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Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion (Read 1094 times)
Oldfeller--FSO
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Re: Cafe' Tire Discussion
Reply #15 - 07/28/16 at 15:38:57
 

Dave rides mostly upright and he does not seem to require the expected heavy lean angles as he weighs a lot less, both him and his bike.   The amount of cornering force necessary to get him around a turn is much less, accordingly.

Following Dave is fun, as he makes all things look very easy.

Following Dave very closely up behind him is a giggle blast, as you can get a little bit of adventure out of some fairly standard looking roads as a sedate Dave is really taking that corner pretty durn fast for us normal mortals.

My pegs get scraped regularly following Dave around, him and his half inch wide chicken strips .....


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Re: Cafe' Tire Discussion
Reply #16 - 07/28/16 at 18:28:51
 
That photo with my toe 4" from the pavement is during a transition between the curves at the Dragon, and I was not at a maximum lean at that point - it was posted to show the really wide chicken strip caused when you put the 130/70 tire on a too narrow 2.50 rim (the tire should be on a 3.50 rim).

That photo was also the first time I took the Cafe' conversion to the Dragon, and I was not pushing it too hard yet.  On this last Dragon trip I actually surprised myself.....I drug my toe on the pavement in one corner!  It was the fist time I have ever done that! Smiley

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« Last Edit: 01/03/17 at 05:06:57 by Dave »  

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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #17 - 01/03/17 at 05:00:03
 
Piedmontbuckeye just brought the Michelin Pilot Activ to my attention as another tire option for the Cafe bikes.  It comes in the 100/90-19 standard front size, along with the 100/90-18 size for the smaller rim.  For the smaller front tire that I prefer it is also available in a 90/90-18 size, and I like the reduced mass and shorter sidewall (I wish it came in the 100/80-18).  For the rear tire to fit a 2.50-18 rim the tire is only available in a 120/90-18 tire - which is really tall (26.6" tread diameter).  For the 3.50-18 rim the tire is available in a 130/70-18 size that is a 25.6" tread diameter).  If you jam the 130/70-18 tire on a 2.50 wide rim, you will cause the tread to be squeezed into a tread profile that does not provide the radius that the tire was made for....the contact patch will be narrower and you will have tread over on the sidewall you can't use.

I may try this tire next time - however I likely have a year or two or riding left on my current tires.


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« Last Edit: 02/20/17 at 11:36:35 by Dave »  

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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #18 - 01/03/17 at 06:31:45
 
Do you know what the speed rating is ? They look like a good tire .  Michs are top shelf in my book. $$$
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Gary_in_NJ
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #19 - 01/03/17 at 06:37:18
 
Good info Dave and Piedmontbuckeye. I don't think I'll need tires for my cafe racer anytime soon, but I've decided to use 18" hoops for my DRz street tracker. I was looking at the Pirelli Sport Demon 130/80-18 rear & 100/90-18 front. The Pirelli's are made for Sport-Touring motorcycles (500-600 pound bikes) and I have concerns about these tires getting to the proper heat range on a 275 pound bike.

Reading up on the Pilot Activ's on Michelin's website it would appear that these tires were designed for somewhat lighter bikes (Royal Enfield ~ 400 pounds, Guzzi V7 ~ 390 pounds) and are probably a better fit for my project.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #20 - 01/03/17 at 06:49:04
 
Dave wrote on 01/03/17 at 05:00:03:
For the smaller front tire that I prefer it is also available in a 90/90-18 size, and I like the reduced mass and shorter sidewall.  For the rear tire to fit a 2.50-18 rim the tire is only available in a 120/90-18 tire - which is really tall (26.6" tread diameter).  


I think that the 90/90-18 front and 120/90-18 rear is a great combo for the cafe bikes. This combination lowers the front and raises the rear, which is desirable given the frame geometry. Using a 120/90-18 is getting very close to the swingarm brace.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #21 - 01/03/17 at 07:20:21
 
The Pirelli Sport Demon and the Bridgestone Battlax BT45 are both made for lighter bikes, and they seem to work just fine....and both of them are recommended tires on the Ninja 250 forum.  The Sport Demon is stated to be stickier and faster wearing than the BT45 - the BT45 rear has a harder compound in the center tread for longer mileage before you wear a flat spot in the center of the tire.  I have used both on the Savage Cafe' bike, and there is nothing not to like about them from my experience - I wanted a sticky tire and they both stick well for the 6,000 mile or so that they last.

The Avon RoadRider AM26 is another tire option that comes in a lot of vintage sizes - it is not really listed as a Sport Touring tire....but a lot of folks use it as it fits vintage bikes.

The Michelin Pilot Active is a V rated tire (up to 149mph) in the 100/90-19 & 100/90-18 front and 120/90-18 & 130/70-18 rear.  The 90/90-18 front and 130/70-18 rear are H rated tires (up to 130 mph).  
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« Last Edit: 02/17/18 at 03:47:49 by Dave »  

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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #22 - 01/03/17 at 09:56:53
 

Dave is a small frame, light person.   I am not.   More mass going around a turn at the same speed requires greater "arc turn forces" and more lean angle to generate them for the more massive biker.

I drag pegs and grind frame stuff considerably following Dave through the same turns while he comes up with wider chicken strips and a much more vertical body orientation during the whole thing.

Remember, more mass at "same speed same turn" requires more lean angle to generate the appropriate "arc turn force".

Keeping up with Dave (ie closely following behind him) these many summers has made for good riding training for me as I have to be more aggressive than Dave on late braking, etc.

Following him closely on his little cafe Savage is fun, as is following him on his Ninja.   Dave goes quicker than you would think as his light mass and upright riding posture really doesn't tilt nearly much as the rest of us have to do.    If he show signs of struggling at a particular turn I back off ASAP as it will be much worse for me when I get there.

Braking is fun too --- Dave has better brakes than the rest of us.

I occasionally howl my rear tire at him when we are mucking about good as I cannot decelerate at the same rate that his lighter mass and his better brakes permit him to do.

My "I over-stressed the rear car tire howl" lets him know about it.

I also tend to deep purple blue my front rotor by the time we stop at the overlook on the Dragon.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #23 - 01/03/17 at 10:04:43
 
The only thing more intimidating than having my mirror filled up with "wall to wall" oldfeller......is hearing springman's brother in law Steve coming at me with his fully laden Harley Touring bike (windshield, saddlebags, tour pack) snarlng a few feet behind me!  I knew that if he hit me at the entrance to a corner......it would take them 2-3 days to find me over the side of the hill!
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #24 - 01/03/17 at 10:12:21
 

Remember that left hand turn that sneaked up on you, when we were on your favorite Kentucky "fly up in the air" road ???

I had to shift my normal position over to the right hand side of you for fear you were going to go ahead and make the left turn ..... and do it right in front of me.

But the patented Oldfeller audible sensor alert caused Dave to reconsider that move and he went on past the turn and we all road "U" turned peaceably.

Roll Eyes
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #25 - 01/03/17 at 11:22:16
 
Yep, that side road came up in a location I didn't expect it.....I had never used that road to get down to Maysville before - so I wasn't sure where it was.  When it suddenly appeared I began to grab the brake hard and I knew I could get slowed with little room to spare - but it was a bit too much to ask of the 4 folks following behind who were enjoying the scenery.

Sometimes it is just safer to make a dorky looking U-turn!  Wink
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #26 - 03/17/17 at 07:20:56
 
Ruttly wrote on 03/17/17 at 07:02:50:
Glad I didn't buy my stickies yet , so you think a 130/100 is too wide for the 2.5 rim ? It has 120/100 rear 110/100 front both 18". I don't want the wrong sizes tires , please advise me of the proper size .


Who makes a 130/100 tire?  That is a size I have never seen - and it is not listed in the fitment chart on Page 1 of this thread.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #27 - 03/17/17 at 07:55:32
 
110/90 would be the best option. It's available in the Pirelli Sport Demon as well as the Michelin Pilot Activ. In the Pirelli Sport Demon it's a dedicated rear, while the Michelin site doesn't reference whether it's a front or rear, just that the size is available.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #28 - 03/17/17 at 08:40:34
 
I think the next rear tire size I am going to try on the 2.50 rim is a 120/80-18.  It will be a nice match to a 90/90-18 front.

My current 110/80-18 rear works fine.....but it would be nice to have just a bit more width to satisfy my visual desires - the 110/80 just looks a bit skinny.
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Re: Cafe' Bike Tire Discussion
Reply #29 - 03/17/17 at 08:57:21
 
Dave wrote on 03/17/17 at 08:40:34:
I think the next rear tire size I am going to try on the 2.50 rim is a 120/80-18.  It will be a nice match to a 90/90-18 front.

My current 110/80-18 rear works fine.....but it would be nice to have just a bit more width to satisfy my visual desires - the 110/80 just looks a bit skinny.


The 120/80 also has a very similar sidewall height as the 130/70 - unpinched. In it's pinched state it's a taller, probably exactly the same as the 120/80.
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