It's official.. call me "DD"

[DarkSideR]

Well maybe not 

I had a Rear M/C Tire installed on the front today.

So my set up is;
 + Rear - Hankook Optimo 205/65 R16
 + Front - Michelin Pilot Active 130/90 R17

It's ramping up to be a great riding year. I have the bike all serviced, and now with new rubber on the front, my bike 'AC' is ready go! 

And hopefully, I won't be needing to put a new front tire on at the end of this riding season. 

DarkSider
 

[cookiedough]

why not a 140/80/17 over a 130/90/17 in the michelin pilot active?  Wouldn't the 140/80 be closer to OEM 150/80 sizing over the 130/90 size? or not??

http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/michelin-pilot-activ-motorcycle-tire

2 dollar difference?

Also, you did reverse direction of that rear bias ply michelin right mounted on front?  

Been thinking of this tire as well, how is it working out?

I like the high probability that this rear tire probably has 2/32" tread over most cycle front tires for our cycle.

[DarkSideR]

why not a 140/80/17 over a 130/90/17 in the michelin pilot active?  Wouldn't the 140/80 be closer to OEM 150/80 sizing over the 130/90 size? or not??

http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/michelin-pilot-activ-motorcycle-tire

2 dollar difference?

Also, you did reverse direction of that rear bias ply michelin right mounted on front?  

Been thinking of this tire as well, how is it working out?

I like the high probability that this rear tire probably has 2/32" tread over most cycle front tires for our cycle.

Here is a breakdown of sizes for the tires;
Stock Size             D/S Sizes
150/80 R17             130/90 R17      140/80 R17
4.72                      4.61                4.69                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                5.51                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21               26.92               Diameter
83.09                    82.35               84.58               Circumference
762.53                  769.41              749.15             Revs/Mile

Your question was why did I go with a 130/90? The 140/80 actually has a slightly larger diameter than stock. This initially concerned me with fitting in the fender. But after mounting the new 130/90 I can tell you that a 140/80 would fit just fine. If you follow the link you provided and read the reviews I was amazed that a couple of people actually stated they are running the tire on the front of their bikes. And what amazes me even more is that RevZilla actually left the reviews up.

Yes, I did reverse the direction. After the tire was delivered I had pulled the front wheel off the bike to get ready to have the  new tire mounted. I put the two tires side-by-side with both arrow pointing forwards. What immediately stood out was the tread pattern on the new tire was backwards! So I spun the new tire around (backwards) and the tread patterns matched. This is why rears mounted up front are ran in reverse.

How is it working out? I was only able to take a spin around the block, and all was well. More testing to come as the weather will be warming up this weekend. The real test will be on the run out the the GOTF's which will be 1,900 miles round trip  .

DarkSider  

[Earl43P]

What he said, what I saw, what I did, on two bikes! 

As shown, reverse of the arrow, comparing to an E3.

[Valkorado]

Been looking at this tire for awhile now, gonna try it (140/80) next.  I was running the Battlax BT-45 on Silver Bullet, double dark with an Austone, but it cupped on me at about 12k.  Should have got twice that.  I liked the Battlax handling wise, but this tread looks more like an Avon Cobra.  Got to burn some front Cobras off both bikes before I order.  If spring ever comes...

[DarkSideR]

Earl I noticed your D/S # is 264. I am #263. Should the VRCC issue Double D/S #'s? 

[MarkT]

If you are very observant you should note the steering feels lighter with the narrower tire.  Of course you would only notice that at first.  Unless you have another Valk with an OEM tire.  My Batlax is bias ply which I like better than radial. They tend to last a bit longer and get good marks for handling.  Also I run the pressure slightly less - less harsh ride on bumps. Pretty sure the BT45 has 11/32 tread depth to start with, about 3 more than the Michelin. Can't measure it now; all my front tires have plenty of miles on them. Last time I got about 23k out of this tire.

[DarkSideR]

I ran the new tire up to 75mph today and found it was great. Solid as a rock! Smooth!

Should only get better as the baby layer wears off, as well as the addition of Ride-On.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I ran the new tire up to 75mph today and found it was great. Solid as a rock! Smooth!

Should only get better as the baby layer wears off, as well as the addition of Ride-On.

I've had mine up to 110 with no issues. Had it in some pretty good rain & snow on the way to Spearfish Inzane. I think you'll like it just fine. 

[cookiedough]

thanks for all the replies guys,  pretty sure now will go 140/80/17 sizing on this michelin rear tire running in reverse for the front tire.  Is 132 bucks vs. the other one was going to go with the shinko 230 tourmaster for around 85 bucks.  132 is still cheaper than any avon/metzler/dunlop/pirelli/bridgestone radial front tire designed for the valk with 150/80/17 sizing.

I am no math wizard, but do not see how a 140 skinnier width vs. normal 150 can be a larger diameter and circumference as OEM 150 size???   If you are sure it will fit under a Valk I/S,  I am going to go for it I think soon ordering since April 1st cannot come fast enough.  I best call my tire shop first to make sure he is on board with doing this scenario or might end up just going shinko 230 tourmaster front OEM size still?  Tire places can be funny doing this I bet.  Some even will not install tires on your cycle UNLESS you buy the tires from them, something about liability issues or some other B.S. like that. 

Hope it does not give me any issues with my rear radial Shinko SE890 Journey on there now some say to not miss match tire mfgs. but I am not believing that too much. 

thanks for that pic of the 2 tires side by side with the tread pattern on the new michelin active pilot matching up with the old tire in dire need of replacing on the front of that VAlk.  It makes sense to me now visualizing it that the tread patterns agree running that michelin in reverse direction. 

[KG]

Here is a breakdown of sizes for the tires;
Stock Size             D/S Sizes
150/80 R17             130/90 R17      140/80 R17
4.72                      4.61                4.69                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                5.51                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21               26.92               Diameter
83.09                    82.35               84.58               Circumference
762.53                  769.41              749.15             Revs/Mile



DarkSider  

are yall sure about these tire sizes ?  just picked up tire and 140 80 17 looks small. haven't made it home to put it on bike yet

[The emperor has no clothes]

Here is a breakdown of sizes for the tires;
Stock Size             D/S Sizes
150/80 R17             130/90 R17      140/80 R17
4.72                      4.61                4.69                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                5.51                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21               26.92               Diameter
83.09                    82.35               84.58               Circumference
762.53                  769.41              749.15             Revs/Mile



DarkSider  

are yall sure about these tire sizes ?  just picked up tire and 140 80 17 looks small. haven't made it home to put it on bike yet

Yeah, those numbers aren't correct.
The 140/80 is over half an inch shorter than the 150/80. I've been running the 150/70, which is also shorter. Works well though.

[KG]

are yall sure about these tire sizes ?  just picked up tire and 140 80 17 looks small. haven't made it home to put it on bike yet

Yeah, those numbers aren't correct.
The 140/80 is over half an inch shorter than the 150/80. I've been running the 150/70, which is also shorter. Works well though.

Wondered why no one suggested the 150 70 17 figured it must be too wide

Now what size to get ?

[Rio Wil]

There were three things I noticed when going DD. First the thicker tread seemed to allow a bit more slip when hard cornering, ie, the tread had a bit more give than a thinner tread would have. Second, because if the thicker tread, as flat  spots wore on the tire, ie, center tread from straight riding and left and right sides from obviously left and right turns and road crown, it eventually became noticeable as the spots became more pronounced. Not bad, just had a different feeling in steering. Third,   I got 27K miles out of the tire!!!
I decided to not do it again mainly because of the side slip and the steering  (more at holding a line in a curve),again not bad but just didn't like it. This was more pronounced in the last 5K miles.

[The emperor has no clothes]

are yall sure about these tire sizes ?  just picked up tire and 140 80 17 looks small. haven't made it home to put it on bike yet

Yeah, those numbers aren't correct.
The 140/80 is over half an inch shorter than the 150/80. I've been running the 150/70, which is also shorter. Works well though.

Wondered why no one suggested the 150 70 17 figured it must be too wide

Now what size to get ?

I'm on my second. It is the same width as stock, just slightly shorter. I think any of the 3 sizes mentioned would be fine. 

[vanagon40]

Here is a breakdown of sizes for the tires;
Stock Size             D/S Sizes
150/80 R17             130/90 R17      140/80 R17
4.72                      4.61                4.69                 Sidewall Height
5.91                      5.12                5.51                 Section Width
26.45                    26.21               26.92               Diameter
83.09                    82.35               84.58               Circumference
762.53                  769.41              749.15             Revs/Mile



DarkSider  

are yall sure about these tire sizes ?  just picked up tire and 140 80 17 looks small. haven't made it home to put it on bike yet

Yeah, those numbers aren't correct.
The 140/80 is over half an inch shorter than the 150/80. I've been running the 150/70, which is also shorter. Works well though.

Looks like the numbers for 140/80R17 (above) are actually the specs for a 140/90R17 (with a typo)

140/90R17
4.96   Height
5.51   Width
26.92  Diameter
84.58  Circumference

140/80/R17
4.41   Height
5.51   Width
25.82  Diameter
81.11  Circumference

There is a link to a Tire Spec Calculator in the upper banner on the Shop Talk page

[98valk]

using a larger DIA tire than OEM size will increase the Trail # even more. These bikes already have too much causing the low speed handling issues. Using a 130/90 which is a smaller DIA tire than OEM will lessen the Trail # thereby making the bike a better more responsive handling motorcycle.
Lowering the front reduces Trail.
Raising the rear reduces Trail.

Using a 130/90 tire on the front makes the ODO spot on and the Speedo is over 4 MPH. So indicated 65mph is actually 61 MPH.

[Karen]

Welcome to the other darkside, boys...

[KG]

 Got the 140 80 17 Michelin active pilot rear tire mounted and installed on the front. Looks bigger on the bike and looks like it's the right side doesn't look like a little bitty tire on a big bike.

Feels kinda out of round but haven't put the ride-on in it yet.

Quick ride felt like it was easier to turn at low speeds and the speedometer was closer that it was with the bigger tire before showing 45 on speedometer the gps said 40

Now 45 on speedometer the gps shows 43

I hope it doesn't matter but one fork would be up about 1/16 higher than the other fork at the top of the triple tree