Wider Rear Tire

[Trooper]

I know im probly getting on peoples nerves here with my questions but i might as well get them out of my head now, i am a big fan of the wide rear tire and was wondering if you can go any wider on the lightning, and if so how badly would it take away from the handleing on the bike.
I seen a pic on the net of one with a single side swing arm, and a 300 tire on the back it looked weird because the rim was big, and it would probly be alot of work to go that far, im just wondering how much bigger you can go without changing stock look?

 

[mrdozer2you]

I think you can go to a 190 rear on the stock rim as is. Not much else you can do without modding the swing arm and going to a chain drive

 

[LeFox]

- 200 with wheel mod
- there used to be a 230 mod, which included a chain conversion

above that with swingarm mod.

 

[blackedout]

If you want to spend the money grandstanddesigns.com has a 240 kit. I believe you use the stock swingarm but they widen your rim and you need a chain conversion. It looks cool, but a little too much $ for me.

 

[FIDOSOL]

How will going to a 190 effect handling?

 

[06xb9r]

I don't have experience with it but there used to be a couple people on here running a 190 tire. They didn't have any problems with handling. However, I'm sure it has to effect it some. These bikes were designed to handle very well and they were designed with the 180 tire. I'm sure the +10mm looks good but I'll just stick with the 180. It's not like it looks small so...

 

[FIDOSOL]

I was just curious...

 

[NOMORE4s4ME]

It will affect it a little. Traction will be slightly better, while flickability suffers a little. 180 is the way to go for handling but a 190 does look good.

Just a side note...chicken strips, if youre the kind of rider who has them, stand out more.

 

[Thaloc]

Ill be putting a 190 on starting next season. I corner hard but I never put her on the track or push her too hard so Im not too concerned with the a minor loss in cornering. I love my Buell and want her to be as sexy as possible.

 

[LeFox]

not about cornering...it's unstable.

 

[Thaloc]

How unstable? My thoughts were it would just take a bit more more "umph" to cover the extra tire surface. I'v rode a few bikes on 190's and they done feel overly sluggish or unstable. But im new to Buells as iv said before so enlighten me pls.

 

[LeFox]

take a wheel made for a 180 tire...the tire bends and gives you a round surface to do you cornering.

if you place a 190 on that same wheel, the bend the tire makes is bigger, thus givin you less road contact surface.

this results in less grip and an easier, in fact too easy, drop in.

the question now is, how much time do you spend behind your buell and is it worth it

 

[BadS1]

I run a 190. Been running one now for a couple season's. No ill effects,No sluggishness,But you will work alittle harder to get to the edge. Just so you guys know. The XBRR uses a 190 and that is a 5.5 inch wheel just like ours.

 

[Thaloc]

My chicken strips are small and im not all that concerned about them. And if Buell will put a 190 on the bike they are putting on the track I think I can trust a 190 for street. Sorry LeFox! If I dump it because of the tire ill expect an "I told ya so"

 

[FIDOSOL]

Thaloc,
on the XBRR the suspension will undoubtably have been tuned for the 190 rather than the 180...just wanted to mention that in case everyone here had a brain fart at the same time and forgot...

 

[Thaloc]

I would re-tune the suspension if I put a 190 on the back. Im sure its not going to be professional quality, but as I said im not bending corners at 140 so im not too concerned.