Do you think the Minsk specifications are wrong, and the Russians are getting a 15-inch rear wheel? :hmm: Although I informed CSC the Minsk specifications report a 17-inch rear wheel, CSC has said they will import the RX3 to California with a 15-inch rear wheel. Why wouldn't CSC increase the chance of sales by specifying a 17-inch rear wheel, if it were available? :shrug:

I wonder how CSC is supplying the optional, 17-inch rear wheel? :hmm: If the 17-inch rear wheel is available from China, why not specify that wheel with the stock motorcycle? :shrug:

If anyone can find the fabled, 17-inch rear wheel, HumanBeing can. :) However, I did an extensive search for it, and I can't find it. Let's ask HumanBeing for help. :tup:

Indeed, I would specify each bike to be shipped with knobby tires. ;) If one is riding in any mud, he definitely needs a at least a moderately aggressive tread such as that on the Cheng Shin 858, Shinko 244, or Kenda K270 tires. ;) No matter what the Russians did, I think CSC should have the bikes shipped with knobby tires. If the 17-inch rear wheel is available from Zongshen, I also don't know why CSC won't specify the larger wheel, instead of offering it as an option. I surmise the deal with Zongshen was negotiated for the stock bike, and now that the price has been announced, CSC doesn't want to muddy the waters. :shrug:

my guess is that they are supplying it with the 15 because then if they stock tires for it, they have the corner on the market for replacements, but also make the 17 available, so they have the corner on that market too... very smart business tactic if you ask me...

Well I hope someone at Minsk understand English. I just fired them a email asking if the 17" wheel was a factory(Zongshen) item/

No, I don't think the specs are wrong. I think they had the good foresight to order the 17" rim, when they were in a position to do so. The rim is probably used on other bikes somewhere, so it wouldn't be a big deal for Zongshen.

My guess is that CSC didn't think about it.

Perhaps a custom build, using the Tusk parts that you found online. I bet they wish they would have spec'd 17".

I spotted that you asked him. ;)

Perhaps he can also find an 18" version that uses the same hub.

Humanbeing is a fantastic resource to us! :thanks:

I agree. I bet they regret not picking up on the small rim, and the second container that they order will have 17" (or perhaps 18") rims.

Could be, but my guess is that it was a simple oversight.

The very large discount for buyers of the first shipment of bikes will more than make up for the cost of modifying the smaller rear wheel. ;) Even after paying $200 for custom spokes and a new alloy rim, the $600 discount on the first shipment is a very attractive incentive.

So there are no good 15" dual sport tires available? For a while, I was considering getting one of the TRex bikes, which have huge balloon tires. But, as I looked into it, I found that the size they use are nowhere to be found, other than through Rocketa (I believe it was). Found a foreign language forum on those, and they complained about not being able to get tires. Since the TRex uses the same tire front and back, it's an important issue. And, since I live in Hawaii, shipping would be costly. So, I didn't want to buy a bike, that would wear it's tires out every 3,000 miles (as per a British owner), that I couldn't find tires for.

Trust me, in North America it is now virtually impossible to find a 15-inch knobby tire which will fit the RX3's rear wheel. :ohno: My ZS200GY-2 came stock with the same wheel sizes as the RX3. We have been searching for years, and we have been unable to find a knobby tire which will fit the rear wheel of the Zongshen Sierra, or the new Zongshen RX3. :wtf:

However, such tires are readily available in China, so CSC should not have any problem stocking up on them. A nice side benefit is Zongshen Sierra owners will also have a source for knobby rear tires. :) However, CSC will be the only source for these tires, and one will have to be content with their tire selection, and be obligated to pay their price, since they will have zero competition. ;)

Nevertheless, if one is content with street tires, he won't have a problem finding many different tires which will fit the rear wheel of the RX3.

Over on ADV there were some pics of an RX3 with cast wheels. The cast wheels were also 17" on the rear.

http://i929.photobucket.com/albums/a...psa56caa49.jpg