Tire Recommendations? Daily Functionality, Vintage Look. 83 Heritage Special

Continental Road Attack 3 alllllll day. Lots of sizes available and the fully radiated heat curing process leaves a tactile fade (rather than drop off) between durable highway center and stickier sidewall cornering rubber. Changed my bike 100% for the better.
 
Alright. So manual says 3.5 19-4pr for the front, but the tire that's on the front is 3.25 19 54p... I've asked around and researched and it seems like there's no way to know for sure if I have the stock wheels on there. Searched the numbers printed on the rims but they aren't matching anything coming up on the internet--or im missing somethign. They look stock, but that's all it seems I can go by...judging by age of the front tire, 40 years, and bike is 37 years old, it was either stock or put on shortly after. PO says he thinks they're stock, def the front. Rear has manual recommended size on now anyway.
In any event, my question is whether you guys have input on whether I should go for 3.5 as the manual says--thus assuming the wheel is stock--or go with 3.25 which is on there, knowing maybe PO put on something different from stock...? Or is the difference negligible? Looks like 3.5 and 3.25 both take 2.5 rim which I can decipher from printing on rim.. Kinda seems like a call I just have to make but figured I'd throw it out in case im missing something.
Also...load index number for tire: that # is per tire here, yes? Just want to make sure

I think I'm going with Avon by the way. Speedmaster up front, safety mileage in the back.
I love the look of the Firestone deluxe champion that Coker does, but I'm reading mixed reviews on performance and they're really tilting towards negative at the end of day. Spotty performance in grooves and wet areas, tread coming off...eek.
Shinko 240s look great and I've seen mostly good feedback but I'm a sucker for the look of that Avon front wheel and have heard only good things about the Avon performance so far, excepting that obviously they're not sport or crazy high performance tires etc. I may try the Shinko 240 next round.
OK, if your bike has 64 spokes on the front wheel and 48 spokes on the back, you can safely bet those are the original wheels..

I believe 3.50-19 is the original front tire size. If you prefer the appearance of the 3.25-19, it will fit and function just fine. It will also turn in more quickly. The 3.50 will fill the front fender more.

The original rear tire is 130/90-16. The 5.00-16 tire will fit just fine.

I believe I would make the same choice as you. Avon Speedmaster / Safety Mileage. I think they'll give you what you want. Please post a picture with them on the bike.
 
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I'm running a set of Shinko 712s'..They dont look vintage or retro..but they handle and feel really well connected to the roads...They never wore well on my heavier XS1100s . Remains to be seen how well they wear on the 650.
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I put a set of Dunlop K70s on my standard. Because that's how it might have been in the 70s...

Pavement handling is not exactly confidence inspiring. Especially compared to the shinko 712.
Gravel performance is pretty good.
Hunting around on grooved pavement is very pronounced.
I like the look but will try a more modern tire next time. A lot has changed in 40 years regarding tires.
 
I put a set of Dunlop K70s on my standard.
Hunting around on grooved pavement is very pronounced.
I like the look but will try a more modern tire next time. A lot has changed in 40 years regarding tires.
I asked someone operating a Norton with the Avon Speedmaster. He said the same of operating on grooved pavement. Otherwise, I witnessed him moving right along on a winding road. To get that vintage look, there will always be a tradeoff. I have no doubt some vintage style tires perform better than others. My experience on them dates back to when my XS650 was brand new.
 
I recently went through this same conundrum for tires on my '75. I wanted vintage look, but in the end I chose a modern compound and pattern. I went with Avon Road Riders and am very happy with the choice. The big difference for me though was I run an 18" rear. My choices were a little slimmer, and I paid up a bit but they are a worthy upgrade.
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You've shown us small detail pics of your bike but how about a full shot like the ones above? Here's my '83. If your wheels look like this with all the extra spokes (64 front, 48 rear), they are the originals. The "normal" spoked wheels on these had 36 spokes .....

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Yes, I read about the spoke count--one of the things I loved about it actually! Then I read somewhere else it wasn't 64 so wasn't sure, and hadn't read about a particular # on the rear. Oh the pros and cons of the internet. Should've just counted before like I just did. Anyway, thanks, good to know guys! 64 on the front, 48 rear so it looks like it's original. Going with the 3.5
Here's a picture of the bike now:
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Oh and @jetmechmarty I'll definitely post a pic once they're on.
 
Yes, I read about the spoke count! Then I read somewhere else it wasn't 64 so wasn't sure, and hadn't read about a particular # on the rear. Oh the pros and cons of the internet. Anyway, thanks, good to know guys! 64 on the front, 48 rear so it looks like it's original. Going with the 3.5
Here's a picture of the bike now:
View attachment 176239

Oh and @jetmechmarty I'll definitely post a pic once they're on.
The bars on that thing look pretty sharp! I have a '79 Special II with the OE Dunlop on it. It is a very close match to the 3.50-19 Avon Speedmaster. If you wish to have the fender filled as it is now, the 3.5 will do that.
 
That's a nice clean bike. Mine was much worse when I got it. I see you're still leaking oil pretty good though, lol. You've got to get under that left side cover and investigate. I'll bet a major source of the leaking is a loose sprocket nut. They need to be tight, really tight (like 95 ft/lbs), or the seal behind it leaks big time.

The BS34 carbs fitted to your model were the most E.P.A. mandated and borderline too lean right from the factory. Any little change made to the intake or exhaust can throw them off, like those fishtail mufflers. They could be partly responsible for your hanging idle if the stock jetting wasn't changed. Mine had the stock mufflers but the P.O. drilled a bunch more holes in the ends of them. Just that change was enough to throw my carbs off a little bit, make them too lean. I "fixed" it by reducing the air jets 2 sizes and increasing the mains one. Your bike could probably benefit from a similar change. Notice how your headpipes are turning gold or blue up near the head. That's a sign of lean running. The headpipes are double walled, a pipe within a pipe with a small air space between the two. This was specifically done so they wouldn't turn colors from heat.
 
Avons ordered! And holy bananas does it all add up! $$$ :yikes:
@5twins Yeah, I feel like the PO took pretty good care of it even though it wasn't being ridden for the last year+, that's one of the reasons I went for it, especially considering my current skill level. Now that the tires are ordered, I can clean the engine and address the leak while I'm waiting on them -- and hopefully once I get the tires on I can ride the bike properly to assess the erratic/hanging idle issue. And yeah, from what I've been seeing and hearing, for leak my money is on loose sprocket nut or clutch pushrod seal.
Verrry interesting note about the carbs, and the headpipes... sounds like I need to decide on my new exhaust sooner rather than later so I'm not adjusting that twice if that's what it ends up being. I'm going to take another look at the headpipes in the AM. I just wanna tear open those carbs but more to figure there still

And I'm glad you guys are digging those bars, but sorry, they're going bye-bye! They really do suit the bike if you're going for that look and riding style though, definitely. (If someone wants them by the way, I have those and the stock ones; just have to choose/order new ones, install, and then the old ones are up for grabs). Just not my bag.

Thanks everyone for the input and help :heart:
Hot pics when they're on next week
 
Yes, I read about the spoke count--one of the things I loved about it actually! Then I read somewhere else it wasn't 64 so wasn't sure, and hadn't read about a particular # on the rear. Oh the pros and cons of the internet. Should've just counted before like I just did. Anyway, thanks, good to know guys! 64 on the front, 48 rear so it looks like it's original. Going with the 3.5
Here's a picture of the bike now:
View attachment 176239
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Hi Marie,
that's my bike too. Just about. Mine's a 1984 Canadian model which came with 7-spoke cast "artillery" wheels.
Yeah, the stock tire sizes are just about optimum; thinner tires look dumb and fatter tires won't fit.
If you like how the megaspoke wire wheels look, OK, but unlike the cast wheels, they can't use tubeless tires.
Suggest you swap the stock rototiller 'bars for 'bars that are lower and point out instead of back.
Swap your front brake hoses (they are 30+years past their "best before" date)
for a single full length stainless steel wire braid reinforced plastic one.
Swap your front brake lever for one that has an 11mm or 12mm piston to get a better feel.
Drill the bejazus out of your front brake disk or swap in an XS11Special slotted disk to enhance the brake operation.
 
Here's the hot pics as promised. Avon speedmaster up front, Avon safety mileage in back. (Bike isn't running right now--decided to stop starting reliably--so I can't offer a ride review just yet.)
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Suggest you swap the stock rototiller 'bars for 'bars that are lower and point out instead of back.
Agreed, doing that; looking at bars now. Going to get to drilling the front brake disc as well down the line, and as for hoses, hoping to get everything on handlebars and hose wise as simple and clean as possible. (Build/rebuild thread going up tonight with plans and assessments)
 
Here's the hot pics as promised. Avon speedmaster up front, Avon safety mileage in back. (Bike isn't running right now--decided to stop starting reliably--so I can't offer a ride review just yet.)
Those tires look good on there!

Now, why won't it start?
 
Are those spots under it from it? If so I might want to fix that. What's happening or not happening when you tart it?
Leo
@XSLeo, who authorized your vacation? Anyway, speaking for myself, I’m glad to see your posts. Either I’m asleep at the wheel, or we discussed those puddles under the bike. @5twins is on the job! I’ll say for the collective, bless you guys who work so hard to keep these old bikes going.
 
Yeah, there's a leak. Working on it. Cleaned under LH crankcase cover, and under engine as it was too grubby to track the leak. I was going to run it then then get back under cover and check the source, but alas, not starting, so no leak chasing. Clutch pushrod seal looks like at least one likely source though. What that means for repairing I have no idea yet.
As for the starting, I plan on putting up a build/rebuild thread tomorrow where I go over the list of things to be addressed, and what makes sense considering the build plans. But in short, from what I've read and seen so far, my money is on a stator issue or bad battery issue. It used to start okay, then it seemed to only be on second start it'd go. Electric start--I hear it trying but no final turn over. Then the other day, I could only get it started with the kick, same next. Now nothing either way, and no headlight action as of today--charged battery between attempts. Battery doesn't seem to hold a charge as long as it should, even when bike isn't being used. PO said battery was new (but who knows if he actually kept it on a tender--I doubt it); it's not OG acid batt. Mechanic who changed the tires actually tested the voltage before test riding it--12.5V at idle, and then 12.4V@ 5k RPM. So from what I understand sounds like it's not the regulator otherwise the voltage would be flying away way high at that 5kRPM; sounds like it's actually not charging the battery. I just bought a multimeter today so I can go through the system tomorrow; going to look up how to test stator; so far only seen rotor tests for OHM. In the meantime, the battery is on the charge tonight.
 
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