Too wide a rear tire - traction issues?

[tthayer]

I have noticed that my bike behaves strangely when I have a decent lean angle applied. The PO replaced the stock tire with one that is rather wide. I think that it is probably too wide as the chain guard cannot be installed and the chain is about 1/4" from the tire in the best of conditions. I don't see any evidence of the chain making contact with the tire, but it makes me nervous all the same.

Sounds like I've convinced myself to replace the tire already, huh?

[Big Rich]

Sounds like it to me. Is this on the 450L? Max size for th 16" mag is a 120/90.

[tthayer]

Looks like there is a 130/90 16 mounted. Damnit.

[Buffalo Bill]

Tires not correct for the rim width…

Have you checked the tire pressure?
It will deflect more if the pressure is low. You might try raising the pressure to 30-32 psi. and see if that reduces the deflection.
Bill

[tthayer]

Tire pressure is at ~34psi.

[hjfisk]

A wider tire should not cause traction issues. If that is happeningyou have something else going on what kind of tire and how old is it?

[Nessism]

The rim is 2.15" wide so a 130 is too wide. I doubt there will be obvious traction issues as a result of the width though.

[tthayer]

I haven't checked the date code, but the tire looks to be in decent shape. I suspect the tire is flexing around a rim that is too slim to properly support the sidewall flex. I don't have any issues with straight line and normal cornering. It only starts to feel... weird... when I am leaned over pretty far. Haven't dragged any pegs yet and I'm pretty sure I don't want to on this bike.

[hjfisk]

Unless it is a old hard tire I don't beleive it will cause traction problems , as I stated before.
Another thing you may want to take a look at are your swing arm bearings, are they still good and is there grease in them? A seized up swing arm can cause some pretty hairy seat of the pants feelings while cornering harder. Not as noticeable under not so stressed conditions. As I had similar conditions on and 1100 E I had a couple years ago.

[TheCafeKid]

Sacked out suspension will cause all kinds of weird feelings when cornering hard. So will improperly set up suspension.

Generally speaking, if you feel it in the front, it's something wrong in the rear and vice versa. If you haven't upgraded your suspension from the stock factory components I would advise not trying to drag any hard parts, until you do.

[Buffalo Bill]

Old tech, new to you?

I haven't checked the date code, but the tire looks to be in decent shape. I suspect the tire is flexing around a rim that is too slim to properly support the sidewall flex. I don't have any issues with straight line and normal cornering. It only starts to feel... weird... when I am leaned over pretty far. Haven't dragged any pegs yet and I'm pretty sure I don't want to on this bike.

It sounds like you're an experienced rider, maybe on modern sportbikes equipped with wide rims and radial tires?
If so it could be that old tech bias ply tires on narrow rims, and old double rear shocks feel funky/loose to you.
Bill

[tthayer]

I am actually as green as they come, but I read a lot
My last bike was a disintegrating moped with a bad spindle in the rear and a missing lock washer on the head tube.

The bit about feeling it in the rear/front being opposite is very interesting. I'll have to investigate that a bit. My head tube was loose and would rock when I got on the brakes so I tightened it a bit and may have gone too far the other direction. I am thinking I was interpreting the rear misbehaving as the front not turning in smoothly enough.

[Dakotakid]

Or is the wider tire causing the bike to "fall" into corners?