Dual Sport/Purpose Tires for XS 650's

What would you guys suggest for my bike? I have a 78 Special, That I'm giving the street tracker look to.

Currently my tires which came with the bike, are Bridgestone Spitfires S11, and they're cracking.

So I need replacements. I don't take the bike off the road.

Any suggestions?
 
Roy!!! Hey, just saw your post, wanted to tell ya I got that thing running like a raped ape!!! The cam chain guide was good, the only thing was the timing was WAY out, and the carbs needed some attention, other than that she runs great, and the Avon is fantastic on Mt. Roads, and the pavement. Thanks again, Roy. Your friend(s),Dale. (and Randy)
 

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Dale glad you like it. I had hoped you didnt chop her up cause she does handle extremely well both tarmac and gravel roads. Need any info on it just contact me.
 
Dunlop k70's have a cool tread design and mine handle excellent on gravel. Look under my 1975 yamaha album on here. I have a straight ahead picture of it.
 
Here's what I have...V-rubber 90/100/19 front and a Kenda K761 120/80/18 rear. About 65.00 ea shipped from Pure Offroad in Utah
 

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Viper, the Bridgestones are a good street tire. I have them on one of my 650's. The other is getting a set of Pirelli MT-66 tires.
 
Thanks Petesponies; I actually bought it off of a member here, Royfisk, pretty much the way it sits in the photos. (You can see the bike in this thread like six entries up in his driveway) I do plan on changing some stuff including the exhaust, and possibly the tank. The exhaust tips anyway which are Supertraps, will end up on one of two bobbers I'm starting on. One will be a skinny tire old school almost board tracker look, and the other will be a wide tire prostreet look, so more than likely the super traps will end up on the prostreet... Now all I need is money, time, and space to work in, not much... But the Avon tire on the back of this thing is a fantastic tire, great on pavement and will chew up the dirt!!! She is fun to ride, I have to keep reminding myself NOT to beat her like a dirt bike, I used to race MX years ago, so it's really hard to stay calm on it.
 
If you find it hard to be calm now, wait till you put a 750 kit with a cam, ignition, carbs, exhaust on it. Then the extra 50 % more power to the ground makes it really hard to be calm.
 
I'll save that for one the bobbers,more than likely the wide tire I'll start in the spring. I get all the torque I need from my Ironhead, I went through the entire motor and she has some real power now! (74 c.i. kit w/ Keith Black pistons, N.O.S. Sifton Scorpion cams, Barnett Scorpion billet clutch,S&S super E shorty,Manley valves, sifton springs, head was flowed, all balls starter after frying 4 prestolites because they can't turn the motor with the 10:1 compression, etc.,etc,etc.) Next is a hydraulic clutch kit I found, no more Popeye arm! Long story longer, it smokes big twins off the line, and makes guys who just spent $30K on there first H-D look damn stupid. Only draw back is: it's still an Ironhead, 4hrs. riding= 2hrs wrenching, to keep it from vibrating apart. :laugh:
 

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No pund tendered here but what motorcycle put harley davidson out of road racing? Hmm I beleive between 1969 and 74 70% of the national events were one by yamaha and I wonder what model Hmm I think it was the little 650 in question here. Harleys last ama win was in loudon in 1972 and that was on a k-model because it was quicker the the x models. But not to brag my work up but with the suspension package on the xsl bike there is NO IRON HeAD SPORTSTER going to take it in the twisties with a good street tire on it. Drop the front end 2 " in the trees, put on soft tires go. Dont know why you would build up the bobbers verses the xsl. It will at least handle. Hell build them all up.
 
Roy; Number one I wasn't putting down the XS,and the last time I "road raced" I was a teenager. Number two, shy of dumping 3 grand into one of the motors I purchased off of you, can not even be considered in the same ballpark,power wise, with my H-D. I was talking about pure torque, which in my opinion is more fun than horsepower. I'm not out for building a power monster, but I am looking to build a classy, reliable, ridable bike for my son. To get him away from the ZX7RR that he had. Number three, here are some AMA wins of Harley's in recent history: Eslick-Milwaukee (July 20, 2010). Jake Johnson Wins AMA Pro Dirt Track Grand National-Oct 11, 2010.
Chris Carr
INDUCTED: 2004
Seven-time AMA AMA Grand National Flat Track Champion.
2003 AMA Pro Athlete of the Year.
1985 AMA Rookie of the Year.
Motorcycle land speed record holder.... Should I list just some of the recent, AMA NHRA wins??? And last but not least, I have ridden both bikes in question here Roy, seeing as though I own them both, and twisty's or not, there is no comparison, it's like bringing a knife to a tactical nuclear weapon fight. I am not a 'brand specific' type of guy, as long as your knees are in the breeze I'll ride along side of a good rider on a damn Vespa. The reason I'm building the Bobbers and selling the Dual is one reason only, the all mighty dollar.
 
FWIW, I'm running Shinko 244's on my SR. They are perfect for the literally thousands of miles of dirt roads around here, and from the looks of them and the way they feel in the dirt you'd never believe how well they handle on the tarmac.

They are really yokohama enduros, made in the old Yokohama molds.
Best part is that they're dirt cheap.

244-series-tread.jpg
 
Oh, and as far as 16"ers go, the mechanic at the local dealer was looking for some dual-sport tires for the rear of his old twinstar (rides the same roads I do) and think he went with the Vee Rubber VRM-163. I'll ask what he thinks of them the next time I see him.
 
Spider John said:
FWIW, I'm running Shinko 244's on my SR. They are perfect for the literally thousands of miles of dirt roads around here, and from the looks of them and the way they feel in the dirt you'd never believe how well they handle on the tarmac.

They are really yokohama enduros, made in the old Yokohama molds.
Best part is that they're dirt cheap.

244-series-tread.jpg
Click to expand...

I run those on my xs400. Great on dirt and gravel. Suprisingly good in mud.

Posted via Mobile
 
Here are the 244s on my SR. Running 4.10 on the front and 4.60 on the rear.
Mounted on 18 x 1.85 and 18 x 2.25, they measure almost exactly 4.1" and 4.6" at the widest part.

IMG_0381.jpg IMG_0388.jpg
 
Ironhead said:
Roy!!! Hey, just saw your post, wanted to tell ya I got that thing running like a raped ape!!! The cam chain guide was good, the only thing was the timing was WAY out, and the carbs needed some attention, other than that she runs great, and the Avon is fantastic on Mt. Roads, and the pavement. Thanks again, Roy. Your friend(s),Dale. (and Randy)
Click to expand...

Ironhead,
Nice bike! Which bike did that seat come from? I really like that 70's scrambler style seats, with a bit more padding than what seems to be in fashion these days, as well as fitting OVER the frame rails, not sitting on top.
 

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