I know this is similar to the other tire thread going on, but I didn't want to "thread jack"...
My question is...I am looking at some cheap Kenda K761 dual sport tires, but they are only available in 120/90-17 and 130/80-17 sizes...the rear is close, but will the taller front create an issue with the fender?
I just want to be able to explore gravel a little safer than with street tires...I can get the Kenda K671 Cruisers in the correct 110/70-17 & 130/70-17 size but it is a street tire...the tires need replacing anyway...but I will be keeping it for a couple more months before I get a new bike, and I would like to try out the gravel roads and forestry trunk roads before changing bikes...if I like that, I may get a bike with longer travel suspension...otherwise, I will stick with strictly a street bike...
Later.
Not sure your going to enjoy anything in the gravel with a bike not properly set up for it. Ground clearance could prove to be an issue. :technical:
If you wanted to give it a shot, you would need to go with 130/80-17 or 140/80-17 for the rear for a dual sport tire. Shinko 705s are a cheap dual sport in that size. Its hard to say if you will have enough room, but more than that, its hard to imagine a GS with dual sport tires.
I think it would be great to dual sport a GS :
(http://i674.photobucket.com/albums/vv109/centuryghost/GS500DRrihgtside.jpg)
^^Awesome. I'd fit a high mount exhaust though. :icon_mrgreen:
That picture is Sick :o
Only one problem is the soft suspension i think. Change it, and you can go with GS everywhere
I changed my mind about the GS. Earlier I was saying that it will never be good off-road. Since then I bought a Sava MC32 rear tyre, which is a winter compound almost knobbly tyre. It changed the whole bike off-road and I don't even have a knobbly front tyre yet. It handles really well on wet and dry roads too, the lean angle is even more than with the Bridgestone BT45's I used so far. I am now thinking about getting a front yolk and forks like the one on that picture and a Renthal bar. Anyone knows what front would fit straight in? And what bike is that rear wheel from?
centuryghost proved me wrong. :cookoo:
:bowdown: that looks like a fun off road machine.
I wasn't thinking full on adventure bike, just a little more stability in the corners...my real question was about the fitment of the tires...will I have any issues with those sizes...If that is the case I will be getting standard road tires and taking her easy...if I enjoy taking back country roads (graded roads, not single track and rock...) I will look into a bike with more suspension travel...Versys or V-Strom...
Later.
Have you checked out the tires on denniskirk.com? Their site makes it easy to search for specific sizes.
The 130/80 rear will fit but not the 120/90 front unless you remove the fender. My current 120/70 Roadrider almost touches the fender at the top sides just behind the fork sliders. First time I put a 110/80 on my 97 GS which had the fender mud flap type extension the tire rubbed the small acorn nut inside and I had to turn the screws around with the button heads inside instead so there isn't much clearance left there. A 120/90 would require some kind of mod.
Thanks Jack...that makes the choice easier...I'm too cheap to buy the pricier tires that would fit, so I will go with the standard road tires and use with caution on the dirt/gravel...I don't want to mod the bike since that would limit who the perspective new owners might be...
Thank you for your help.
Later.
Thanks for raising that question, madjak. I was planning to try the Kenda K761s that I took off my DRZ400SM on my GS500E this spring. Hadn't thought about how little clearance there is on the front fender. I have the sizes you were mentioning. By the way, forgetting the fender clearance for the moment, if the front rim will handle it you could just go with the 130/80 on both ends.
Guess I better start sourcing some Mefo Explorer 99s for spring. ....... Phooey, I just checked A Vicious Cycle and it looks like they're the same sizes as the Kendas .. 130/80 and 120/90. I'll have to check the rim width and see if it will handle a 130. If it will clear the fork brace I can always patch an aftermarket plastic fender onto it. That will give me a lot better coverage than the stock fender anyway. Out with the measuring tape....
...ken...
Yeah, after I PM'd you I looked at the pricing of the Kenda K761's again...I must have been looking at the price of the Avon's when I was saying they were twice as much...the K761's are about the same price as the K671's, but the K671's are the proper size so I thought I would ask the group...I'll just use caution and get the proper tires...I don't want to modify the bike since I will probably be going for a physically bigger bike...just waiting to see what my budget will be...
Later.