KKE 21/18 All Black Wheel Set for Sting MX3

This KKE 21/18 all black Talaria Sting wheel set turns a standard Sting MX3 from a 19 and 16 inch bike into a full size motocross stance with a 21 inch front and an 18 inch rear. It is a complete pair of built wheels: CNC machined hubs, gloss rims, blackened spokes, alloy nipples, and every bearing, seal and spacer needed to bolt straight on. Below we cover why riders make the change, what arrives in the box, how the geometry and gearing shift, which tyres suit the new rims, and how to keep the set true for years.

Why riders fit a 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set

The Sting MX3 leaves the factory on a 19 inch front and a 16 inch rear, a pairing that keeps the bike compact and the seat height friendly. Once the riding gets faster and rougher, the small wheel package shows its limits, and a 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set is the most direct way to change the character of the bike.

Rollover, ruts and rock gardens

A larger diameter wheel meets an obstacle at a shallower angle. On a 21 inch front the tyre climbs over roots, rocks and braking bumps rather than stopping against them, so the bars stay calmer and the front end deflects less. In deep ruts the taller wheel tracks the groove instead of hunting for the edge. Riders who fit this Talaria Sting wheel set usually describe the same thing first: the front stops feeling nervous at speed.

Ground clearance and stance

Because both wheels grow in diameter, the whole bike sits higher. The swingarm pivot, the motor casing and the footpegs all gain clearance, which matters on rutted trails and rocky climbs where the Sting’s underside normally takes a beating. The seat height rises by roughly the same amount, and the bike takes on full size motocross proportions. The trade offs of a 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set are slower turn in through tight sections and a change in effective gearing, covered further down.

What arrives in the box

This Talaria Sting wheel set is a complete front and rear pair, not a bare rim and hub kit that you need to lace yourself. Both wheels arrive built, trued and ready for tyres. The contents are:

• Front wheel: 1.6 x 21 gloss rim laced to a CNC machined anodised hub
• Rear wheel: 1.85 x 18 gloss rim laced to a CNC machined anodised hub
• Chemically blackened iron spokes with alloy nipples on both wheels
• Wheel bearings pressed into both hubs
• Bearing seals fitted on both sides of each hub
• Axle spacers for both wheels

Tyres, tubes, rim locks, brake discs and the rear sprocket are not part of the set. The discs and sprocket transfer from your existing wheels, and tyres are covered in the sizing section below. Every part of this Talaria Sting wheel set is finished in black: hub, rim, spokes and nipples.

Materials and construction

KKE builds wheels that hold up to club competition use, and the material choices on this Talaria Sting wheel set follow the same recipe as their full size motocross wheels.

6082 T6 aluminium hubs

The Talaria Sting wheel set hubs are CNC machined from 6082 T6 aluminium and anodised black. 6082 is a structural grade alloy with good strength and excellent corrosion resistance. In a hub that means the spoke flanges resist elongation under repeated impact and the bearing bores hold their tolerance instead of slowly opening up.

7050 T6 aluminium rims

The rims are rolled from 7050 T6 aluminium and given a gloss black finish. 7050 is a high strength aerospace alloy, harder than the 6000 series material on many budget rims, so the rim resists dents from square edged rocks and flat spotting under hard landings. The gloss finish also resists the chalky oxidation a bare rim develops over a wet British winter.

Blackened iron spokes and alloy nipples

The spokes are iron, chemically blackened rather than painted, so the finish does not chip at the nipple or elbow. Alloy nipples keep unsprung weight down and give a clean all black look. Because the spokes are ferrous, they benefit from a light coat of protectant before winter riding. Both wheels arrive tensioned and trued.

Fitment by model

This KKE wheels Talaria conversion is built around the Sting MX3, so the hub widths, bearing sizes, disc mounting pattern and sprocket carrier all match the MX3 as standard. The table summarises where this Talaria Sting wheel set fits across the Sting family.

One point on the road legal bikes deserves its own paragraph. A Sting sold as an L1e or L3e vehicle is type approved as a package, and the wheel and tyre sizes form part of that approval under Regulation 168/2013. Fitting a 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set to a registered bike changes ride height, speedometer accuracy and tyre specification, insurers expect to be told, and a testing station may query it at MOT time on an L3e. This set is for off road Stings ridden on private land with permission.

Tyre choice for 21 and 18 inch rims

Moving to 21 and 18 inch rims opens up the widest choice of off road tyres on the market, because these are the standard motocross and enduro sizes. The rim widths on this Talaria Sting wheel set point to a specific band of tyre widths.

Front: 1.6 wide 21 inch rim

A 1.60 rim, as fitted to this Talaria Sting wheel set, is the standard motocross front width and is designed around an 80/100 section tyre on a 21 inch bead seat. A 90/90 section enduro front also seats correctly on this width. Avoid anything narrower than 80 section, because the profile becomes too rounded and the front feels vague when leaned over.

Rear: 1.85 wide 18 inch rim

A 1.85 rim on an 18 inch bead seat is the classic enduro rear size. It takes a 100/100 section tyre comfortably and will accept a 110/100 section for riders who want more footprint in mud and sand. Given the Sting’s modest weight, a 100/100 section is usually the better balance of grip, rolling resistance and range.

Tubes, rim locks and pressures

Fit heavy duty tubes and at least one rear rim lock, because the Sting’s instant torque can spin a tyre on the rim at low pressure. Many riders on this Talaria Sting wheel set run slightly lower pressures than on the small wheels, because the larger air volume cushions square edged hits.

Gearing, height and the speed readout

A 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set changes the effective final drive ratio even though the sprockets stay the same, so the bike feels different and the display reads differently.

How much taller is the rear?

A standard 90/100 section tyre on a 16 inch rim measures roughly 586 mm across. A 100/100 section tyre on an 18 inch rim measures roughly 657 mm. That is an increase of around 12 percent in rolling diameter. Every rotation now covers about 12 percent more ground, which lengthens the gearing by the same proportion.

What that does to the ride

The longer gearing of a 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set raises the theoretical top speed but softens acceleration off the line and adds a little load on the motor and controller on steep climbs. On an MX3 with the standard controller this is noticeable but not dramatic. If you ride a lot of technical climbing, a tooth or two more on the rear sprocket recovers the lost punch.

Speed and distance readings

The Sting’s display calculates speed from motor rotation and an assumed wheel size, so with a taller rear tyre the display will read low, by roughly that same 12 percent. If your display or controller allows a wheel circumference setting, update it to the new size. If it does not, remember that true speed and distance are a little higher than shown, another reason this Talaria Sting wheel set belongs on off road bikes rather than registered ones.

Fitting, bearings and torque care

Because both wheels in the Talaria Sting wheel set arrive built and trued, the job is a straightforward wheel swap on a clean stand.

1. Lift the bike so both wheels hang free, remove both axles, and keep the original spacers, chain adjusters and washers together and labelled.
2. Transfer the front brake disc and the rear disc and sprocket to the new hubs. Clean the mating faces, use fresh threadlock on the disc bolts and tighten in a star pattern to the figure in the Talaria owner’s manual.
3. Fit tyres, tubes and rim lock, inflate to seat the beads, then set the working pressure.
4. Fit the wheels using the spacers supplied with the Talaria Sting wheel set. If the new spacers differ from the originals, use the new ones, because they are matched to the hub widths.
5. Set the chain slack, then tighten both axle nuts to the manufacturer’s torque figure with a torque wrench, never by feel.
6. Spin each wheel and check that the disc runs centrally in the caliper without rubbing, and that the chain runs straight from sprocket to sprocket.

Bearing care

The Talaria Sting wheel set bearings are fitted and sealed, so there is nothing to do before the first ride. At every wheel removal, grip the rim top and bottom with the axle fitted and feel for play. Any rocking means a bearing is on its way out. Sealed bearings are cheap to press out and replace, and catching a rough one early protects the alloy bore in the hub, which is the expensive part.

Spoke tension after the first ride

New wheels bed in. After the first hour of proper riding, go round every spoke and bring any loose ones back to even tension, working in small increments opposite each other so the rim stays true. Repeat after a few more rides, then check monthly. This habit separates a wheel that lasts years from one that needs a rebuild.

How it compares with the alternatives

A KKE Talaria Sting wheel set is one of three sensible routes when an owner starts thinking about wheels.

Stay on 19 and 16 with better parts

If your riding is tight woodland, pump tracks and short trails, the standard wheel sizes are genuinely the better tool. In that case a stronger replacement front, such as our 19 x 1.40 front rim assembly, or the CNC hubbed 16 x 1.85 rear rim, gives you a tougher wheel without changing the geometry.

Go to 17 inch supermoto

Riders who spend their time on hard packed tracks or private tarmac are better served by the 17 inch supermoto wheel set, which lowers the bike, sharpens the steering and takes road pattern tyres. That is the opposite direction from the 21/18 set.

Go big wheel

For fast open trails, enduro loops, sand and rocky climbs, the 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set is the conversion that makes the Sting behave like a full size machine. Riders who compete in club events run under ACU rules get the same tyre options as the petrol bikes in their class.

Whichever route you take, the wider range of Talaria upgrades in our Talaria parts category is built to work together, and you can read how riders in the UK use their bikes lawfully in our guide on whether Talarias are legal in the UK.

Frequently asked questions

Does the KKE 21/18 Talaria Sting wheel set fit the Sting R MX4?

The set is built to the MX3 hub specification. The MX4 uses 220 mm discs and revised hubs, so we ask MX4 owners to contact us before ordering so we can confirm spacers and disc fitment. The MX3 fitment is direct with no modification.

Do I need new brake discs or a new sprocket?

No. The front disc, rear disc and rear sprocket transfer from your original wheels onto the Talaria Sting wheel set hubs. Use fresh threadlock on the disc and sprocket bolts and a torque wrench. Tyres, tubes and rim locks are purchased separately.

Will the bigger wheels make my Sting faster?

The taller rear tyre lengthens the effective gearing by roughly 12 percent, so the theoretical top speed rises slightly and the display reads low by about the same amount. Acceleration softens a touch as a trade off. Riders who want the original punch back can fit a larger rear sprocket.

How much higher will the seat be?

Both wheels in the Talaria Sting wheel set grow in diameter, so the bike lifts by roughly half the increase in rolling diameter at each end. Expect the seat to sit noticeably higher, closer to a full size motocross bike. Shorter riders should try a converted bike before committing.

Can I fit this set to a road legal L1e or L3e Sting?

We do not recommend it. Wheel and tyre sizes form part of the approved specification of a registered vehicle, the speedometer would read incorrectly, and your insurer would need to be informed. This conversion is intended for off road Stings ridden on private land with the landowner’s permission.

Is the set covered by warranty?

Yes, the KKE Talaria Sting wheel set is covered by our UK warranty, full terms on the warranty page. Crash damage, riding on flat tyres and running loose spokes are not covered, which is why the spoke tension checks matter.

Next steps

If your Sting MX3 has outgrown its small wheels, this KKE 21/18 all black Talaria Sting wheel set is the conversion we recommend for fast trail and enduro riding. Order it for UK mainland delivery, timescales confirmed at checkout. Not sure which direction suits your riding? Browse the full Talaria Sting range, read our Talaria specs and weight guide for the standard figures, or contact our team with your model and year and we will confirm fitment before you buy.

Buying this from The Talaria UK

Our service promise as a UK Talaria specialist.

• Checked before it shipsEvery bike is unboxed, inspected, torqued, charged and test run in our workshop before the courier is booked. You get a machine that is ready to ride, not a crate and a leaflet.
• Packed to arrive intactBikes travel in their factory crate with the fragile parts protected, and we tell you exactly what to check before you sign for it.
• UK mainland deliveryShipped across the UK mainland, with options, costs and timescales confirmed at checkout and tracking sent on dispatch.
• Answers from people who ride theseAsk which model suits your weight, your ground or your licence and you get an answer from someone who has set these bikes up, not a script.
• Parts on the shelfWe stock the batteries, chargers, controllers, motors, forks and wheels for what we sell, so a repair or an upgrade is a stock check rather than a long wait.
• Covered after you buyEvery bike is covered by our UK warranty, with the period for this model shown on this page and in your order confirmation, and claims handled by the team that inspected it.

Questions before you order? Contact us, or read the delivery guide, the warranty terms and finance options.