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Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
- onanysunday
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15 Oct 2008 12:28 #241955
by onanysunday
79 KZ1000 E-1
VM28SS
K&N Pods
Sportbike tires on a KZ1000? was created by onanysunday
I have a '79 KZ1000ST equipped with Cheng Shin Hi-Maxx Tires. Overall, I don't have any complaints with the tires, except for one glaring safety issue..These tires are limiting in the sense they don't allow me to lean very far. I feel confident taking sharper turns on the KZ, moreso than what the tires allow at the moment. Despite the heighth of the bike, I feel the KZ is competent with banking turns at a steeper angle than what the myriad of "classic" street tires are intended to do.
The problem I am encountering is that when I "bank" the bike, I can feel the edge of the bottom tire tread crossover into the sidewall, and there is a slight "ridge" where the two meet. It is in this exact spot on the tire that I feel a sudden "loss of control" when making turns. It is like a warning track in a baseball field, telling you that you're close to the point of no return i.e. literally "laying it down". I've seen other tires for these "classic" bikes but they all have the SAME general design flaw in their tread design which is the tread profile only allows you to lean so far. Sportbikes have overcome this limitation by offering a truly "rounder" tire where there is no apparent ridge from crossing over from tread to sidewall. This leads me to the conclusion that classic street tires are limiting for performance. The truth is that there is much better tire technology out there that has been developed for the track. Any suggestions on what tires might foot the bill here? Any race-inspired tire technology for our KZs that have a truly round racing profile that would accommodate some knee dragging? You may think I am crazy to want to lean this beast so close to the ground, but I'm not afraid and I know the KZ is even more capable than what it gets credit for. Suggestions?
The problem I am encountering is that when I "bank" the bike, I can feel the edge of the bottom tire tread crossover into the sidewall, and there is a slight "ridge" where the two meet. It is in this exact spot on the tire that I feel a sudden "loss of control" when making turns. It is like a warning track in a baseball field, telling you that you're close to the point of no return i.e. literally "laying it down". I've seen other tires for these "classic" bikes but they all have the SAME general design flaw in their tread design which is the tread profile only allows you to lean so far. Sportbikes have overcome this limitation by offering a truly "rounder" tire where there is no apparent ridge from crossing over from tread to sidewall. This leads me to the conclusion that classic street tires are limiting for performance. The truth is that there is much better tire technology out there that has been developed for the track. Any suggestions on what tires might foot the bill here? Any race-inspired tire technology for our KZs that have a truly round racing profile that would accommodate some knee dragging? You may think I am crazy to want to lean this beast so close to the ground, but I'm not afraid and I know the KZ is even more capable than what it gets credit for. Suggestions?
79 KZ1000 E-1
VM28SS
K&N Pods
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- onanysunday
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15 Oct 2008 12:39 #241957
by onanysunday
79 KZ1000 E-1
VM28SS
K&N Pods
Replied by onanysunday on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
79 KZ1000 E-1
VM28SS
K&N Pods
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- MFolks
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15 Oct 2008 13:54 #241970
by MFolks
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
Replied by MFolks on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
The older KZ's are setup for the bias type of tires and the newer radials will give the feeling you are encountering at the transition point on the tread.
Unless you have a non stock swingarm I think the biggest rear tire would be a 120-18 as a 130-18 might be a tight fit. As for the front a 110-19 might work.
Unless you have a non stock swingarm I think the biggest rear tire would be a 120-18 as a 130-18 might be a tight fit. As for the front a 110-19 might work.
1982 GPZ1100 B2
General Dynamics/Convair 1983-1993
GLCM BGM-109 Tomahawk, AGM-129A Advanced Cruise Missile (ACM)
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- saxjonz
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- KawboyZ
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15 Oct 2008 14:13 #241975
by saxjonz
79 LTD B3
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
Replied by saxjonz on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
Wild picture. I remember my dad's friend on his new honda 1976 750. He was leaning some mad turns in the parking lot and although I was only 5 or 6 I still remember feeling quite scared for him and thinking him to be totally nuts in need of mental facilities to care for him. My father concurred. But the guy had the bike leaned super low and he was going fairly slow.
Point? I think that if he could do it with the old tires then you could as well. Good idea????????????????? Don't ask me for an honest answer. I have seen plenty of guys push the envelope that far and become separated from there bikes. Not my cup of tea.
Point? I think that if he could do it with the old tires then you could as well. Good idea????????????????? Don't ask me for an honest answer. I have seen plenty of guys push the envelope that far and become separated from there bikes. Not my cup of tea.
79 LTD B3
80 LTD B4 1075 kit JE Pistons .410 cam grind, Bassani, 31 keihin CR Specials...
1980 Z1R, 2002 ZRX1200, 2003 ZRX1200
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- RonKZ650
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15 Oct 2008 14:42 #241981
by RonKZ650
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
Replied by RonKZ650 on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
The ST uses a strange 4.50-17 rear tire. Not much modern rubber concentrates on 17" unless they are low profile and wide.
321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- 77_650B1
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15 Oct 2008 16:22 #241990
by 77_650B1
1977 KZ650-B1
-Dual Discs
-Dyna-S
-WG Coil Mod
-Alloy Wheels
Replied by 77_650B1 on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
onanysunday wrote:
Best post ever!
Normal turning is boring, but I get down pretty low on my bias ply BS Spitfires, even though people make fun of them as a tire. Next tires I'll be getting are Dunlop GT501's. Supposed to offer sport tire handling in a bias tire.
Note: Normal turning is boring.
Best post ever!
Normal turning is boring, but I get down pretty low on my bias ply BS Spitfires, even though people make fun of them as a tire. Next tires I'll be getting are Dunlop GT501's. Supposed to offer sport tire handling in a bias tire.
1977 KZ650-B1
-Dual Discs
-Dyna-S
-WG Coil Mod
-Alloy Wheels
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- 893cv
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15 Oct 2008 17:21 #241997
by 893cv
1980 kz1000 LTD
1978 Z1R
Replied by 893cv on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
Try any of these:
Avon AM26 RoadRider
Continental Conti "GO"
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 H-Rated
Metzeler Lasertech
M50 / M50E Macadam
Bridgestone Spitfire S11
I've used the Metzelers, Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 and Spitfire S11,and the Michelin M50 / M50E Macadam. I'll be mounting a set of the Avons on my LTD when I get it back on the road. Good tires are worth whatever they cost and junk tires arn't worth anything!
Avon AM26 RoadRider
Continental Conti "GO"
Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 H-Rated
Metzeler Lasertech
M50 / M50E Macadam
Bridgestone Spitfire S11
I've used the Metzelers, Bridgestone Battlax BT-45 and Spitfire S11,and the Michelin M50 / M50E Macadam. I'll be mounting a set of the Avons on my LTD when I get it back on the road. Good tires are worth whatever they cost and junk tires arn't worth anything!
1980 kz1000 LTD
1978 Z1R
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- Z1109R Fin
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16 Oct 2008 03:08 #242052
by Z1109R Fin
Z1000R ´83...Slightly modified...
Replied by Z1109R Fin on topic Sportbike tires on a KZ1000?
Well, now I really didn´t get your point, sorry. You are running some chink-what-ever-POS tires and complaining that "old style " tires wont allow any leaning. Is that it?
Well, scroll to 4min 02sec:
Eddie had about 140rwhp and those guys were Fast!
Loose those POS tires, get new ones and learn to trust them. Gettin modern, 180-190 wide tires means swappin rear swing and thats not an over-nighter to do.
Well, scroll to 4min 02sec:
Eddie had about 140rwhp and those guys were Fast!
Loose those POS tires, get new ones and learn to trust them. Gettin modern, 180-190 wide tires means swappin rear swing and thats not an over-nighter to do.
Z1000R ´83...Slightly modified...
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