Restoring my 1978 Z-1R Need tire and shock advice!

This project has been going on for 8+ years and I swear it will be done this summer.

Several years ago when I started the resto I put on new Dunlops... 110/90 X 18 Front and the 4.25/85 X 18 in the rear.

The front tire looks nice and meaty but the rear looks soooo skinny.

Would like to beef up but there are so few choices in retro tires. The Dunlops I have are the biggest available (that sucks!) But Bridgestone make the Spitfire S11 line.

Thinking of replacing the Dunlops with a 130/90 Rear and the matching 110/90 front.

The 130 is 5.3 inches wide and should look considerably better than the skinny-minnie Dunlop.

Opinions?

I'm sure purists will say stick to the thin rubber but it really looks lame.

I am doing very little in the way of mods and going for a bone-stock look since I have the original exhaust in MINT condition. I am going with a stainless Allen bolt set since I purchased 2 of them in the past several years (each time thinking they were the standard Phillips set)

Did my front seals and boots but something tells me the original rear shocks are going to be terrible adding to the bike's already mediocre handling. Yet, I want them to appear stock.

Shock advice anyone?

Wayne in Winnipeg

Shocks and Suspensions
www.progressivesuspension.com (I've got them on my 1982 GPz1100)
www.racetech.com
www.hygearsuspension.com
www.aftershocks-suspension.com
www.gpsuspension.com
www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/cgi-bin/web...GON_TWIN_SHOCKS.html
mpcustomvalve.co.za/index.html


When you get ready to install the SS allen bolts/screws on your bike, go to the nearest auto parts store and get some Permatex #81343 siver anti-seize. This will prevent the SS from "Galling" or seizing, making removal much easier. I use it on sparkplugs too (the first few threads).

I put a thin coat on the first few threads before installing any fasteners on my bike if they are new. I also put some on the rear axle for ease of removal(again, a thin coating).

A front fork brace will stiffen up the "Flexi Flyer" handling. www.fastfromthepast carries a good selection.

That should be www.fastfromthepast.com (I'm getting tired)

130's look good.
120 looks skinny.

thats my .02

leon

531blackbanshee wrote: 130's look good.
120 looks skinny.

thats my .02

leon

+1 on your 0.02.

A 130mm Spitfire is a solid bet.