Tires for a newbie

Manu

Manu

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Hi - Figure since my new bike sat for 10 years new tires are in order. '72 750. Avon Roadriders on now, Back 4.00-18, Front 90/90H19 (3.25 X 19?). Bike is currently not running but want to get ready.

At the risk of asking a "what's the best oil" question, what are good tire options? I won't be doing much freeway, mostly nice windy mountain roads. Pretty much late spring, summer, fall driving as winters are all snow.

Also, been so long since I've had a bike not sure how to go about getting mounted. Best to take the wheels off and find a shop? Or take the whole bike in?

Thanks
Paul
 
I would concur with Fast Eddie. I have 18" on both front and rear of these tires. Recommended also by Matt Rambow at Colorado Norton Works, as he puts these on his bikes as well.

Bridgestone Battlax BT46​

 
Oh yeah, you'll need to get new tubes as well. DennisKirk has these, as does Amazon. Also, I just take the wheels off and take them to a local British bike guy to mount and balance. Ok. I think I got everything I wanted to tell you...:)
 
Stick to the Avons RR if you can get them, as for getting them fitted where I get my tyres here they are fitted free just ride in and the get done as part of the service, but since my old trye shop where I been getting my tyres since 1978 has been sold by the original owner about 3 years ago the new owners are charging $35 to fit each tyre W T F, I ended going to my dealership where I brought my 2 new Thruxtons and they give me a discount on tyres as well free fitting, that is here in Australia so over your way who knows.
If they ever charge me for fitting I would do it myself, always handy to know how to fit or repair tyres as you never know if you need to do it when traveling or get a flat, done plenty of tyres in my 52+ years of riding bikes, have good tyre levers and plenty of slippery stuff as well a big rubber hammer just in case lol.
Tyre or bike shops have tyre machines set up so not a big job doing tyres, 15 minutes for each wheel even if they got to pull the wheel off the bike.

Ashley
 
i've got 90/90H19 on the front. looks like BT46 comes in 100/90H19. Should be ok? Maybe a little more sluggish?

​

 
Manu said:
i've got 90/90H19 on the front. looks like BT46 comes in 100/90H19. Should be ok? Maybe a little more sluggish?

​

Click to expand...
Yes, in theory. But, I have a 100/90 on my front and wouldn't say it is sluggish.

I just put on a Michelin Road Classic to replace my old Avon AM26 4.00x18 rear. They make a 3.25x19 front as well as a 100/90.
  • 100/90: Nominal width is 100.0 mm.
  • 90/90: Nominal width is 90.0 mm.
  • 3.25: Nominal width is 3.25 inches × 25.4 mm/inch = 82.55 mm.

gortnipper

Post in thread 'Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod'

Getting the bead to pop out of the old one and in on this was a bitch. Excel rims...

Michelin Road Classic 4.00 x 18. We'll see how this one goes compared to the old AM26.

Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod
  • Like
 
Manu said:
i've got 90/90H19 on the front. looks like BT46 comes in 100/90H19. Should be ok? Maybe a little more sluggish?

​

Click to expand...
BT46s come in 3.25 19 front and 4.00 18 rear as well as metric sizes. I’d use 3.25 and 4.00 personally although many use the metric sizes without complaint.
 
gortnipper said:
Yes, in theory. But, I have a 100/90 on my front and wouldn't say it is sluggish.

I just put on a Michelin Road Classic to replace my old Avon AM26 4.00x18 rear. They make a 3.25x19 front as well as a 100/90.
  • 100/90: Nominal width is 100.0 mm.
  • 90/90: Nominal width is 90.0 mm.
  • 3.25: Nominal width is 3.25 inches × 25.4 mm/inch = 82.55 mm.

gortnipper

Post in thread 'Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod'

Getting the bead to pop out of the old one and in on this was a bitch. Excel rims...

Michelin Road Classic 4.00 x 18. We'll see how this one goes compared to the old AM26.

Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod
  • Like
Click to expand...
Mother of Divine Grace! That tar is GIGANTIC! Hope yer rear shocks can handle that mass jumping up and down.
...but perhaps you will get fairly good wear mileage out of it?
 
Onder said:
Mother of Divine Grace! That tar is GIGANTIC! Hope yer rear shocks can handle that mass jumping up and down.
...but perhaps you will get fairly good wear mileage out of it?
Click to expand...
Its a 4.00 x 18. Almost identical in height to the Avon Am26 it replaced, and near enough the same as the 100/90 on the front. Just looks bigger off.
 
Starvingphotog said:
Oh yeah, you'll need to get new tubes as well. DennisKirk has these, as does Amazon. Also, I just take the wheels off and take them to a local British bike guy to mount and balance. Ok. I think I got everything I wanted to tell you...:)
Click to expand...
You don’t need a British shop.Most dealers have mounting machines and deal with customers with spoked,tube type motorcycles.
Mike
 
gortnipper said:
Yes, in theory. But, I have a 100/90 on my front and wouldn't say it is sluggish.

I just put on a Michelin Road Classic to replace my old Avon AM26 4.00x18 rear. They make a 3.25x19 front as well as a 100/90.
  • 100/90: Nominal width is 100.0 mm.
  • 90/90: Nominal width is 90.0 mm.
  • 3.25: Nominal width is 3.25 inches × 25.4 mm/inch = 82.55 mm.

gortnipper

Post in thread 'Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod'

Getting the bead to pop out of the old one and in on this was a bitch. Excel rims...

Michelin Road Classic 4.00 x 18. We'll see how this one goes compared to the old AM26.

Muttster: A long, slow '74 resto-mod
  • Like
Click to expand...
Those are nice looking Michelins! I might try a set of those when my Bridgestones need changing. My rear tire looks just as bulky as that Michelin. Mine are 120/90/18 on the back and 100/90/18 on the front. Mounted on Excel rims as well.
 
Mother of Divine Grace! That tar is GIGANTIC! Hope yer rear shocks can handle that mass jumping up and down.
Click to expand...
Good one!

I will go BT46s. Order tires and tubes and find a shop somewhere. I'd try myself but there are balance weights on the rims.

Notice Andover carrying Heidenau K65 until reported return of Avons.

thanks for the info.
 
yeah, I've always liked Michelin tires. I use them on my road bikes and cars and they are always smooth round and resilient. Like Jay Leno says as well, he likes Michelins too because they are actually "round"...
 
I'm in the same boat, except my '72 still has the original WM2 rims. It looks like the Avon Roadrider in 19" is pretty much gone - no stock in the usual online places - so that leaves the BT46 or Michelin. The BT46 in 3.25x19 is available through many places, so it looks like that's the best option.

If one had the option of new wheels (I'm looking into it), what's the consensus concerning sizes, particularly a rear that fits the swingarm. The availability of more modern tires is really the issue though, as the 1.85x19 seems to quickly running out of available tires.
 
I've got a Combat in my office here in the house with the same old wm2 rims (I think), with original type Dunlops mounted. Eventually when I roll it out of the house to ride it someday I'll need to replace the tires. So, I'm in the same boat there with you Geezer with us both having 72s and original rims. My 850, which I ride, has Excel rims 18" that I got from a fella on this forum as a kit. They are gorgeous rims and spokes and well balanced.
 
OldGeezer said:
I'm in the same boat, except my '72 still has the original WM2 rims. It looks like the Avon Roadrider in 19" is pretty much gone - no stock in the usual online places - so that leaves the BT46 or Michelin. The BT46 in 3.25x19 is available through many places, so it looks like that's the best option.

If one had the option of new wheels (I'm looking into it), what's the consensus concerning sizes, particularly a rear that fits the swingarm. The availability of more modern tires is really the issue though, as the 1.85x19 seems to quickly running out of available tires.
Click to expand...

There is NO consensus !
 

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