can i fit...? more tyre questions

[scroter]

just bought an RF900 and it comes standard with a 170/60/17 on the back. does anyone know if a 180/55/17 will fit? looking for chain clearance etc.

[James Deuce]

Don't! You'll just slow the steering up, for no return at all.

[Pwalo]

Check your owners manual, but I'm with Jim on this one. I've never had anyone recommend fitting wider tyres, although I know of a couple of guys who've gone the other way on their 1000 sports bike to help handling.

I'd say get the best tyres you can afford in the standard fitment size.

[Lou Girardin]

I had a 180 on mine. I don't know about steering effects, it was on when I got it.

[kiwifruit]

i have a 180/55 on my standard gsxr750 rim which im pretty sure is the same as the rf
pirelli didnt make the corsa in a 17 to fit my rim, apperantly
so they gave me the chance to try a 180 on there
if i wasnt happy they were gonna replace or refund etc.....
the curve is greater as the side walls have to pull in to fit the smaller rim,
in my opinion it turns in better now
smaller contact patch in a stright line tho

the overall curve is a better match between front and rear now i have the 180 on

so it can be done safely, id ask if a replacement or refund is ok b4 trying it
my 0.02
cheers, Allan.

[F5 Dave]

Overtyreing -if that’s a word & I’m pretty sure it isn’t, is a bad thing. The std is 170 & to run a 180 you need a 5.5” rim.

Which fortunately the RF has. I run Conti ForceMax in 180 on my RF (170 wasn’t available) but these tyres suit the bike quite well & are sticky enough for all but concerted fangs, but then the RF is a bit heavy to be getting serious on. Attacks will probably be better, but I'm going to stay with these, intended use & all that.

Only other point is some (all?) are very softly sprung on the rear. I threw on a stiffer rear spring & it helped turning quite nicely. As was with the missus on the back & she ain’t a porker, but I had to tilt the bike to get the sidestand up & it steered like a chopper. The 180 will raise the rear by a tiny amount too.

[loosebruce]

Scroter knows how to ride and he knows the affect of changing tyre sizes so he doesn't need to be told etc, all he wants to know is if it will fit, he'll try it and if he doesn't like it he will go back, reasoning, he'd have a lot more to choose from in the 180/55's. Judging by Lou's comment it'll fit, i can't see it affecting the bikes handling to badly at all.

What happened to the Gix Scort? and an RF what brought that on, you carrying the missus round or sumthang.

[MacD]

If you check out the various manufacturers fitment guides a lot of them will offer a 170/60 and a 180/55 option for the RF900. I've had 180/55's on the rear of my RF since I bought it and the steering seems fine, of course I haven't tried a 170/60 for comparison.

I'm currently running an Avon Azaro ST46 on the rear (and an Avon Viper Sport AV59 on the front) and I've been very impressed with it so far (~ 5500km) including a track day and return trip Akl-Wgtn-Akl. It's only just starting to square off and I carry a pillion quite often.

[Pixie]

Scroter knows how to ride and he knows the affect of changing tyre sizes so he doesn't need to be told etc, all he wants to know is if it will fit, he'll try it and if he doesn't like it he will go back, reasoning, he'd have a lot more to choose from in the 180/55's. Judging by Lou's comment it'll fit, i can't see it affecting the bikes handling to badly at all.

What happened to the Gix Scort? and an RF what brought that on, you carrying the missus round or sumthang.

It'll fit.The RF has the same wheels as the bandit,which is fitted with a 180/55 and the swing arm is nearly identical

[Zed]

I think i know why u want a 180 on the back hehe...i like my 190!

So yeah, what happened to the other gixxer dude? getting soft on us or what lol?

[White trash]

So yeah, what happen the the other gixxer dude? getting soft on us or what lol?

Nope. Just wanted an opportunity for 'Blade owners to think they could keep up for a while.....

[Zed]

Nope. Just wanted an opportunity for 'Blade owners to think they could keep up for a while.....

no comment.

[emaN]

I threw on a stiffer rear spring & it helped turning quite nicely.

Dave, tell me more!
What did you put in? Where from? How much?
Cheers!

[scroter]

thanks for the replys guys obviously it will fit. i didnt include enuf info in my question but loosebruce is on the nail. its way easier to get decent tyres in the 180 size. i knew it would fit on the rim i was mainly worried about clearance for the chain etc. as for riding the RF i reckon there are only 2 problems with it. 1 the seat isnt that good and 2 the most obvious is ground clearance but otherwise this bike is the ducks guts, i would go as far as saying on the road this is no slower than the gixxer (may even be faster) the track is where i think the sixxer would pull my pants down. i would reccomend this bike to a learner its os easy to ride. ta catachya bye

[F5 Dave]

I made a measuring tool with a press & a set of bathroom scales to measure my std spring. It was ~ 66kg/cm. Incidentally a friend’s bandit 12 was the same, or pretty close.

I found a slab-sider (‘G’ maybe) GSXR750 spring was um, 88kg I think & with a couple of collets to adapt it fitted on. Wider spring is ok in the linkage. The spring tapers in a bit so this is necessary. Have to get something made up to adapt, or you just order a spring from Racetech or similar. To get the old spring off be careful, they can bite if you try to lever, Use 4 long hoseclamps & clamp ~4 coils & slowly do them up so you can lift the collet out. Getting the oil changed gassed is a good idea.

This will help your clearance issue as the bike compresses under cornering & bumps. Also cut ~ 4 coils off the front springs & made longer spacers to stiffen the front.

While you are about it the thermostat is a joke, too cold & has 4 holes drilled in it so warms up too slowly for NZ conditions. I used a car one which is much hotter. Do a search for an old thread I did ages ago, had part no. etc.