Triumphrat

otbiker · 11-25-2012, 06:35 PM

2002 Bonnie. New to me and needs a front tire. Gee, the tire was only made in 2000! Anyway, the bike sat a LONG time...

Will a 110/100/19 fit?

Will going to a larger tire correct the speedo "error"?

TIA

Marty in Kerrville

lambroving · 11-25-2012, 11:40 PM

Suggest you stick with the stock size unless you want to slow the steering down even more, and the bike geometry is already biased toward stable, read that "sluggish" steering. No idea whether a 100 profile would "correct" ALL of the "error" which is a legal technicality anyway.

Are you new to riding? If you need a front, you may well need a rear. And if the tires are more than 5 years old, definitely replace them both and the tubes too with a premium brand like Pirelli or Michelin, etc. Your safety is at stake! Sorry to spend your coin. How much riding do you have left in TX right now? Maybe wait until early spring?

For tires, keep air in them!

My personal preference is Pirelli Sport Demons but others here may suggest something harder riding or longer wearing. I'd rather have the grip!

Whatever you mount, give them some miles to scrub in and get the mold release compound off or they can easily dump you.

otbiker · 11-26-2012, 04:50 AM

Let's see, starting riding when I was 14, I'm 55 now. OMG! thats 41 years!

Anyway, thanks for the size recommendation. Never thought about slowing down the steering. You're right... it doesn't need to be slower!

lambroving · 11-26-2012, 10:37 AM

You've got me beat by one year on the front but I've got you by 11 years (and maybe a few miles) on the back end!

On mine ('09 T-100 EFi) I pulled the fork tubes up through the clamps by 12mm, which is about the max, to steepen the rake and speed things up a hair. Your bar is longer and has more leverage, so this might be unnecessary on a 2002.

What other mods were done to that bike before it came to you? Good tires, decent shocks, some minor fork tweaks and a better seat can work wonders for the bike but it will never be more than a pleasant, attractive "standard motorcycle". First bike I go to for running a local errand or a short cruise though. Have fun!

ruger · 11-26-2012, 11:21 AM

110/80/R19 Bridgestone Battlewing on mine for what it's worth. Radials front & rear.
I really like that tire!. Beats the Avon Roadrider IMHO. And it looks meaty.

The speedo won't correct with any 19" tire. Just subtract 4 - 5 mph. It becomes a habit and after a while you don't think about it.

Bron-Yr-Aur · 11-26-2012, 01:49 PM

Slow the handling down? News to me. I run a 110 and it helped mine (think: sport bike) A larger rear tire will, indeed, slow the steering, though. Which is why I changed to the 110, to compensate my 150 rear.

Like Ruger says, looks meatier, more aggressive. On my carbed Bonnie, however, it did get the speedo closer to accurate (my speedo cable is hooked to the front wheel and not the trans)

lambroving · 11-26-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreemsicleT100

Slow the handling down? News to me. I run a 110 and it helped mine (think: sport bike) A larger rear tire will, indeed, slow the steering, though. Which is why I changed to the 110, to compensate my 150 rear.

Sport bike? MAJOR difference in rake! A wider front will ALWAYS slow the steering and increase input effort. Might match your rear better though. You do this for "looks" or did you increase your BHP significantly? Oddly, Triumph DOES have a clue when they size these bikes. And BTW, a wider rear WILL take more BHP to motivate.

Whatever rings your bell.

Mine is only my 2nd Triumph; the first was a 175 Tiger Cub in prep-school. 22 BMW's and 8 Ducati's since though.

Bron-Yr-Aur · 11-26-2012, 05:27 PM

Although I have some to say on that, I won't. I'll just say my experience doesn't match what you say.

And I've owned over 20 cars in my life. I guess that makes me a mechanic?

lambroving · 11-26-2012, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kreemsicleT100

Although I have some to say on that, I won't. I'll just say my experience doesn't match what you say.

And I've owned over 20 cars in my life. I guess that makes me a mechanic?

That's OK, I'm not a physicist either, but I can read about contact patches.

Not a bad mechanic here, but not my primary. DID sell 6,500+ very expensive European machines in a 40-year career before retiring. Never a need to be a master tech when I had one within 100 feet all those years. Same reason my Snap-On chest isn't that deep. Too easy to borrow overnight just about anything you could imagine!

Why own it...