Taxi tire mod?

[farmer998]

I have decided after much deliberation to go to the darkside on my interstate!  Question:  I have been told that the nut cages in the inner fender may have to be cut in order for the taxi tire to fit properly.  Is this true?
If so do I just cut out the metal and add a lock nut?  Any help would be appreciated.
Randy

[The emperor has no clothes]

I doubt it's needed. But it's so easy to do, why not do it. Daniel has a section in shoptalk showing how to do it. I just use the same brass nuts.

[DarkSideR]

The Taxi Tire is so narrow that you shouldn't have to do the nut cage mod.

Now understand there are variables with this, so take all into consideration;
 - Do you have stock rear shocks or aftermarket rear shocks?
  + If stock then no nut cage mod needed.
  + If aftermarket and shorter than stock then the mod would be suggested.
 - How much do you weigh?
  + If you weigh 180 pounds no mod needed.
  + If you weigh 300 pounds the mod would be suggested.

I think that will give you more to go off of. If anything put the tire on, sit on the bike and have someone peer up there to see if the tire is close to the fender nuts or not.

Welcome to the DarkSide. Remember that you are now required to bring cookies to any motorcycle related events that you attend (I know it's a burden, but it's a burden we all share). Good Luck! 

[Jess from VA]

With that taller but narrower (175 vs 180 stock) tire, the thing to watch is rubbing the wiring harness in the top of the fender, not the nut cages so much (esp if you have shorter shocks).  One of my bikes rubbed that harness to bare wire; I never lost any lights, but did a good repair, and shrink wrap and tied it up tight to the fender again.

[CajunRider]

To help with the wire harness rub, it's a good idea to bump the preload on the shocks one notch. 

The taxi tire has a lot of side-wall, so it gives a much softer ride than a MC tire.  Bumping the rear preload up a notch also helps to make the rear feel more normal (like it would feel with a MC tire).