80 KZ1000 rear tire

I need to replace the rear tire on my 80 KZ1000B. As far as I know its the original stock rim. Any suggestions on what tire to get. I dont need high speed rating, I mostly just putt around and probably my max speed is about 90 and not for long times. Could I go with a slightly wider tire with out modifications? If so what would be a good size to use? I also dont want to have to take out a loan for my tire so economical tires are the ticket but I still want a decent tire, any suggestions?

Bridgestone Battlax is pretty good for the money. Dunlop has some good cheap tires like the 404(?) I have run before. Cheng Shin are decent cheap tires that are sold a lot of places. Avon Roadrider is a good one.

I don't know the stock size for yours. Mine is 4.00 -18 which is about 110-90-18.

I am sure you can go to 120 size on the rear, not sure about 130. Even if it goes on the rim, the tire footprint is distorted and you just burn the center strip real fast.


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EDIT TO ADD: I should probably point out my riding is pretty sedate, so I don't push the tires. I also NEVER ride in the rain so I can't speak to wet grip ability.

I have run many tires over the years. One thing to keep in mind is not speed or how well they corner but how well they grip. Dunlops generally are a harder rubber compound than other tires leading to harder the older they get. I personally would never run those ever again after my two close calls for something that should have been perfectly easy and much less would I consider chen shing. You want to ride safe? If you feel that it's not a good idea for tires to slide out on you when cornering or emergency braking then stay the hell away from cheap rubber. For the few dollars more you spend you can never go wrong with avons, metzlers or michelin pilots but for your bike metzler makes that 16 inch tire. Michelins don't I don't believe.
If you are in the rain and don't tell me you never ride in the rain. I have gotten caught so many times coming back from a nice ride and down it comes. Metzler lazers can't really be beat. So don't think of it as spending unnecessary money think of it as an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Or just go out and forget what anyone tells you about safety and good rubber and just buy some cheapo tires that will dry rot or wear out quick. You really get what you pay for and bottom line you will never ever see chen shinko pinko tires on any bike I ride...ever. Just my feeble two cents. But then you may think like other harley riders think that ride 3000 miles every five years. You only ride a few miles a summer so why pay the extra 20-50 bucks? You buy old tires that are on sale and they have been sitting in some warehouse for so long that they have gotten hard and or dry rotted in which case it's time to change tires before the tread dictates.

I rode the battleaxes or whatever you wanna call them. Those are actually not at all bad and for the money they have always gripped for me. I remember powersliding through corners and getting away with it on my dunlops and then switching to my battleaxes and pulling a wheelie through a corner. What a difference in grip. I about shite myself but then quickly acclimated myself to the grip factor of the bridgestones.

Thanks for the responce. I am not a big fan of the cheap off brands on my cars and trucks. I had rather have a name brand that I trust but still look for good deals. I appreciate the info. it helps a bunch. I will have to look but I think my tire size is 130/90 16.

bhardy501 wrote:

Thanks for the responce. I am not a big fan of the cheap off brands on my cars and trucks. I had rather have a name brand that I trust but still look for good deals.

Avon Roadrider and Bridgestone Battlax are both name brand manufacturers and those tires have excellent reputations. Very high performance/price ratio.

Battlax BT45V is about $100 for 130-90-16

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Running Dunlop ArrowMax front and rear on my bike.Despite all the whooey slung around on this thread about "elcheapo" tires,the Dunlops arent cheap and they do a good job on dry or wet pavement for me including the occasional 85-90 mph long sweeping turns.So,get a good tire,keep it properly inflated and u will be ok.Oh,I dont pull "wheelies" going around curves or even on straights so if u want to do that maybe another tire will work better.bj.

No wheelies here either. both tires have to stay on the pavement. :ohmy:

no sh--.bj

kenda

I have the Bridgestone Battlax 021 Sport Touring and absolutely love it. I've been running it for over a year and have never had a problem wet or dry. While I've never done a full on launch with it I have done some slow roll full throttle runs and it hooks very well and has excellent wear. I think I paid $160 for it at Cycle Gear.

I have the Bridgestone Battlax 021 Sport Touring and absolutely love it. I've been running it for over a year and have never had a problem wet or dry. While I've never done a full on launch with it I have done some slow roll full throttle runs and it hooks very well and has excellent wear. I think I paid $120 for it at Cycle Gear.