First off, I tried looking in the archives for information specifically regarding tire options for the new Mag-Wheel Bonnies, and didn't find much. Also, i am new to riding and will need to buy new tires very soon as I have 9000 miles on my 2010 Black.
We all know the stock Tubeless Metzelers are the following dimensions:
Front Tire 100/70 R17
Rear Tire 130/80 R17
Looking at the image below from
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com I am a little confused by the tire width. does the "120" refer to the width of the outside bow of the tire, as the image seems to indicate? Or is it the width of the bead?
Also, how important is the Aspect Ratio when choosing a tire? For instance, on my bike, can I fit a 100/80 R17? Or will that cause problems? I ask this because the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Tire only comes in 100/80V-17 through Motorcycle superstore. Are there any other reputable tire dealers you guys know of I can look at? Any dealers to beware of?
When I go to the Avon website, here is what they say they have:
Front tyre
Roadrider
Pressure front: 2.3 bar (33psi)
Front size: 110/70-17 (54V)
Rear tyre
Roadrider
Pressure rear: 2.7 bar (39psi)
Rear size: 130/80-17 65V
Anyone know where I can find the Front Tire size in the States? I will keep searching the web in the meantime.
The Avons look nice, but I am not dead-set on getting them. I am open to other suggestions and any tips I can get. I just think the Metzelers are too slick, and want something with more tread.
The stock front tire on my 2009 mag wheel is a 110/70 r17. i have about 6500 miles on mine and the front and rears are getting squared off pretty bad but there seems to be plenty of tread left. I'll be looking for tires next summer. I wouldn't mind a set of tires with some mild dirt capability or a fat front tire for looks but there doesn't seem to be many options in this rim size.
Are you sure you haven't mis-read the sidewall of your front tyre? According to Triumph's website the cast wheeled Bonnies come with a 110/70 front tyre. This is also the recommended fitment on the Metzeler website and they don't list a 100/70 MEZ4. I'm pretty sure I've seen a 110/70 MEZ4 fitted to the bikes I've looked at. Can't say I'm overly impressed by Avon lumping the T100 and Sixty in with the Bonneville and SE so that their recommended fitment for those bikes is a 17" tyre that won't fit their 19" wheels! I would stop looking for a 100/70 x 17" and just go with the 110/70, it'll be fine. The width of the tyre is the widest part as shown by the image you posted above. The bead will be narrower - a 110 tyre is about 4.33" wide and you're fitting it to a 3" wide wheel so the bead width will be somewhat nearer to 3" (but still a bit wider).
There is the possibility the web-site is wrong, so I will take a snapshot of the tire when I go home for lunch. It is raining today here in GA, and I drove my cage to work. It is vexing that I cannot just run down to the parking lot and take a quick look :YellowAngry
But I am pretty sure my front tire is a 100/70 17. Cause I took a pen & paper to the garage before I started searching the web for comparable replacements.
I think you're getting a bit too deep into the exactness of the tire size replacement. Each tire maker has specifications for their products...for example, here's the pirelli tire range w/ specifications:
All of the makers have similar information if you search it out on their websites. Look at the specifications table and you will see that there are allowable rim width ranges for each tire size. You can run any tire that will fit on your rim safely, but you should try and keep the rolling diameter somewhat close (assuming your speedometer is accurate). For example, if you have a 100/70-17 currently, you can run a 110/60-17 and not significantly change the rolling diameter.
From the pics of the mag wheel bonnies, it appears to me that there is plenty of fender clearance to go up a tire size as well. A 110/70-17 or a 120/60-17 would probably take up some of the gap...just check to make sure whatever you buy fits on the stock rim width.
...From the pics of the mag wheel bonnies, it appears to me that there is plenty of fender clearance to go up a tire size as well. A 110/70-17 or a 120/60-17 would probably take up some of the gap...
Before you take up that gap, feel for the fender bolts inside the fenders. Not sure about the bolts used to hold the fender to the fork brace on the mag wheel Bonnies, but my T100 fender uses bolts that project inside the fender toward the tire and take up a lot of the already close fender clearance. The bolts are a little longer than they need to be and could be filed (or replaced entirely with a low profile fastener) but it's something to check before you order larger than stock.
Thanks for the info, that is close to what I was looking for. Like I said, I am new to bikes, and this is the first time I have ever had to deal with a tire change. I have a mile-high understanding of the three size specs, but absolutely no frame of reference as to the impact of minor size changes when it comes to my bike.
I was going to buy my own tires and bring them to the dealer, but it looks as if i will have to rely on the dealer's expertise to ensure I don't get a tire that rubs, or otherwise negatively impacts my bike.
...I have a mile-high understanding of the three size specs, but absolutely no frame of reference as to the impact of minor size changes when it comes to my bike...
I just replaced the tires on my 09 Black this weekend.
Regardless of what the site says, the stock front tire on mine was a Metzeler 110/70-17 and there rear a 130/80-17. What does it say on the sidewall of your tire?
I'd say stick with 110 width up front. I just replaced mine with a set of Pirelli Sport Demons in the stock sizes. I've only put 150 miles on the new tires, but they feel great.
The bike comes with radials. I think I'm going to try a Conti Road Attack 110/70 R17 front with a Conti Trail Attack 130/80 R17 rear. The Trail Attack is a "dual sport" tire but it's mostly for street. Pretty much the only radial I could find in 130/80 17 other than the $$$ stock Metzler.
Many dealers won't mount tires that you buy from other sources (whch is BS IMHO).
I haven't found a matched set of radial street tires (other than the OEM Metzlers) in these sizes. Plenty of dual sport tires and non-radial tires, but that's not what I'm looking for.
The OEM Metzlers flat spotted at 3000 miles, which is rather bizarre because I spent the first three thousand miles riding the blue ridge mountains and didn't go in a straight line very often...
So - I'm still looking for suggestions, but may have to look into different sizes.
I haven't found a matched set of radial street tires (other than the OEM Metzlers) in these sizes. Plenty of dual sport tires and non-radial tires, but that's not what I'm looking for.
That is weird that you have flat spotted the Metzlers already. I have over 4000 miles on mine and they probbaly have another 1000 left at least.
What's your concern with a "dual sport" tire? The Conti Trail Attack I mentioned is listed as 90% street, 10% dirt. It also says it's based on the Road Attack so I doubt there will be any issues running the Road/Trail combo.
I've done some pretty hard cornering on my KLR650 with much more knobby tires than this.
I know most of the choices in our tire size, as well as the Pirelli's I put on mine, are bias ply, but in all honestly they're fine for our application. There are much heavier and more powerful bikes that run on bias ply tires without issue. Just like the radials, keep an eye on your pressures and adjust accordingly for load and riding style.
I run Pirelli Sport Demons on my Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000 and love them (although they are far from long wearing). Just wasn't sure how they'd do on the Bonnie.
I got a pretty good deal on them, and I'm used to running pure sport tires on my sportbikes. So I figured I'd give these a shot. If I get 8k out of them I'll be happy. I got 11.5K out of the stock Metzelers, but in all honesty that last 1K was pushing it.
Bill, what kind of mileage have you seen on your Guzzi with the Sport Demons?
Just put them on 2500 miles ago and they still look good. From what I've heard, I'm hoping for 5000 out of the rear... The LeMans is about 40 lbs. heavier than the Bonnie and makes about 15-20 more bhp, so they're not that far apart...
Ordered them through my nearest authorized dealer and they are only going to be $10.00 more than through motorcycle-superstore.com. I think $10.00 is worth the convenience of me not having to bring them over. I have an appointment Saturday to have them installed. Will let y'all know how I like them
I have a set of RoadRiders - the nicest motorcycle tires I've ever had. Just ordered a set for a Thruxton from Tires Unlimited - $186.01 delivered for the set.
Needless to say, I eagerly await a spin on the Thruxton with these puppies mounted up.
You will like them I bet.
Thanks Bill. I'll keep you guys updated on the mileage and wear I'm seeing out of the Sport Demons. Maybe we should have a mag wheel sticky now that we seem to getting into the years and mileage ranges that a bunch of us are starting to change tires.
For what its worth and I know I am going to get flamed for this, but I am running a 120 up front...I know its supposed to be a 110 but the slightly larger size works like a champ and my speedometer and odometer are reading closer to actual mileage instead of being 5mph fast!...I also have Thruxton rear shocks( +1 1/2".) and the whole bike feels a lot better.....long days in the saddle are much improved.
I thought the 110 or 120 measurement is about width, not circumference. Isn't the second number, like 70 or 80 the measure of circumference? So if you run a 120 on a bike that is rated for a 110, your concern would be more of rubbing the forks with the tire? Can someone clarify this? Use small words so I can understand
The 70 number is the aspect ratio - the tire's height in relation to its width. In a car tire it is measured from rim to tread, but I'm not sure how they measure it on a bike...
The 110 or 120 is width in mm. The 60 70 80 etc is the aspect ratio in %. 17 is rim diameter in inches. In other words a 110/80 is 80% as tall as it is wide 110 X 80% = 88 mm tall
120/60 120 X 60% = 72 mm tall
120/70 (most popular sport bike size) 120 X 70% = 84 mm tall
That said - the 120/ fronts are probably made for a 3.5" wide rim - the Bonnie front mag is 3". This means the 120 tire will be pinched in slghtly making it taller than the spec would suggest when mounted.
Thanks Bill & tbird, I think I got it now. Loks like you need to dust off your math skills to make sure a tire will fit if you are not going with stock numbers.
I'm running a Dunlop Sportmax 220. 120 70 zr 17 Yes it is a little larger but there was no interference with the fender or mounting bolts..by using this size it opens up a whole bunch of possibilities..as you have discovered the 110 series is quite limited. I am still going with the 130 on the back, because my centerstand has limited side clearance and I may rework that in the near future..as you can see in the pic I had to weld extensions on the bottom when the new shocks and larger front tire was fitted.Overall the bike handles really well and being a bit taller it fits my 5ft 10" frame just right.
I find myself far from home needing a new front tire on my SE, and no one in the area had a 110/70 in stock. I ended up with a Sportmax like yours, and I'm planning to have it installed tomorrow. I assume you haven't had any issues since you posted this? Thanks- - Marc
Alright, 500 miles in on the Diablo Sport Demons, and I have to say, feel wise to me it is much better than the stock Metzelers. Even though the stock sizes are the same, the tire is shaped differently and has a little more ground clearance when leaning over. Also, the tires are much less harsh over bumps than the Metzelers were. The stock suspension actually feels better with the Pirellis. At this point I don't really care if I see 5K out of these tires because it makes the bike a much better and fun ride.
Please let us know how you like them when you get some miles on them.
Bill
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