Gen 1 1200: rim size & tires size

[LowRyter]

got this from a Guzzi forum.  A friend tells me that 170/60-17 is a great way to speed up handling.  I was checking here to see if the Bandit has a 5 in rim.  I was checking  Fast Larry and I can't find the rim size.  Anyone here know?


Quote from: LowRyter on March 08, 2012, 08:01:37 PM
Mike, what rim size?  It's making me think twice about my Bandit (in another 6000 miles).


reply from Mike:  17x5 on the V11 Sport/LeMans and the CARC bikes.  Guzzi puts on the fashionable 180/55-17, but a 170/60-17 is a better all around deal for the 5-inch rim.

[pmackie]

The Wiki for this site says it's a 5.50 x 17 rim.

[LowRyter]

thanks Paul

[deanozx10r]

The reason this dude said that, that tire is a 60 series tire witch is probibly taller than the stock tire that came on said bike. Either a 50 or 55 series witch in turn will raise the rear and make the bike steer faster. The bandit 1200s all use the 180 rear you should be able to get them with 60 series from most tire manufactures. That will do the same thing as the 170-60 but will have more of a contact patch witch a bigger bike should have. With all that said I run a 190 on my bike cause I get them free and no ill affects with handling.

[mademiriam]

The reason this dude said that, that tire is a 60 series tire witch is probibly taller than the stock tire that came on said bike. Either a 50 or 55 series witch in turn will raise the rear and make the bike steer faster. The bandit 1200s all use the 180 rear you should be able to get them with 60 series from most tire manufactures. That will do the same thing as the 170-60 but will have more of a contact patch witch a bigger bike should have. With all that said I run a 190 on my bike cause I get them free and no ill affects with handling.

I'd say thats right on the money for tire advice. 60 Series makes a huge difference, you wouldn't think it but just a smalls step up in the back speeds up turn in noticeably.
I know some people with smaller rims, ran 190's back when you couldn't get taller 'series' tires and because the bigger tire was 'pinched' on the small rim it gave a taller profile.

[LowRyter]

so you guys are saying go to 180/60 in stead of 180/55 for quicker turning in?

[deanozx10r]

Yes if you even want more I think some of them make a 65 series also.

[pmackie]

so you guys are saying go to 180/60 in stead of 180/55 for quicker turning in?

Basically, given the same brand and model of tire, a "60" is taller than a "55". The 2nd number is the ratio of the width (180mm) to the height, expressed as a %. ie: a 180/55 would mean the height is 55% of 180 mm, or 99 mm. So a 180/60 would be 108 mm or about 9 mm taller (just under 1/2 cm). Since different tire brands and models already have different manufactured heights, it can be difficult to "read across" to different tire models, but you get the idea.

Same is true for a 170/60, which would be 102 mm tall. Not as big a difference, ie: only 3 mm, but the tire would also weigh a little less, and the carcass would be 10 mm narrower. All of these things will contribute to how the bike "feels".

http://bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/option/index.html

Again, this assumes the tire is mounted on the recommended rim size.

A quick look at Bridgestone's site, looking at the BT023 shows that they recommend a 5.0 rim for a 170/60 and a 5.5 inch rim for a 180/55. They show the diameter of the tire being 7 mm larger (or 3.5 mm radius, to bring it to the same criteria above). Note that you may have a harder time finding a 180/60 tire, as not all manufacturers make them.

http://bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/battlax/bt023.html

If you simply want to tighten up the steering by 1/2 cm or so, them I would recommend that you slide the fork tubes UP (drop the triple trees down) 3/8 of an inch or so. This is basically doing the samething as installing a larger diameter tire.

[deanozx10r]

When dropping the forks measure from the top of the fork cap to top of the tripple tree. Just looked at my bike 03 1200 factory there level with the tree so you may only want to go a 1/4" and see if you like it. If you need to go more then do so, you just dont want to go to far and run into problems. What I mean with problems if you go to far it will dam near fall on it own riding strait being squrmy to touchy.