Rear Vmax tire?

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RivaRich.TakeThisOut@juno.com (Richard) wrote:
 >Hi, I am running the Dunlop K591 Elite SP on the rear of my V-max
 >but this tire is no longer produced. I still have the Dunlop
 >K591 Elite SP on the front and was wondering if anyone had any
 >suggestions for a good rear tire to mix with my Dunlop front
 >(or just a good rear V-max tire in general).
 >
 >Thanks a lot!
 >
 >Richard (RivaRich)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
The Metzler me880 marathon in the stock sizes are great !
110/90/18 front
150/90/15 rear
+++>>> these sizes will give you the best "all around" handling.
Some people like to run the HUGE 170/80/15 on the rear which requires
a spacer swap to keep the tire from rubbing the swingarm. I've ran
both ways and can honestly say GO WITH THE STOCK SIZES. The kewl
lookin 170/80/15 looks neat, but is NOT the hot set-up for handling.

S. Moore 94 Vmax
vmoa#1368<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Rear Vmax tire? 

"Lone Ranger" wrote
 > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
 > The Metzler me880 marathon in the stock sizes are great !
 > 110/90/18 front
 > 150/90/15 rear
 > +++>>> these sizes will give you the best "all around" handling.
 > Some people like to run the HUGE 170/80/15 on the rear which requires
 > a spacer swap to keep the tire from rubbing the swingarm. I've ran
 > both ways and can honestly say GO WITH THE STOCK SIZES. The kewl
 > lookin 170/80/15 looks neat, but is NOT the hot set-up for handling.
 >
 > S. Moore 94 Vmax
 > vmoa#1368

Agreed, S, unfortunately no radials are available in the 150/90/15 ( so
I'm contemplating emptying my wallet and getting a conversion for the rear
wheel to a 17" or 18" so I can run more modern (i.e. radial) tyres - a
popular mod in the UK, where the roads are somewhat twistier than in the
USA! Has anyone on the group tried this on a "take it to the local
engineering works / machine shop" basis, rather than sending it all off to a
VMax specialist and paying out $1000? I'd be interested to hear of any
pitfalls along the way, but I guess it involves:

Taking a VMax rear wheel and machining the rim and spokes off;
taking the replacement wheel and machining out the original hub;
aligning 'em and tacking into place, then checking runout on a spindle with
DTI gauges etc;
making the final TIG welds to attach the two;
checking again;
cursing and starting over ;o)

I'd guess that due to the size of the VMax hub and cushdrive, most superbike
wheels would be suitable, the majority of hubs seem substantially smaller!
Locally, there's a fella with his wheels converted - Thundercat front (with
a little machining for clearances etc), Thundercat rim and spokes on the
VMax hub rear.

I guess that the accuracy of the alignment is pretty critical, but I've seen
new stock wheels on bikes that had as much as .075" runout both radially and
laterally (and occasionally more....), and the bikes seemed to handle OK....
in the past I've build trad wire-spoked wheels, and I've always aimed for a
max of .020" runout, and the wheels have felt smooth, no vibration, compared
to badly tensioned spoked wheels - and I guess that balance would be pretty
important (ain't it always?)

Any thoughts welcome,
Dave H.
(The engineer formerly known as Homeless)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Rear Vmax tire? 

 >
 >Agreed, S, unfortunately no radials are available in the 150/90/15 ( so
 >I'm contemplating emptying my wallet and getting a conversion for the rear
 >wheel to a 17" or 18"
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Have you checked with <a style='text-decoration: underline;' href="http://www.kosman.net" target="_blank">www.kosman.net</a> he does Vmax rear wheel
conversions $550.00 rear wheel only (your wheel) plus S&H
that's for a 5.5" X 17"

S.Moore 94 Vmax
vmoa#1368



so I can run more modern (i.e. radial) tyres - a
 >popular mod in the UK, where the roads are somewhat twistier than in the
 >USA! Has anyone on the group tried this on a "take it to the local
 >engineering works / machine shop" basis, rather than sending it all off to a
 >VMax specialist and paying out $1000? I'd be interested to hear of any
 >pitfalls along the way, but I guess it involves:
 >
 >Taking a VMax rear wheel and machining the rim and spokes off;
 >taking the replacement wheel and machining out the original hub;
 >aligning 'em and tacking into place, then checking runout on a spindle with
 >DTI gauges etc;
 >making the final TIG welds to attach the two;
 >checking again;
 >cursing and starting over ;o)
 >
 >I'd guess that due to the size of the VMax hub and cushdrive, most superbike
 >wheels would be suitable, the majority of hubs seem substantially smaller!
 >Locally, there's a fella with his wheels converted - Thundercat front (with
 >a little machining for clearances etc), Thundercat rim and spokes on the
 >VMax hub rear.
 >
 >I guess that the accuracy of the alignment is pretty critical, but I've seen
 >new stock wheels on bikes that had as much as .075" runout both radially and
 >laterally (and occasionally more....), and the bikes seemed to handle OK....
 >in the past I've build trad wire-spoked wheels, and I've always aimed for a
 >max of .020" runout, and the wheels have felt smooth, no vibration, compared
 >to badly tensioned spoked wheels - and I guess that balance would be pretty
 >important (ain't it always?)
 >
 >Any thoughts welcome,
 > Dave H.
 >(The engineer formerly known as Homeless)<!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->
 >> Stay informed about: Rear Vmax tire?