Fat Front Tire?

[Gaevren]

So in my quest for the "perfect" bike (and I'm just going by aesthetics here, not reality or performance!) I came across something that got me drooling a little, but I started to wonder if it's really feasible or not.

Fat front tires! (http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/Search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=486508)

Now, the rest of that bike is just "ok" to me...I prefer a different body style, but I loved the look of the tires.

However, since I've never seen a bike with such a fat front tire, it begs the question...why not? Is the handling worse? Is it less safe? Less stable? Just plain more expensive? I have about a million theories as to *why* motorcycles aren't built this way, but I don't have the knowledge to really understand why for sure.

Anyone care to enlighten me? :D

[primalmu]

Handling will be much, MUCH worse. You'd better hope you live on the plains because straight highway riding will be all you'd be doing.

[Gaevren]

That was near the top of my list for possible reasons lol.

[Dodsfall]

The bike pictured is not meant for cornering sharply.

[point]

Lots of bikes are built more as a form of art work as opposed to functional street bikes. That bike is styled after a drag bike and would be good for little else.
When I go to bike shows I admire the work that went into those custom choppers but would never own one unless I just wanted to hang it on the wall.

[Weebel]

You can get away with the same size front tire as the rear when the rear tires is NORMAL sized.... (think fatboy) without huge side effects... buts theres no way I'de go that big..

[Badlands-4-2]

I have a large front tire on my Venture, but nearly that giant.

[plummen]

define wide front tire

[primalmu]

define wide front tire

...did you not bother to read the OP's post and click the link he provided?

[plummen]

...did you not bother to read the OP's post and click the link he provided?

nope,missed the link part of it. :biggrin:

[02cutominfl]

I think it looks pretty sweet, but I couldn't imagine how heavy the handlebars must feel especially while moving slowly in a parking lot. Better get some really fat crash bars to go with it.

[bdavison]

Im just waiting to see some trailer queen with a 300 on the front, and a 120 on the back.....you know somebody is bound to do it sooner or later. Launching some stupid new tire fad. HAHAHA

I have to admit, the wide tire front ends like the exile bikes do look nice, but I cant imagine what riding one is like.

[Gaevren]

...did you not bother to read the OP's post and click the link she provided?

:icon_cool:

[Mad Max]

So the handling would be terrible for city riding. What if it was a highway bike? Would there be any advantages? Would it be dangerous?

[Biker Dash]

The bike pictured is not meant for cornering sharply.

or at all for that matter.

To be honest, it's a case od Can it be done? Yes.
Should it be done? No.
It's like buying a Harley or being a troll. You can do it, but it wont get you no where.

[Mad Max]

Just to play devil's advocate, by the reasoning of skinnier tires being best for cornering etc, and cruisers have larger tires for highways, why would a fat front tire be bad for strictly highway riding?

[primalmu]

Because a wide tire like that would be hell to make the bike maneuver at any speed. Its also questionable as to whether or not it would add any highway stability anyway.

[Grok70]

The front being that large also adds wind resistance, so even as a highway bike it's going to waste a lot of gas pushing that thing through the soup.

[juanitotheclumsy]

So the handling would be terrible for city riding. What if it was a highway bike? Would there be any advantages? Would it be dangerous?

No problem until you have to dodge a rabbit.

[markk53]

I think it looks pretty sweet, but I couldn't imagine how heavy the handlebars must feel especially while moving slowly in a parking lot. Better get some really fat crash bars to go with it.

It's funny as heck to see the guys ride customs like that. I've seen them at BikeWeek, duckwalking around corners because either no clearance or the handling is total crap.

From experience, I can tell you going even one size over (from 100/90 to 110/90) can make a bike feel like a truck in a corner. From that experience I've used the knowledge to pick up the handling quickness and turn in by going down in profile (110/80 to 110/70) and also went smaller in width to quicken handling on a standard Gold Wing (from a 120/90 to a 110/90).

If you can afford to sacrifice for the look, that's peachy. If not, it hoses up handling - a lot... as was said.

[markk53]

So the handling would be terrible for city riding. What if it was a highway bike? Would there be any advantages? Would it be dangerous?

In my estimation on straight lining down the freeway, wider will have one plus - big footprint is harder to blow off track by winds. Wider has two disadvantages though - a bit more wind resistance, but probably neglegible since everything else is wider in front (forks, engine, boards, rider, etc). The other disadvantage that really affects things is the higher rolling friction of the bigger foot print.

[murphyshuman]

won't handle, if you want to go straight all the time fine, just don't try to turn unless you have a 10 acre field.