Rear Tire Question for '79 KZ650 B3

OK, so I have a 130/90-18 on the rear of that @#$%&!!! KZ650 now, and it is worn out.

I know the stock size is a 120, and many people recommend the 120 and say it handles better, but I want to stick with a 130 .... I like the look of the wider tire.

It is a little taller than I'd like, though. Would a 130/80-18, or even a 130/70-18 retain the width I have, but be shorter? Is anyone running one of those sizes?

I'm looking for a good road tire. I'm not burning up the corners, just cruising around. What would a good tire be for me?

Also, I was talking to the guy who did my carbs. He specializes in old Kawasakis, and says he always goes tubeless on bikes running the Enkei wheels. Is that correct? I thought you had to run tubes.

seanof30306 wrote: ...Also, I was talking to the guy who did my carbs. He specializes in old Kawasakis, and says he always goes tubeless on bikes running the Enkei wheels. Is that correct? I thought you had to run tubes.

Depends on the rim.

Should run a tube on a wheel having the tube-style rim, regardless of brand.



Good Fortune!

So, are some of the Enkei rims for these bikes tubeless, and some not? I still have the tire mounted on mine, so I can't check for the ridges.

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so, the "TL" in the "T 18x2.15TL DOT" in my '78 Z1R front wheel wouldn't stand for "tubeless"? It has no tire mounted on it, and it does not appear to have the ridges like in the top pic of the "tubeless" wheel.

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Neither my Z1R front wheel, nor my KZ650 rear wheel have additional hols for rim stoppers.

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OK, I'm completely confused now. I know what rim stoppers are, my DR350 has them, and you can absolutely see them when the tire is on the wheel.

Once again, the rear wheel is the factory on on my 1979 KZ650B3, and the only hole in that wheel is for the valve stem.

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Are you sure it is a stock B3 wheel. All of the KZ650 B models came with spoke wheels while all the other models (other than H1 and H2) came with cast wheels. If your B3 has cast wheels on it IMO they are not stock to the bike.

Not being the original owner, I can't be sure, but I'd be surprised that someone would update the rear wheel, yet leave it a drum brake.

On the other hand, it has dual front disc brakes, and I know the B model had single. I'd always assumed someone had swapped it.

Someone before me swapped to a 130 rear tire, and modified the chain guard to fit it, so there was definitely some modding done before I owned it. It's definitely possible someone swapped the wheels, too.