brakes 79 750 and bigger rear tire

[tkent02]

If you have the time, skill, and inclination to put wider wheels, brakes, and tires on your bike, go for it. You'll need to change your steering geometry to take advantage of it.

He couldn't change a brake stay, somehow doing what you have done seems out of the question.

[Mark M]

Meh, I have no chicken strips on my GS which has a 120/180 combo of modern sportbike radials on it.

You're doing better than me, then. I have the rear scrubbed on my GSXR1K, but still about 1/4-3/8" of untouched rubber on the front. Of course, I saw that one set of trackday rubber you posted pics of and they were USED. You just may be faster than I am no matter what...

Mark

[Big T]

Yes, you can lean on a skinny, but a fat tire with larger contact patch means more grip... Or do those silly MotoGP, Superbike and other racers just want more unsprung mass by going wider.

They use a lot wider wheel for those fat tires. Putting a "too large" tire on a narrow rim just messes up everything and you're worse off than if you had kept to the standard size

[paco13]

Apologies for the Hi-Jack but, has any one run a 120/80/18 rear instead of 120/90 on 2.50 rim? If so, How did it handle? Was leaned over grip compromized ? Which did you pefer/recommend?I'm switching to spokes on my 1100 and trying to decide what tire and size to go with. I run 130/90/17 on rear with the cast 2.50 wheel now, but figured I'd run 120's so the width would better fit the rim. Just not sure what aspect ratio to go with for a good handling profile.
Thanks

[TheCafeKid]

I run a 130/90 on my cafe, and its spokes all the way. No probs at all. Go for 130/90 dood. Recently I swapped rims on my 1100G, and the one that came off had a 130/90 on it. the one that went on had a 130/80 on it. Other than the slight ride hight change, which I noticed, handling differences were a non issue. I prefered the 90, and will change BACK to a 90 on my next tire change. But as I said, i felt no handling characteristic issues from the 90 to the 80.

[paco13]

Thanks for the reply CAFE. If you didn't find any handling issues I think I might go with the 80 profile then 'cause I actually am looking to keep the rear close to the same height as was with 17" wheel.

[GSBuilder]

They use a lot wider wheel for those fat tires. Putting a "too large" tire on a narrow rim just messes up everything and you're worse off than if you had kept to the standard size

No kidding, the wheel must match the rim, that's common sense, but saying you can't change it and make things handle better is just ignorance.

[tkent02]

No kidding, the wheel must match the rim, that's common sense, but saying you can't change it and make things handle better is just ignorance.

And you don't think the fact that you have vastly improved the suspension, or that you are running radial tires, or that you have totally changed the steering geometry has as much to do with it as the fact that the tires are wider?

[GSBuilder]

And you don't think the fact that you have vastly improved the suspension, or that you are running radial tires, or that you have totally changed the steering geometry has as much to do with it as the fact that the tires are wider?

No, I don't. I think it has far more to do with it than just the tire width, I don't think we're disagreeing that much, I'm just saying you absolutely CAN go wider, but you do need to think it through.

[greg78gs750]

well, if anyone cares, my po put a 130/90 on my 78 750, he "modified" the torque link buy smashing it flat with a pair of vise-grips in the area of the tire. i wish he hadn't. when i change my tires, i am going to go down to a 120/90, or even a 120/80. and pick up a new, non-mangled torque link.

btw, tom, you got the springs?

[SqDancerLynn1]

Put a 120/90/ tire on it. Personally I think an 80 series is too wide for a GS rim!! but It's your bike.
if you have the 2.15 wide rim a 130/90 will fit too...