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Quixote
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« on: July 13, 2011, 06:40:49 PM » |
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Hi Folks,
I'm looking to remodel my Valk to have a skinnier front tire. Has anyone here attempted such a transition? I'm think that a wheel from a VTX or perhaps a Goldwing might just bolt up.
Any Experience?
Bill
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Riders:
1968 BSA Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 1987 Yamaha Trailway, 2000 Valkyrie, 2006 Yamaha Roadliner S.
Projects:
1947 Indian Chief, 1980 KZ550, 1985 ZN1300
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Warlock
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« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2011, 06:56:45 PM » |
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Hi Folks,
I'm looking to remodel my Valk to have a skinnier front tire. Has anyone here attempted such a transition? I'm think that a wheel from a VTX or perhaps a Goldwing might just bolt up.
Any Experience?
Bill
Seen one I think from a goldwing and unless your change out the fender to me it doesn't look right. Looks out of place. JMO David |
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 I don't want to hear the labor pains, I just want to see the baby |
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Quixote
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« Reply #2 on: July 13, 2011, 07:05:57 PM » |
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The fender is no big thing. I live in the land of kitty cats, ( use your own interpretation ) where folks who got no common sense think that studded tires are the do all and end all of traction concerns. As a result we all ride on roads that are contoured into three humps and two valleys. Given that Valks have ginaormus front tires we Valk riders constantly fight the side slopes that the pavement has been sculpted into.
I've a number of bikes and none of them fight the pavement as does my Valk.
Bill
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Riders:
1968 BSA Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 1987 Yamaha Trailway, 2000 Valkyrie, 2006 Yamaha Roadliner S.
Projects:
1947 Indian Chief, 1980 KZ550, 1985 ZN1300
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BF
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« Reply #3 on: July 13, 2011, 11:10:56 PM » |
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Try more rake. I hear it makes the front end feel lighter.
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I can't help about the shape I'm in I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin But don't ask me what I think of you I might not give the answer that you want me to  |
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Farther
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« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2011, 07:06:54 AM » |
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I found just the opposite effect on roads when going from my skinny 21 inch wheel Shadow to the Valk.
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Thanks,
~Farther
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The Anvil
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« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2011, 08:07:16 AM » |
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I'm not a big fan of the 140 section front tire either and I've noticed the same effect on roads with grooves worn in them. I've just kind of adapted I guess but I think the bike would have been better off with a 120 and a wheel and fender sized accordingly.
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Boxer rebellion, the Holy Child. They all pay their rent.
But none together can testify to the rhythm of a road well bent.
Saddles and zip codes, passports and gates, the Jones' keep.
In August the water is trickling, in April it's furious deep.
1997 Valk Standard, Red and White.
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Quixote
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« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2011, 06:56:04 AM » |
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I've put an ad on Craig's List looking for a front wheel from a 2003 Wing. It's an 18" wheel and with the smaller tire may just end up the same diameter as the stock wheel and tire.
I also ride a 2006 MeanStreak which doesn't fight the ruts as much. It was riding the Streak last week that got me to thinking that the Valk would benefit from a narrower tire. Riding down a straight piece of road the ruts are just a nuisance, but then I got to wondering if the ruts on the curves might not be part of the reason that the Streak corners better that the Valk, which it does.
Any way, the wheels appear to be very similar with one exception, the Gold Wing lacks a speedometer drive on the left side of the hub.
I've noticed that some of the VTX's have a pretty nice front fender, guess I better get looking for one of those as well.
Bill
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Logged
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Riders:
1968 BSA Shooting Star, 1970 BSA 650 Lightning, 1974 W3, 1976 KZ900, 1979 KZ750 Twin, 1981 KZ1300, 1982 KZ1100 Spectre, 1987 Yamaha Trailway, 2000 Valkyrie, 2006 Yamaha Roadliner S.
Projects:
1947 Indian Chief, 1980 KZ550, 1985 ZN1300
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thewoodman
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« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2011, 08:09:15 AM » |
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I'm not sure that it's the tire size or the tire profile that's the cause of the ruts issue as much as it's the tire's tread design. We have a lot of grated bridges here in Florida and the old Dunlops had a terrible wobble, creating a nervous dog legged shuffle going across the bridges.
The Metzlers that I ran on the Goldwings or the Bridgestones that I run on my Valk handle these grooves and grates just fine. Tire pressures may contribute to the rut battle as well.
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 The first step in getting somewhere is deciding that you are not going to stay where you are. TheWoodMan |
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TomE
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« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2011, 11:02:11 PM » |
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I'm not sure that it's the tire size or the tire profile that's the cause of the ruts issue as much as it's the tire's tread design. We have a lot of grated bridges here in Florida and the old Dunlops had a terrible wobble, creating a nervous dog legged shuffle going across the bridges.
The Metzlers that I ran on the Goldwings or the Bridgestones that I run on my Valk handle these grooves and grates just fine. Tire pressures may contribute to the rut battle as well.
On my last bike, the Dunlop 404's tended to follow every groove. The Bridgestones (the same tire size) were a dramatic improvement. I think it was the tread pattern. |
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