RSV Front Tire Size Recap

[bill4you502]

I've had good luck with the Metzler 880's on my '06 Venture and my previous '01 Road Star...........................

[beltfed50]

Thanks for posting this. I am in need of a new front and I had understood that moving to the smaller size was almost unanimously approved of here. It helps to see an alternative viewpoint. I will now have to rethink or further research my decision.

 

 

Not that it matters what I think, but I for one emphatically do NOT approve. Tried one on 09 RSTD and I couldn't wait to get it off. Turned out I had the chance to buy 11 RSV, which I did before I got rid of the tire.

[Yammer Dan]

I use the Round Black Tires on my 1st Gens. and have no trouble stayong ahead of the 2nd Gens.......

[IronMike]

You would be very hard pressed to overload the front tire on any bike. The rear an entirely different story they can overload quickly. The heaviest I have ever been on a front tire is 440 LBS.

 

I did got to an Avon on the front and rear FOR the added weight capacity on the rear. I did not get three months on the tires and they started to crack in the treads and around the rim. Tried another pair, exact same result. So they are out for me, They ran me around so much about it on Warranty, I had to just go get new tires. Darkside.

 

Thats a great point though, people should load up for a trip and scale the bike on a truck scale. I use a local Farmers scale for free! So I have done all kinds of experiments.

 

How much load do you put on your bike?

All stock size front tires have a load capacity of 761lbs, the Avon Venom MT90B-16 has a load rating of 827 lbs, another thing to consider.

 

Also the load rating on the rear Venom in stock size but with wide white walls, is 992lbs, most are 827lbs.

[Rick Haywood]

Well I ran the 130 for awhile on the front and went back to the 150 due to ride and handling. When I went back to the 150 I added risers and raised the angle of my handlebars up about 1/2 inch and it gave me more leverage when turning. I use to drop mine about 2 times a year when making moves in a parking lot but with the difference in the height of the bars I now have no problem. By the way I ride about 27,000 miles a year so dropping it a couple times a year isn't as bad as it sounds.

[N3FOL]

Take it easy Goose, we’re both expressing valid opinions based upon our own experiences.

It seems that many people posting here think the low speed handling of the RSV is poor and that the stock Bridgestone’s are terrible. I simply don’t agree with either of those positions. I’m not raving about the Bridgestone’s, but mine never exhibited poor handling nor anything close to dangerous handling under any conditions. I haven’t tried a smaller front tire or leveling links because to me, these are fixes for nonexistent problems. Again, my opinion, which is just as valid everyone elses.

 

I've been using brickstones ever since and have never tried any other brand tire on my RSV. In fact, I am on my 3rd set and soon will be OB my 4th for the front and back anytime soon. No complaints on my end as far as the tires are concerned. Being 5'5" and 180 lbs., I do find the RSV easy to handle even at slow speeds. I guess this all depends on who you ask.

 

We all have our own choice of tires and some depend on others to get reviews of the tire and what not... D404s are great tires and perform well on my Kawasaki. Either tire to me IMO are good tires for the RSV.

[IronMike]

I just took a stock stone off my 2008. I put a exact same size metziler on, it measures one inch narrower than the Bridge stone. And a gigantic and I do mean gigantic leap in slow speed handling and handling all around. BTW the stone I took off had half the tread left. Just wasn't going to risk a tire that old on a long trip to the Smoky mountains.http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/usmcxterra/20130814_104457_zpsb529263e.jpg[img]http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d139/usmcxterra/20130815_012224_zps07e3622e.jpg

Edited August 25, 2013 by IronMike