Widest rear tire on a GS450?

[Guest]

I replaced my rear tire with a Shinko enduro style that is slightly more narrow than stock, because I wasn't sure that the next size up from the original size would fit. I could only find a couple in the stock size, and they were pretty expensive.
Anyway, seeing it on the bike, it looks like the next size up from stock might fit.
So, how wide can I go back there? Bike is an 81 GS450 with the star-shaped mag wheels.

[Steve]

Your rear wheel is only 1.85" wide, I believe the tire of choice is going to be a 110/90-18.

One choice might be the Shinko 712. You might be able to afford it, it's a whopping $47 from Motorcycle Superstore.

.

[Mr. Sinister]

I actually went with this on the rear: http://www.shinkotireusa.com/product/product.php?id=60 and wanted to do the same for the front. I did a 3.00-17 on the rear. I really feel like a dope now, I keep forgetting the wheels aren't the same size. The front has a 90/90-19, so I figure on this: http://www.jcwhitney.com/shinko-univ...rid=c51715u0j3
I am still curious how wide I could have went on the rear.

[pete]

I can tell you I safely run a Pirelli Scorpion Trail 100/90-18 on the front and a Pirelli Scorpion MT90 A/T 4.10-18 on the rear. I wouldn't go larger with either. The front would be a tight squeeze with the stock guard but Lurch runs the same size and says it's ok.

Good quality matched dual sports in 18" aren't available here in Aus which is why they're different.

[lurch12_2000]

I went with the Shinko 712 100/90-18 for front and 110/90-18 for rear at $94/set shipped to my door from motorcycle-superstore.com. They handle much better than any of those old school new 3.00 and 3.50 tires which were original. Too bad you wasted your $ on that rear already. BTW, I also went tubeless and those old school ones are tube type. I will add a disclaimer that the rims are not tubeless stamped , but I max the 85mph speedo and hit the corners pretty good and logged close to 2k miles without any issue....but if you're the by the book type then no problems putting tubes in the Shinko 712's, just a little trickier mounting the tires if you do yourself.
No problems clearing the front fender and rear chain guard and swingarm with the Shinko 712 sizes I used.
I was tempted to go with a set of Shinko 705's for non paved use too but 120/80-18 rear might rub the chain guard and the 110/90-18 front wouldn't clear the front fender.

My bike is a '80 GS450E which are the same wheels as the '81 GS450S (I think you have, right?...but I can't see your facebook link pics)
If not then you may have an L or T model so check your rims again and report back to us.

[Mr. Sinister]

I have the star-shaped mags, 17" rear, 19" front. It's a 450TX.
The rear tire was $45, and the matching front is close to the same. I went with the enduro style because I do have to deal with a lot of gravel. I have no rear fender, and my front fender is not stock, so I have the height clearance.
My bike is really only going to see commuting duty, and backroad cruising.