1977 KZ650 Custom, need tire suggestions please

I have Bridgestone Spitfires front and back. I'm also using a 130 on the back, but did not have any rubbing on the plastic chain guard. I have switched back and forth betwwen the plastic guard and a chrome steel one, but just for cosmetic reasons, and both fit with clearance.
It will be my third season with the Bridgestones, and find them to be a good overall tire.

650ed wrote:

RonKZ650,
Way back when I switched to a Michelin 130 on the rear of my '77 KZ650C1, but it rubbed big time. Being the ingenious engineer that I was at the time, I simply cut out a portion out of the plastic chain guard and like magic, no more rub. A few months later the summer heat and some unknown stresses caused the plastic chain guard to warp at my idiotic modification and the whole chain guard was sucked into the rear wheel on a curvy road. Let me tell you, it was a lot different than baseball cards in bicycle spokes! I didn't wreck, but it scared the daylights out of me. After discarding the ruined chain guard I replaced it with a chrome aftermarket unit that doesn't rub. Ed

Ed, That's pretty funny because the exact same thing happened to me on my KZ1000MKII, I slotted the guard to allow the tire to run then eventually the guard sucked right into the wheel. Thankfully still back in the days parts were available and $40 or so I was back stock and smarter not to cut into the plastic guard. One thing is certain though, the plastic chainguard is one great working piece of work. It keeps 97% of the crap off your back and the rest of the bike, unlike the alternative chrome guards do normally.

Man, am I glad I didn't cut into my plastic guard when I put the 130/90 on! It looked like it was going to rub right at first when I mounted it up and my first thought was to cut a notch out of the guard but instead I took a second look at making sure my rear wheel was centered (it was off just a tad) and when I got it squared away the chain guard cleared with just enough room to be comfortable.

I put a 120/80 Cheng-Shin Hi-Maxx on the rear. It has 13,500 miles and I should have replaced it at 12,000, but I will soon. It is an inexpensive tire, but has worked well for me, commuting and occasional highway use. I installed a new tube back then and don't see why it won't be good for another tire. Fits and looks good, it doesn't rub the chain guard either, I have the plastic one. Oh, make sure the inner front of the chain guard fits between the two metal tabs on the swing arm, or the guard will twist and rub the tire.

Ron,
is a 4.00-18 tire a 100% profile? 4.00" converts to 101mm, so will a 4.00-18 be a 101/100 (if they made such a tire)?

650ed wrote:

...Being the ingenious engineer that I was at the time, I simply cut out a portion out of the plastic chain guard and like magic, no more rub. A few months later the summer heat and some unknown stresses caused the plastic chain guard to warp at my idiotic modification and the whole chain guard was sucked into the rear wheel on a curvy road....

That sucks. I cut a small piece out of mine on one of my 750s for my 120, that I ended up not needing to do anyway. It looked like it was rubbing before final alignment. Arg. I think for a 130 it would definitely have needed to be removed... It's been fine for about 7000 miles or so... Keeping my fingers crossed...

I am so lucky to have a SR. They fit a 130 stock.

OKC_Kent wrote:

... make sure the inner front of the chain guard fits between the two metal tabs on the swing arm, or the guard will twist and rub the tire....

Good advice. Also applies to Z-1. And the tabs are easy to overlook when reinstalling chain guard following chain replacement, etc.