gtenginerd wrote on 09/23/20 at 08:38:39:Rim:
Looks like options for an 18" rim are 2.15", 2.75" and 3.5"
@dave, you said: 130/70-18 works for a 3.5" Anyone else have a different suggestion or is that the best bet? I like the look of a wider wheel/tire, but know that isn't traditional cafe style.
I have attached a fitment chart that shows what tire size is suitable for each rim width. If you install a wider tire the tread surface will become rounded and wear out the center faster, and there will be tread on the sides that you can never lean over far enough to use. If you go with a narrower tire the tread profile will be flattened out.
For the Ryca Cafe I believe the best combination may be a 120/90-18 tire on a 18x2.50 rim for the rear....and a 90/90 tire for the front on a 18x2.15 rim. You can use the stock 19" rim as well....I like the reduced diameter and quicker handling of the 18" diameter front rim and tire. The 100/90 tire is wider, taller and heavier than the 90/90 tire and to me it just looks a bit bulky in comparison to the rear tire.
I am currently running a 130/70-18 tire on a 18x3.50 rim and it works and looks good - but the Savage really doesn't need a tire that wide for handling and the 120/90-18 tire would provide equal performance.
Here is a thread that was started when I was exploring the tires for the Cafe' bike - unfortunately all the photos that were attached are gone as TinyPic shut down. The photos showed how a 130/70-18 tire tire is rounded excessively and creates a tread profile that wore out in the center in 4,000 miles (Pirelli Sport Demon). I now get about 6,000 - 8,000 miles by using the 130/70 tire on a 3.50 wide rim.
http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1435340395