1978 KZ1000-A2 "Barn find"

DOHC wrote:

BCScott wrote: Revco has the Avon AM26 Roadrider rear

I think the AM26 is the race version of the roadrider. I think you might want the roadrider mkii that was recently released.

www.avontyres.com/en-us/tyres/roadrider-mkii

Yep go with the MKII, The AM26 is the race version...

The site I bought mine from has the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Tire Item # : 61321 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-tire and the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Race Tire Item # : 64061 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-race-tire

BCScott wrote: The site I bought mine from has the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Tire Item # : 61321 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-tire and the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Race Tire Item # : 64061 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-race-tire

I require a 3.25x19 for the front. Showing as sold out for me.

Kaylinator wrote:

BCScott wrote: The site I bought mine from has the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Tire Item # : 61321 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-tire and the Avon AM26 Roadrider Front Race Tire Item # : 64061 fortnine.ca/en/avon-am26-roadrider-front-race-tire

I require a 3.25x19 for the front. Showing as sold out for me.

Yeah, I was only replying to the race tire comments. The 100/90-19 will work, too. It's the one I had to get when I couldn't find the 3.25 x 19. It's virtually the same size, but it's also OOS.

I really think the AM26 is the race tire. The AM26 is on the motorsports site, and says it's "The racing version of the Roadrider."

www.avonmotorsport.com/historic/motorcycle/am26---roadrider

As for the Roadrider MKII, it's on the non-motorsports site, and the "AM26" text doesn't appear anywhere.
www.avontyres.com/en-us/tyres/roadrider-mkii

If you'd like the 3.25-19, Cycle Gear says they are in stock:
www.cyclegear.com/tires/avon-roadrider-mk-ii-tires

And the 100/90-19 isn't really the same size. From the roadrider mkii site:

100/90-19: 109mm wide and 26.4" diameter
3.25-19: 98mm wide and 26.1" diameter

That 10mm width different might be enough to touch the fender, depending on the model.

Getting the exact width of the tire from the manufacturer, or better yet measuring it yourself before purchase, is an excellent idea. Some tire manufacturers provide different width tires even though their tire sizes may be marked the same. I know that sounds odd, but below is a picture I took of two different model Michelin tires that were supposedly same size as marked but in reality were different widths. Ed

650ed wrote: Getting the exact width of the tire from the manufacturer

This is definitely critical. The numbers on the side of the tire are only roughly what you'll get. I always look up the full dimensions on the manufacturer site, and I will never buy a tire from a company that doesn't provide detailed dimensions.

For example, even within the Roadrider Mkii sizes, the 130/70 is 133 wide, but the 130/80 is 137. The 120/80 is 120 wide, but the 120/70 is 129.

I run a 120 on the rear of my Z1R, which just barely fits without rubbing on the chain guard. The difference between an actual width of 120 and 129 would very likely be enough to rub on my bike.

650ed - a folding wooden ruler?! I haven't seen one of those since my grandfather was around!

Good tire info on this thread...

Skidmark wrote: 650ed - a folding wooden ruler?! I haven't seen one of those since my grandfather was around!
...

Geez, maybe I'm getting old. Is there some other kind of newfangled ruler available nowdays? :laugh: Ed

DOHC wrote: I really think the AM26 is the race tire. The AM26 is on the motorsports site, and says it's "The racing version of the Roadrider."

www.avonmotorsport.com/historic/motorcycle/am26---roadrider

As for the Roadrider MKII, it's on the non-motorsports site, and the "AM26" text doesn't appear anywhere.
www.avontyres.com/en-us/tyres/roadrider-mkii

If you'd like the 3.25-19, Cycle Gear says they are in stock:
www.cyclegear.com/tires/avon-roadrider-mk-ii-tires

And the 100/90-19 isn't really the same size. From the roadrider mkii site:

100/90-19: 109mm wide and 26.4" diameter
3.25-19: 98mm wide and 26.1" diameter

That 10mm width different might be enough to touch the fender, depending on the model.

Both of the sites I linked are listing 2 AM26 tires, one the racing version and one not. Both are Canadian sites, as is the OP. I'm currently running an AM26 4.00 x 18 rear (non-racing) and a 100/90-19 AM26 (non-racing) on my KZ1000A1 which has the same dimensions as the OP's A2.

I think the brand change was done this year, so the MKII might be a replacement for the AM26 non-racing tire.

Edit: I just measured my AM26 front which was installed last week, 100/90-19 and it's 99.5mm wide.

650ed wrote:

Skidmark wrote: 650ed - a folding wooden ruler?! I haven't seen one of those since my grandfather was around!
...

Geez, maybe I'm getting old. Is there some other kind of newfangled ruler available nowdays? :laugh: Ed

I caught that too! (Hee Hee!!) As a miner working underground a folding rule was an essential tool. I don't think I have any around but I know I have a folding degree rule with a level bubble. We used them when driving raises.

Got the forks back together last night. I swear I put the same amount of fluid in each, but upon doing the "dip test" one seemed to have way more than the other. They are back in the bike now, so I'll give fluid some time to settle, the recheck levels.

I can not for the life of me get the front brake to bleed properly. Got sick of screwing around so went and picked up a vacuum pump. Ran that until nothing but good clean fluid came out, but the brake handle still pulls all the way to the bars with no resistance. Help!