Last night I spent about 3 hours changing tires on my bike. The local places wanted $ 30 - $ 35 a wheel for changing tires if I brought in only the wheel. I suppose that I spent about 2 hours of time wrestling the tires on/off the rim.....the other hour went to taking wheels on and off the bike, getting a drink, adjusting the radio, etc. I guess $ 30 an hour savings for my time is worth it. I finished about 10:15 - so it was too late to take a ride last night.
Knowing that I might be changing tires more than once, I mounted some T-Nuts in the back of a piece of plywood, cut a couple of oak boards, and used some long bolts to make a way to pull the beads off the rims.
The tires are definitely smaller. The rear one is not that noticeably smaller and looks fine. A wider tire would look more "manly" - but this evenings ride will tell which handles and ride better.
The front tire is only slightly narrower - but is definitely shorter in height. I don't like the way the front fender fits anymore. If this tire works out better I will have to go with a shorter radius fender - lowering the fender would only get it close in the middle and the ends would still be high.
So...the test ride tonight will let me know if this is the right thing. I will take it easy for a while to get the tires scrubbed in. If the bike doesn't handle any better.....then I can go back to the 100/90-18 front tire on the existing 2.15x18 rim. For the back rim if I go to the 130/70-18 tire I will change the 2.50x18 rim to a 3.50x18 rim....which is what that size tire is supposed to be mounted on. These smaller tires don't do much for the looks of the bike - the rear pulley and other parts of this bike are kind of beefy looking, and the bigger tires help to compliment that look. It is not a dainty little RD350 or similar petite looking bike in some respects.
Dave