Rear MC Tire On Front / Darkside Rear

[JamminJohn1]

Some of the crazy folks are putting rear MC tires on the front and Darkside rears.
The stock Valk front tire has no equivalent rear tire so a slightly smaller one will have to do.
It would probably be great to quicken up the steering on a Valk with a 205/60-16 like mine.
Do any of these tires seem like they would compliment a GYTT rear ?

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=224&osCsid=9a631a469f31fc30b44cf7a9c3192177


                                         JJ

[vanagon40]

I am using a 130/90-17 (and I believe this is the size others are using).  Technically, I have a MT90HB17, but I understand it is the same as the 130/90-17.  This tire is almost the same diameter as the OEM tire (1/4" less), but not nearly as wide.  The 140/80-17s you are looking at would be wider than the 130/90-17 (although not as wide as the OEM), but the diameter is 5/8" less than the OEM.

I have a General Altimax 205/60-16 and I noticed that switching to the more narrow front tire greatly improved low speed handling BUT caused instability at speeds over 85 MPH.  I am not the only one who has experienced this problem.  I do not find this to be much a problem as I ride under speeds of 85 MPH 99.9% of the time (I have put about 15,000 miles on my Valk and I would be surprised if over 15 of those miles were at speeds over 85).

I am not sure that Dunlop is still making the K491 Elite II pictured below.

[asfltdncr]

I just completed my conversion a few months ago.I looked for the K491 but quickly switched to the more current number-Dunlop D404 (130/90-17).Put in a new valve stem,installed tire on front wheel with reverse rotation, then static balanced tire and wheel.I also have the Goodyear Triple Assurance 205/55 on the rear.
Regarding the front wheel, I 'think' the front feels a little lighter but it surely has 1/4" more tread.
I've been up to 85mph (one-up) and do not feel any adverse feedback or behavior with either the front or the back.I live in Northwest mountains and have given this tire combination plenty of twisties and continue to gain confidence with these tires.
I reinstalled the bags and rear seat and found that with two-up that I should have done the fender nut modification.Completed that and didn't have any tire or handling issues up till 70 mph (buffeting prevented higher speed).
I believe the difference in tires makes for a softer ride-Not less responsive but softer and quieter over road surface.
I run 36+psi in front and rear.

[JamminJohn1]

Wouldn't the 140/80 have a lot more rubber on the road but not quicken the handling as much as the 130/90 ?

Aren't the both of them the same height ?

                JJ

[JamminJohn1]

I didn't need the nutcage mod for a 205/55 that I tried.
The /60 that's on her now doesn't rub.
A Rifle SS windshield & LOWERS got rid of the buffeting.


                     JJ

There's a lot of nice tires in the 150/70-17 size !

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=226&osCsid=9a631a469f31fc30b44cf7a9c3192177

[R J]

Some of the crazy folks are putting rear MC tires on the front and Darkside rears.
The stock Valk front tire has no equivalent rear tire so a slightly smaller one will have to do.
It would probably be great to quicken up the steering on a Valk with a 205/60-16 like mine.
Do any of these tires seem like they would compliment a GYTT rear ?

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/index.php?manufacturers_id=224&osCsid=9a631a469f31fc30b44cf7a9c3192177


                                         JJ

You isn't breaking new ice here.

I had a CT rear and a rear motorcycle on the front of both my old bikes in 1982,  had a Gold Wing (76 vintage), that ate front tires like candy bars, & an old Indian, it wore the same tire front & or rear.    Tried a CT on it but it wouldn't hold on the bead, popped off a couple of times so went back to original.

Found out the Wing should have had a Salvage title after we departed company.

[Ricky-D]

If you keep the speed under 100mph it doesn't make a hoot about rear designated tires on the front. I still, am unconvinced about running the tires in reverse to the direction arrow. Seems to me the direction is mainly there to achieve the grip on wet roads. That ply lamination theory might hold for a high power drive wheel, but a non driven wheel? Nope, it doesn't compute.

In any case I like the thought of an extra helping of rubber in the tread and that surely will transmit into more miles per tire.

If I hadn't already purchased a front tire (sitting in the wings) I be getting me a rear m/c tire for sure.  I want to thank JJ for that link. Wish I had it before!

I've passed 20k miles on the rear CT and looks like there is still another 10k remaining. HooBoy. Wish there were a CT for the front.

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[R J]

Ricky-D, ya'll don't have to buy it if ya no want to.

However, all the old Indians & HD when they wore the same tire front & rear, realize they were bias tires, they came from the factory with the front reversed.

I might be blowing smoke out the back door, but my rememberer that fails a lot, thinks it was something to do with braking, like more weight being pushed down on the tire, like keeping the plys from breaking........

When you get yours changed over, run the arrow like you want and then report back to us old farts,,,,,,,,,

[fast black]

ok, my question is how many bikes are running a different size from stock  front tire on their bikes?  And what kind and size are you using ?
thanks
fast black

[Ricky-D]

ok, my question is how many bikes are running a different size from stock  front tire on their bikes?  And what kind and size are you using ?
thanks
fast black

I would think there a very few Valkyries running "off size" tires on the front. Reason being the speedometer is calibrated to the front tire and a change in size (diameter) will affect the mph and odometer. Not saying that the speedometer is that accurate at all. I found some small changes in diameter within the same (150-80-17) base tire size. Metzler being the smallest and Dunlop the largest.

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