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I'm looking for recommendations on modern tires for my 85 cb700sc project bike. Factory calls for 110/90-16 front and 130/90-16 rears. I'd like to go with radials if possible, but it seems 16" radials are very limited . . . Thanks in advance for your help, and Happy New Year to all the Vintage Honda Aficionads on this forum.
1973 CL350, 1975 CB750K, 1980 Yamaha DT175E . . . 30 yrs later . . .
Picking up where I left off . . . Now riding a 1985 CB700SC Nighthawk S (Fair-weather rider by geography . . . sunny Southern California)
. . . Ride to live . . . Live to ride!
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Since I have never dealt with this subject (I always run Dunlop 401s) I went to the Dunlop web site and found this.
"Bias and radial tires have significantly different dynamic properties. They deflect differently, create different cornering forces, have different damping characteristics, as well as other differences. In order for radial tires to be introduced into the two-wheel market, it was necessary to change certain characteristics of the motorcycle. The introduction of the radial tire led to such things as modified frames, wider wheels, new steering geometries and suspensions. Therefore, it is recommended that a motorcycle be used with the type of tire construction that it came with originally. If a change is to be made, then it should only be done if the motorcycle or tire manufacturer has approved the change. Above all, do not mix bias ply and radial tires on the same motorcycle unless it is with the approval of the motorcycle or tire manufacturer."
TOOLS
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No fire? No explosions? So whats the point of your story?
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We all got problems. Ksharp
I like vintage bikes because they take me away from the clutter of technology that I work with everyday and back to a simpler time of mechanical elegance and simplicity.. "ninadm"
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1976 CB 750-A X 2
1977 CB 750-A X 4
1977 CB 750-K
1976 CB 750 F
1981 CB 750
1966 Kawasaki SG 250
1981 KZ 750 LTD
1973 CB 350
1979 CM 185 Twinstar
1982 Honda XL 80
South of Eden (Kansas City MO)
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Depending on what you want to do with the bike ( commuting, touring, hard cornering)...
Shinko 712 is a great tire for the money. Plenty grippy for these old chassis', but you give up a little tire life for that grip. I would expect 4-5k miles out of a rear tire, max. I would get around 3-3500 out of mine. The fronts last 2 to 1, but most do.. Not the best tire in the rain, but not horrible. Especially for the price. You can probably score a pair for under $150 easily.
Bridgestone Battlax BT45 is a great tire. there's two version: a high performance and a sport touring. If you don't already know, many sport touring tires are dual compound( hard in the middle for wear, soft on the edges for grips). I never used the sport touring version, but I had some of the high performance ones for a while. The Hi Perf tires have a dual compound rear with a single compound front. They'll wear better than the Shinko 712's, but at a higher cost. I think they are a fair bit better in the rain with their extra siping, too. Very quiet, smooth running tire. They'll probably last only slightly longer than a Shinko 712, but cost exactly twice as much, too. I would only choose this tire over the 712 if you plan to commute in the rain more often.
If you really want to radial, look at Continential's Classic Attack series. Tire sizes can be limited, but they were created to be a great, grippy radial to put on classic bikes. These are usually $150-200 per tire, but if you want the most modern tire you can get for your bike- this is probably it.
If you plan to ride like a normal person, the Shino 712 is hard to beat, though. I've drug pegs, been over 125 mph, hauled luggage and ridden many miles of gravel on these tires with no complaints. For the price, you can't hardly ever beat a Shinko tire IMO. I'm not scared of a 712 in the rain, but it wouldn't be my first choice.
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Heeding Tools advice, I sought tires on Amazon that best suited the bike, starting with what was on it, a pair of seemingly mismatched Metzers. I've had selected a pair of Shinko 712's and pair of Battleax VT-45T in my shopping cart but had not made a final decision. A few YouTube Shinko reviews helped me gain confidence in them as I was very leery of the price and the unfamiliar brand. Your reply comes at a perfect time, the explanation of the performance of both brands made the decision easy, Shinkos are half the price, wear about the same, with decent all-around performance. I don't ride in the rain, don't rain much here, and if they're good enough for you, they're good enough for me. Thanks
(Thanks to Tools and Shinyribs for taking the time to respond and for the great advice.)
1973 CL350, 1975 CB750K, 1980 Yamaha DT175E . . . 30 yrs later . . .
Picking up where I left off . . . Now riding a 1985 CB700SC Nighthawk S (Fair-weather rider by geography . . . sunny Southern California)
. . . Ride to live . . . Live to ride!
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Shinko's don't get the respect they deserve, but that is quickly changing.
They bought a bunch of Yokohama's old technology ( molds, compounds, etc), and have been using that to produce solid tires at a very affordable price. Good on them!
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