XBR 500 tires

[Tuoppo]

Hi all!

I´m from Finland and a noobie in this foorum. I bought my 1988 XBR last summer. Now I need to buy new tires and i have thought that can i put any wider tires on original rims. Standart tire sizes are 100/90/18 in front and 110/90/18 back.

cheers
Tuoppo

[Steve H]

Cant speak for the XBR but an SRX runs much better on standard sizes. Are you having problems sourcing standard sizes ?

[Tuoppo]

No but I think that wider tires would look better

[guest7]

I've never had a problem with the standard sizes. You won't get any bigger than a 120 in the swingarm anyway.

I've run XBRs with a 120 on the back, but it didn't improve the handling.

The standard front tyre only just squeezes past the mudguard bolts so if you fitted a fatter tyre you'd probably have to deflate it to remove or fit it.

I've seen some great conversions using cast 17" wheels, wider forks (and clamps of course) and different swingarms and that seems to the be sensible way to get fat tyres.

Cheers
GC

[GB500nz]

The universal conclusion is that bigger tyres make badder handling. The standard sizes are perfect for the bike. I feel Metzlers (33 front, 66 rear or thereabouts) suit the bike very well. I put a Pirelli on the front of mine and it was a mistake. It would look like a toy scooter with 17" fatties. If that's what you want, get a scooter.

[guest7]

If that's what you want, get a scooter.

To be fair, looks are subjective we each hanker after slightly different things. I like bobbed bikes with abbreviated 'guards and fat ballon tyres, however I know that most bobbed bikes won't handle well. It doesn't stop say a 1940's bobbed sidevalve Harley from looking lovely though :-)

I remember in the 80s me and my mates trying to squeeze fat 'race' tyres onto narrow 70s and early 80s rims, in the believe that if GP bikes had fat tyres then all bikes would obviously corner well with fat tyres. Doh!

Personally I always thought the XBR front tyre was wide enough (in terms of looks). The GB's narrower 90/90 looks more classic, but sometimes let go in wet braking, something the XBR size rarely does.

Cheers
GC

[Steve H]

Graham for once we agree. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ive just been given a hard time on a car related forum for asking advice on some simple mods I was thinking of making to my ZX. The term 'dangerous' and 'Citroen know best' cropped up a few times.
I must be mellowing in my old age

[guest7]

The term 'dangerous' and 'Citroen know best' cropped up a few times.
I must be mellowing in my old age

I had exactly the same response on a Landy forum when I suggested replacing the rubber-into-solid-into-rubber clutch hose with a length of Goodridge. One chap said "Land Rover must have made it that way for a reason"
Er... yes and the reason is cost.
I did point out that as all high performance vehicles used braided hose for the task then surely it might be safe.

What were you sugesting btw, was it that old "I reckon I can get a V8 into there" argument?

Cheers
GC

[Richard 003]

Personally I always thought the XBR front tyre was wide enough (in terms of looks). The GB's narrower 90/90 looks more classic, but sometimes let go in wet braking, something the XBR size rarely does.

Cheers
GC

When I bought my GB500 back from you, you had a 110/80 on the front.  I think it was "because it was there"  ;-)

[Steve H]

What were you sugesting btw, was it that old "I reckon I can get a V8 into there" argument?

Nope, I like my 50mpg fuel consumption too much for a V8. The mod is far too embarrasing to reveal in such esteemed company (apparently I'm old enough to know better !)

[Tuoppo]

So maybe it`s better to stick with standart sizes. I`m not going to do any big mods to get wider tires. Bike looks just fine enough way it is. Btw here is my bike

My XBR -88

[themoudie]

Aye Tuoppo,

Looks a nice motorcycle.

I see from the photo your daylight hasn't come back yet. Our's is improving in Scotland at the moment.

Have you had our snow, because we haven't had any so far this winter?

Enjoy the XBR.

Regards, Bill

[Tuoppo]

Snow became late at this year. Usually snow comes somewhere in November but this year grass was still green at January. Then about a month ago we had a big blizzard and we got more than enough snow.

[guest7]

Btw here is my bike

Looks grand. What boxes are those?

GC

[Tuoppo]

I`m not sure because there is no label and boxes came with the bike. I have seen a couple pictures on the web where XBR`s have same kind of boxes and boxholders. Boxholders also fit very nice so maybe these are original?