
Choose your rim lock by rim width. Check the size stamped on the rim or the wheel manufacturer's specifications. If measuring, use the internal width between the bead seats, not the outside edges.
For a 1.85-inch-wide rim, see the KiWAV 1.85-inch motorcycle rim lock with orange nut. Check the product page for current availability.
Motorcycle rim lock size comparison
| Rim width | KiWAV rim lock size |
|---|---|
| 1.40 inch | 1.4 / 1.6-inch model |
| 1.60 inch | 1.4 / 1.6-inch model |
| 1.85 inch | 1.85-inch model |
These sizes refer to rim width, not wheel diameter or tire width. Confirm the actual rim size before ordering, especially if aftermarket wheels have been fitted.
If I don't use a rim lock
In a flat asphalt road, rim lock is not an urgent need for the wheels. But it's a MUST have for off-road riding, because when you're riding on loose terrain, soft clay, mud, or rocks, you may consider using a lower tire pressure to get a better grip.
This will increase your traction by increasing the tire to dirt contact area, but bear in mind that your inner tube is at a higher risk of a being pinched. Without a rim lock, it will spin the tire on the rim easily while the tire is trying to grip on loose terrain and it will cause the inner tube move till the valve stem torn away from the tube.
What is a rim lock?
Rim lock is merely a clamp that holds your tire in place on the rim, it is designed to fit between the tire and the tube, with metal cleats on the bottom to grip the inside of the tire bead.
When your rim lock is in good shape and seated correctly on the rim, your tire WILL NOT MOVE.
What kind of motorcycles need a rim lock?
Dirt, enduro, trail, supermoto, dual-purpose, adventure, even street motorcycles come with wire wheels should install rim locks.
How do I choose a rim lock?
[SPEC]
Check the spec of your rims from the manufacturer, or use a ruler to measure the rim. To get a CORRECT rim width, you must measure from the bead seat (where the tire rests and seals on the inside of the rim).
If you measure from the rim flange (the outermost edge of the rim), that is wrong.
[Material]
The traditional aluminum/rubber rim-lock look; or half weight and size, one-piece molded design made from special high-strength nylon composite material.
The traditional aluminum/rubber rim-lock look
The special high-strength nylon composite
How to install a rim lock in a rim?
You need to find a suitable rim at first. There are so many choices of wheel rims on the market, some of the rims have a pre-drilled hole to install a rim lock, some of the rims don't--in that case, you have to drill a hole on your own.
"Where to drill a hole for rim lock?" you may be concerned. People believed that just go directly drill a hole on the wall of rims opposite the valve stem.
Mount the rim lock on the rim with the nut just hand tightened. Put the tube into the tire before mounting the tire on the rim.
How about wheel balance? For dirtbike, the rim is gonna be unbalanced no matter what you do. Especially when mud on it and that would be fine. Other motorcycles ride on the road need to ensure your wheels are correctly balanced.
Shop the KiWAV Rim Locks
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