Tires

TennesseeZ · 06-17-2012, 07:08 AM

Greetings

Hoping to get some advice on Bias Ply Tires / Tubes.
Bought new tires for my '75 Z1-B 900 a while back, havn't ridden it much but complained to my friends that the front end seemed to bounce, tires are stock size Bias ply "Kenda Challenger" front and rear.
My Buddy who restores vintage bikes and is an excellent mechanic Noticed "Bounce" in the front end
after making some repairs and taking the bike for a test ride. So....we pulled the front tire /rim off ....removed the tire and put rim on his "Truing Stand".... Rim is new . spokes new stainless, someone else had laced it up for me but after checking rim with a dial indicator it was off less than .004!! Darn near perfect.
Static balancing indicated less than 1/2 oz. of weight needed.
Reinstalled the front tire ( Kenda Challenger_) noticed that the tire seemed "Out Of Round".
Test ride confirmed..... still had the problem.
So....here is my question, I want to buy a new front tire and tube, Bias Ply, want the tread pattern to be compatible with the almost new Kenda Challenger on the rear,( we removed and checked the rear , it was perfect.) So if I am on a budget and want to spend around $100-$125 dollars for a new bias ply front tire and around $15-$20 for a new tube...agaain want the tire to be "Compatible" with the new Kenda Rear,...Suggesstions anyone?
Thanks TennesseeZ ED

markk53 · 06-17-2012, 11:22 AM

First off why not get the Kenda replaced. I had a similar problem with a Kenda bicycle tire. It got replaced.

Otherwise the best reasonable money tire you can get in my book is the Bridgestone Spitfire S11. A good quality good looking tire.

Good reviews too. I got the bike shop where I sold bikes to get them in back when they first came out in about 1986. Dual compound tread and reasonable pricing. We sold the heck out of them for everything. An excellent tire. I'm thinking a set can be had for under $200.

By the way Bridgestone counts their defective tires in PPM... parts per million! We never had a bad Bridgestone, heck some balanced with no weight.

Biker Dash · 06-17-2012, 01:34 PM

For a bike like that, I think I would recommend Pirelli MT66. I believe the stock size (in metric) would be 90/90-19 front and 120/90-18 rear. Had they had the appropiate size in the Night Dragon tires, that would be my recommendation, but they dont have that.

I run MT66 tires on my 90 Shadow 750, and I can tell you they are worth every penny. Excellent grip, and a pretty long life compared to the Dunlop 404 tires I used to have mounted.

murphyshuman · 06-17-2012, 02:08 PM

Agreed, the tire should be in warranty range and if it's out of round it should be replaced by the manufacturer.

06-17-2012, 07:08 AM	#1
TennesseeZ Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Seymour,Tennessee Posts: 203	Tires Greetings Hoping to get some advice on Bias Ply Tires / Tubes. Bought new tires for my '75 Z1-B 900 a while back, havn't ridden it much but complained to my friends that the front end seemed to bounce, tires are stock size Bias ply "Kenda Challenger" front and rear. My Buddy who restores vintage bikes and is an excellent mechanic Noticed "Bounce" in the front end after making some repairs and taking the bike for a test ride. So....we pulled the front tire /rim off ....removed the tire and put rim on his "Truing Stand".... Rim is new . spokes new stainless, someone else had laced it up for me but after checking rim with a dial indicator it was off less than .004!! Darn near perfect. Static balancing indicated less than 1/2 oz. of weight needed. Reinstalled the front tire ( Kenda Challenger_) noticed that the tire seemed "Out Of Round". Test ride confirmed..... still had the problem. So....here is my question, I want to buy a new front tire and tube, Bias Ply, want the tread pattern to be compatible with the almost new Kenda Challenger on the rear,( we removed and checked the rear , it was perfect.) So if I am on a budget and want to spend around $100-$125 dollars for a new bias ply front tire and around $15-$20 for a new tube...agaain want the tire to be "Compatible" with the new Kenda Rear,...Suggesstions anyone? Thanks TennesseeZ ED

06-17-2012, 11:22 AM	#2
markk53 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 3,300	First off why not get the Kenda replaced. I had a similar problem with a Kenda bicycle tire. It got replaced. Otherwise the best reasonable money tire you can get in my book is the Bridgestone Spitfire S11. A good quality good looking tire. Good reviews too. I got the bike shop where I sold bikes to get them in back when they first came out in about 1986. Dual compound tread and reasonable pricing. We sold the heck out of them for everything. An excellent tire. I'm thinking a set can be had for under $200. By the way Bridgestone counts their defective tires in PPM... parts per million! We never had a bad Bridgestone, heck some balanced with no weight. __________________ KLX650C, Zephyr 550 SR500, Bultaco Sherpa T

06-17-2012, 01:34 PM	#3
Biker Dash Site Brony and Troll Eater Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Waterville, Maine (USA) Posts: 7,643	For a bike like that, I think I would recommend Pirelli MT66. I believe the stock size (in metric) would be 90/90-19 front and 120/90-18 rear. Had they had the appropiate size in the Night Dragon tires, that would be my recommendation, but they dont have that. I run MT66 tires on my 90 Shadow 750, and I can tell you they are worth every penny. Excellent grip, and a pretty long life compared to the Dunlop 404 tires I used to have mounted. __________________ 03 Yahama V-max 03 Dodge Ram 1500

06-17-2012, 02:08 PM	#4
murphyshuman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Asheville NC Posts: 1,880	Agreed, the tire should be in warranty range and if it's out of round it should be replaced by the manufacturer. __________________ Murph

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search