Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So i have read lots of threads about CC size and the new rider. How about the size of the rear tire for a newer rider? Maybe thats a dumb question, but as I have been talking to the dealers the main consideration point he mentioned was a wider rear tire will make the bike want to 'stand up' more and be easier to balance but the trade off is it will be harder to work into the corners requires a bit more to corner...

what else is there to consider with the large rear tire vs. standard rear tire, for reference I like the Victory Vegas (5") and Vegas Jackpot (8.5" rear)

thoughts???

You're best off going with a 'standard' motorcycle with an 'average' size rear tire.

All motorcycle tires (excepting extreme custom bikes) have a rounded profile, unlike the squared profile of your car tires. Motorcycle tires are built to work differently.

Those 8" wide jobs are for show and straight line riding. Unless you NEVER plan to turn, avoid that as a newbie.

If you are that concerned about staying upright, get training wheels.


P

you won't need to worry about balancing this bike...

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i bet it could stand on its own w/o a kickstand.

Good question! I'm suprised that more people don't ask this question.

I once owned a 1994 Yamaha FZR1000. The bike had a stock 180 rear tire. A lot of people changed it to a 170 rear.

I also owned a 2001 Yamaha R1. The bike had a stock 190 rear tire. Some riders switched to a 180 rear.

WHY?

Like a previous person said, the larger the rear tire, the more the bike wants to go in a straight line. By downsizing, it's easier to "fall" into the corners.

VermilionX wrote:you won't need to worry about balancing this bike...

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i bet it could stand on its own w/o a kickstand.

Baby got back.

"does this bike make my butt look big?"

It works out like this i think

Bigger rear tire= more straight line stability, doesnt corner as easily, and due to increasing your contact patch without increasing the weight you are more likely to hydroplane. *grand overall opinion*

smaller tire=turns easier, contact patch is smaller, so it does not have the same amount of traction as a bigger tire, and is a little twitchier.

of course there are oodles of other things to take into consideration on tires too. matching sets, riadial/bias, tread pattern, compounds, profiles...gyah


I hate simple complicated questions. I'm probably horribly wrong and will have bits of char floating off of me soon. ooooOOOO BBQ.

considering my experience i am thinking a Shadow 750 might be a better bike right now instead of the Victory... will save that for later when i have more experience

http://powersports.honda.com/Motorcycle ... =VT750DCA6

i was looking at the victory's [hammer] myself and decided to go with the 750 shadow also. great bike, easy and fun to ride. you wont be disappointed if you get a shadow and you cant argue with the price

My Suziki M109R has a 240 back tire (see pics below) and I HAVE ZERO ISSUE WITH CORNERS. The bike handles curves beautifully.

Total BS from people talking out of their o-ring about something they haven't actually ridden on. They just have back tire-envy from having bicycle skinny back tires on their bikes.

Unless you are getting a radical custom job (nice previous pics,) don't let the rear tire size affect your decision. Get what you like best and feel most comfortable on. Make the stealer give you a test ride or attend a brand convention or stealer sponsered riding event to try out the different bikes.

Besides, the 240 tire makes the bike look hot as hell....