Fat front tire

mpnoffi posted some pics over in the engine section of a bike with what looks like a 16” front wheel and tire, now I’m hooked. I have an 82 CSR with aluminum wheels, so I’m guessing I could just find a 16” rear wheel, the lace the rim to my front hub.

I’m hoping someone here has done this or can offer advice. Offers so sell parts to complete the project are always welcome!

Do you have room for a fatter tire between the forks? You'll most likely have some pretty good hub fabbing to do. Could result in some undesirable gyroscopic effects not to mention adding unsprung weight. Other than those things...why not? :blink:

I had to put a fat front tire on mine.... because the shop I get my tires from didn't have my size. But, I got it on and it cleared the fender so I figured no worries. It would throw the speedometer calibration off a bit.....


Then I went out and got it up to 60 and heard that whine as the tire expanded from radial acceleration, it was rubbing the tip of the front fender.

had to slot the mounting holes in the fender a bit to get it to clear.

I won't be putting another 110 on the front again.....:laugh:

CSR Chopper:

I also have an '82 CSR, and have considered using a 16" rear rim with the front hub to build a front wheel . Both front and rear hubs have 48 spokes, so that will work. One problem is the spoke length will need to be shorter than the front spokes, and longer than the rear ones so new spokes will need to be ordered. Our present front tire size is 100/90-19, with an overall diameter of 26.1". A 110/90-16 tire is about as large as will fit the front fender. The side clearance will be close, and the spokes will need to be tensioned very precisely to get the wheel perfectly centered. Also the 110/90-16 tire will be only about 23.8" in diameter, so the front of the bike will be lowered by about 1 1/8", and the speedometer will read 6 MPH fast at 60. It can be done, but only by a very qualified technician who takes great interest in getting it right.

Your reasoning might be appearance, but mine has to do with the wheel width and handling performance gained therein. Our present 19" wheel is only 1.85" wide. This allows the front tire to move slightly from side to side. The 16" rear wheel is 3" wide. Most modern sport bikes use a 3.5" wide front wheel with 120 size tires. The 3" wide wheel will support the tire very well and improve handling and steering response. I believe the narrow wheel width is perhaps the one greatest shortcomings in handling between our old KZ bikes and today's modern sport bikes.

adding unsprung weight is bad.

The ratio of width between the front and rear tires creates different characteristics for leaning and steering.

That bike reminds me of the Rokon Trail-Breaker.

I was actually thinking about going to a 130/90 16 which works out to about 25.19" high. At 130 mm wide I think I'd have to find wider trees.

Hmmm, might be a project for NEXT winter.

Hey, I've got a Ninja 750 motor laying around that would work great in that Rokon frame....with a little cutting, welding...a little more cutting....

how about a cop bike frontend?

...do tell....
Is that front end wider?