Tire size and handling

[gggGary]

Showed this before, but I'm quite happy; 3" rims and a pair of 110/80/18 front Pilot road 3 radials mounted front and rear.

I just got these Michelin Pilot activs back on rims Liked riding on this set also
2.15 19, 100/90/19 front 2.5 18 4.00 18 rear.

Then again the stock 79 with Shinko 100/90/19 front and 110/80/18 rear rides just fine til I AB compare it with those PR3's

 

[TimeMachine]

Gggjeez those two bikes and wheels look So fine ! I'm getting tempted to try some sportier tires just looking at em..

 

[grizld1]

One more thing to think about is tire aspect--the ratio of height to width. These bikes respond well to moving the rear up and the nose down--steering becomes quicker and more linear (in stock form the XS650 tends to oversteer when it's heeled over deep). I use 13-1/4" shocks, tubes raised 10 mm. in the trees, and an 18-2.15" rim in front. The tire combination that's felt best to me is H-rated Bridgestone BT45 with 100/80/18 in front (height 80% of width) and 110/90/18 in the rear (height 90% of width).

 

[Marlin72xs]

Gary, i agree, 2 gggorgeous bikes.
Grizld1, my rears are 12-5/8. My front tire is the avon roadrider 3.25x19. The inflated height measures 26.5". My rear inflated height is 26.4". I enjoy the quicker steering.

 

[gggGary]

Pilot activs
100/90/19 front 25 3/4"
4.00 18 rear 26 1/4"
The 110/80/18 PR3 RADIALS are about 24 1/4"
Then there's this

From an early DR650 I think I might be able to machine the cush hub for correct offset and to accept a 34 tooth sprocket, 2.50X17" rim.... Tire OD would have been about 25" new.

 

[Marlin72xs]

That's a cool tire. What is it. This is the avon trailrider 120/80-18. I love it.

 

[gggGary]

Bridgestone trail wing 150-70-17 Radial. May be superceded to a battlax adventure.
Yeah that Avon looks good

 

[Marlin72xs]

Oops. The pic of tbe VW wss a mistake. If you look closely, that is Bid Daddy Don Garlits. My old friend got him to sit in his dads VW for the picture.

 

[Marlin72xs]

One more thing to think about is tire aspect--the ratio of height to width. These bikes respond well to moving the rear up and the nose down--steering becomes quicker and more linear (in stock form the XS650 tends to oversteer when it's heeled over deep). I use 13-1/4" shocks, tubes raised 10 mm. in the trees, and an 18-2.15" rim in front. The tire combination that's felt best to me is H-rated Bridgestone BT45 with 100/80/18 in front (height 80% of width) and 110/90/18 in the rear (height 90% of width).

When you said raised 10 mm, I thought u made it higher in front. Duh. U lowered the front by 10 mm. And, the rear is approx 5/8" higher than stock. Wow! Got any Picts?