Slick options for F3 250

[sharp2183]

Looking at the options for changing to slicks for this season, but need some advice as to sizing etc.

I have an MC21 NSR250. Still running the stock size wheels. 110/70/17 front with a 150/60/17 rear. Currently I have been using supercorsas which are good, but looking to see if there are slick options for these sizes. I don't want to go oversize as I'm against the idea of having tyre on the edges that I can never use.

Anyone have any advice?

[koba]

Slicks for 125's are designed to fit 2.5" front and 3.5" rear rims. I'd look towards that, maybe larger on the rear would help but I'm not sure what's on offer before you get into 600SS size.
Easton seemed to do OK on the skinny rear rim...

[steveyb]

Bridgestone do slicks for the 250 proddy 2-strokes in those sizes.
Do not be tempted to run a 120 front, it is too big.
Call Jay at Whites Wholesale to discuss options.
Or he will answer here.

[sharp2183]

Bridgestone do slicks for the 250 proddy 2-strokes in those sizes.
Do not be tempted to run a 120 front, it is too big.
Call Jay at Whites Wholesale to discuss options.
Or he will answer here.

Yeah exactly, I have used a 120 front before and it worked ok, but was crap compared to the 110.

What is Jay's name on here, I'll flick him a message now. Cheers

[steveyb]

Jayracer I think it is.

[neil_cb125t]

I run std sized ZXR400 rims on my F3 bike - what size is your front rim? The Dunlop 160 rear slick is the best out there by far, but the most expensive. I run the 120 front and have no problems but im sure my front rim is 3.0 inch. The 160 is a tad wide on the rear rim ( I really need a 5.0 inch) but the profile of the slicks still work fairly well........at taupo anyway :-)

[sharp2183]

I run std sized ZXR400 rims on my F3 bike - what size is your front rim? The Dunlop 160 rear slick is the best out there by far, but the most expensive. I run the 120 front and have no problems but im sure my front rim is 3.0 inch. The 160 is a tad wide on the rear rim ( I really need a 5.0 inch) but the profile of the slicks still work fairly well........at taupo anyway :-)

Yeah my front is 3.0, rear is 4.5. I've used a 120 racetec in the past and the profile was definitely not right. It seems to be a mission to find a 110 front...

[richban]

Yeah my front is 3.0, rear is 4.5. I've used a 120 racetec in the past and the profile was definitely not right. It seems to be a mission to find a 110 front...

I have just been looking at the all this quite close. Building an RGV for the track at the moment. The other thing you have to look closely at is what the tires are doing to the trail of the bike. MC21's are a fantastic handling bike. Loads of front end feel and they turn so nice and quick. Compared to an RGV anyway. Running the wrong rubber can mess that up heaps. I will be sticking to good dot rubber 110 and 150.

[Drew]

Jayracer37 is the man to talk to.

The Bridgestone slicks are made specifically for the 250 proddy bikes of old I believe.

I know of one guy who had a meltdown at a bike shop, because his mate told him differently to this. But Jay knows his shit and the guy in question is as slow as a wet week anyway, and could run on cross ply tires without sacrificing his lap times at all.

[richban]

Jayracer37 is the man to talk to.

The Bridgestone slicks are made specifically for the 250 proddy bikes of old I believe.

Its funny the wets are in the 110 and 150 size's and are speced with the correct rim size of rim. But I can't find any reference on a Bridgestone site that lists a slick tyre for a 250 or 400 with a 3" front and a 4.5 rear.

Happy to be proved wrong as I would buy them.

[Drew]

Its funny the wets are in the 110 and 150 size's and are speced with the correct rim size of rim. But I can't find any reference on a Bridgestone site that lists a slick tyre for a 250 or 400 with a 3" front and a 4.5 rear.

Happy to be proved wrong as I would buy them.

I'm sure your mate with the Tyga RGV and Jay had a conversation about it. I might have misheard, but I'm confident Jay said the 160 was spot on for the rear hoop on the RGV.

[richban]

I'm sure your mate with the Tyga RGV and Jay had a conversation about it. I might have misheard, but I'm confident Jay said the 160 was spot on for the rear hoop on the RGV.

Not sure what they talked about. None of my issue.

[sharp2183]

Its funny the wets are in the 110 and 150 size's and are speced with the correct rim size of rim. But I can't find any reference on a Bridgestone site that lists a slick tyre for a 250 or 400 with a 3" front and a 4.5 rear.

Happy to be proved wrong as I would buy them.

That's exactly what I found when searching. Seems a bit stupid.

I agree with your earlier comment about not wanting to mess up the feel of the bike. I've put a lot of effort (and money!) into the suspension so don't want to throw it away with tyres that aren't right just because they are slicks.

But if there were some that fit, I would be very interested...

Oh and Drew, quite a few of the older 250s run a 3.5 inch front (which suits the 120 just right), but early RS250, RGV, and all NSRs run the smaller rims. So could be the case that they are in fact designed for the later bikes? Maybe? I hope to be wrong on that.

[Drew]

Oh and Drew, quite a few of the older 250s run a 3.5 inch front (which suits the 120 just right), but early RS250, RGV, and all NSRs run the smaller rims. So could be the case that they are in fact designed for the later bikes? Maybe? I hope to be wrong on that.

I was more talking about the rear 160. I didn't pay attention to the talk about the front tyre, I ran a 120 on the front of an RGV VJ22. I wasn't very fast on the track on the thing, was mint on the road though.

[richban]

That's exactly what I found when searching. Seems a bit stupid.

I agree with your earlier comment about not wanting to mess up the feel of the bike. I've put a lot of effort (and money!) into the suspension so don't want to throw it away with tyres that aren't right just because they are slicks.

I know people do run the 120 and 160 on the 3 and 4.5 rims. I would like to try them both but as I am a cheap ass I may never know.

I used to have some nice Honda RS250 Marchesini Magnesium wheels under the bench that would solve your problem. 3.5 and 5.5. They were so light it was stupid. The front was 2.5kg or something and the rear was amazing as well. They pop up on ebay every once in a while.