[PyroVee]

I am looking to put tyres on my almost finished project and was hoping to get some advice. The bike in question is a virago 750 1981 monoshock Cafe Racer with a Yamaha R1 front end. The options I have in front of me are:

130/90-16 (Stock Size) Rear + 120/90-17 Front
or
130/90-16 (Stock Size) Rear + 120/70-17 Front

Both tyres will be the same brand and name - I prefer the bigger tyre look on the front myself but I don't know if this is a daft move or will be unsafe. Any advice on which combination is better (and for what reason). would be great!

Thanks

 

[TrialsRider]

I am looking to put tyres on my almost finished project and was hoping to get some advice. The bike in question is a virago 750 1981 monoshock Cafe Racer with a Yamaha R1 front end. The options I have in front of me are:

130/90-16 (Stock Size) Rear + 120/90-17 Front
or
130/90-16 (Stock Size) Rear + 120/70-17 Front

Both tyres will be the same brand and name - I prefer the bigger tyre look on the front myself but I don't know if this is a daft move or will be unsafe. Any advice on which combination is better (and for what reason). would be great!

Thanks

Super easy to answer, look at a race bike, any race bike, have you ever seen one with a great big tire up front
... I am not racing so what is the relevance you ask
Race bikes are designed to handle well, it is part of winning races.
What vehicle handles well with big front tires? Farm implements !

 

[lotus1]

I just picked up some new tires for my bike. I'll be running 130/90-16 (rear) & 120/90-17 (Front). What tires are you running?

 

[PyroVee]

I just picked up some new tires for my bike. I'll be running 130/90-16 (rear) & 120/90-17 (Front). What tires are you running?

I've currently got my eye on some Bridgestone's but haven't made the move yet as I'm awaiting some advice before buying. What tires are you running so far? I'd love to know how the handling of your bike!

 

[lotus1]

I've currently got my eye on some Bridgestone's but haven't made the move yet as I'm awaiting some advice before buying. What tires are you running so far? I'd love to know how the handling of your bike!

I'm running Pirelli Route tires. I've read some good reviews and I really like the way they look especially when you white out the letters on them.

 

[lotus1]

this one isn't my bike but here's a picture of the tires with the white lettering...

 

[jcw]

There is a huge difference in diameter between the two tires.
If you can't understand the change in geometry an inch or more in front end ride height makes... then it doesn't matter what tire you get cause you probably won't know the difference.
White lettering... lol.

 

[lotus1]

There is a huge difference in diameter between the two tires.
If you can't understand the change in geometry an inch or more in front end ride height makes... then it doesn't matter what tire you get cause you probably won't know the difference.
White lettering... lol.

Well, white lettering aside, I'm running the Shinko brand same size tires on my XV920 and they ride just fine. So yeah, I do know about ride height and how it effects the ride. Thanks....lol

 

[woodsman]

this one isn't my bike but here's a picture of the tires with the white lettering... View attachment 104278

There is a huge difference in diameter between the two tires.
If you can't understand the change in geometry an inch or more in front end ride height makes... then it doesn't matter what tire you get cause you probably won't know the difference.
White lettering... lol.

It's fucking art man, it's for the people.

 

[crazypj]

Until the early 2000's, almost all Japanese motorcycles came with the narrowest wheel rims that could support the OEM tyres without major handling defects.
It means even stock tyres are marginal on stock rims and if you want to go wider you really need to fit wider rims. To say something handles OK on wider tyres with stock rims means you really have no idea how the bike should handle. In my experience, even going 10mm wider than stock has a very pronounced affect on handling (even though it' was fitted to same size wheel on a different model with different head angle)
Some bikes get downright dangerous with oversize tyres (best example I know is 1980's Honda CBX550 where you can barely hold onto it at 35mph with oversize front tyre)
Personally, I would fit a 110/80~90 instead of 120 as steering will be a little lighter as XV is already 'front heavy'