| Author | Message | ||
     Tattoo72 |
I'm ready to buy some new sneakers for my bike. I've read where some people have switched to a 190 rear. Anyone here have some input on this? Any better handling to be had? Thanks, Jim G. | ||
| Mnbueller |
I am not sure on this, but. I think the only reason to go to the 190 is for a wider looking rear, its purely asthetic. You may actually reduce your cornering ability, althought again, I'm not sure. Just trying to recall what I read from some of the earlier posts about the 190 rear. | ||
| Andymnelson |
Jonathan, in theory you are correct. When you put a wider tire on the same width rim, you change the curve of the tire making it more difficult for the out portion of the tire to make contact with the road. Yes it is done for purely aesthetic reasons. In reality however, if you're on the track you will not notice the difference. I have run a 190 on many bikes with no issues. And the 190 fits the XB without problem too. | ||
| Wardamneagle |
Go with the 180 for sure. That is what the bike was designed for and what it will handle best with. | ||
| Slaughter |
Going to the 190 changes not just the contact patch and turn-in but also changes the geometry by raising the rear. That ALSO makes the steering a little more "twitchy" but slows the tipover capability... it just gives a weird feel if you can't change ride height. If you have a racing shock that can have ride height adjustment, it's not such a big deal. The 190 will FIT - but really doesn't do anything for you and face it, if you're looking for a "meaty" look, it really doesn't change the looks all that much. IF you can get a really sweet deal on the 190, just get it but if you ride the bike hard, it WILL change the handling in weird ways... but if you're not riding hard in turns, you probably won't notice a thing (the above personal opinion only - worth half what you just paid for it!!) (Message edited by slaughter on April 28, 2009) | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
190's vary in size. I rode a Dunlop 190 race tire on my nephews XB nine. It slowed the bike down, made it unstable at high speeds, touched the belt with the little balls of rubber that came off of it. Some street 190's are smaller, but none of them improve performance in any way, IMHO. Tested at Willow. Don't recommend it. | ||
| Biff |
Go with the 180 for sure. That is what the bike was designed for and what it will handle best with. -Wardamneagle ok... this is not directed at you, and I am in no way trying to be disrespectful... but I get so annoyed when people say "it was designed as..." I say... SO!? our bikes were designed with a fully closed in airbox... they were designed with a highly restrictive muffler... they were designed without a catch can... they were designed with (insert other generic modification we all do). I don't have experience on a 190 on a buell... and I don't know the answer. all I am saying is don't be afraid to try new things, and stray from the 'design' of the original creator. we are not all 'purists'... nor should we be. end rant. sorry... not directed at you, but I see statements like this, and it is a bit of a pet peeve of mine. | ||
| Andymnelson |
"Going to the 190 changes not just the contact patch and turn-in but also changes the geometry by raising the rear" Actually, a 180/55 (stock size) is taller than a 190/50 (what you would replace it with), and when you squeeze it on the rim, they end up almost exactly the same height. Don't believe all the hype- it doesn't change that much...like I said, I've done it on all my bikes... (Message edited by andymnelson on April 28, 2009) | ||
| Js_buell |
Other minimal thing about going with a 190 is rotating mass, yes there isn't much of a difference but still the 190 will be a bit heavier then the 180, which will be causing a different handling. | ||
| Kbaddict |
Here's an article I just read yesterday. http://www.sportrider.com/tech/tires/146_0206_tire _size/index.html | ||
| Slaughter |
(too much time on my hands at work today so forgive the long-winded blathering response that follows - the following is OPINION - YMMV) Yessiree - IF you get a 190/50, it WILL be pretty close to what you now have in a 180/55. The problem is that people think that putting a 190 tire onto a wheel designed for a 180 tire - will make it look fatter when the opposite might be true. Same for the guy putting a 180/55 onto his 170/60 (like my S3) - you CAN do it... I do it on my S3 because I use take-offs all the time on my S3 and I don't ride very "spiritedly" on the street. The two numbers separated by the "/" are width(mm)/Aspect Ratio. (Aspect ratio being the height divided by width x 100) Generally speaking, the 180 tire is goes onto a 5.5 inch rim and the 190 goes onto a 6 inch rim. The aspect ratio is the number that determines how "tall" the tire would be on the correct rim. If you mount a 190/50 you'll be pretty close to stock because it will be "squeezed" back up closer to a 55 aspect ratio. For racing, the common "190" sizes are 190/60 and 190/65 - those sizes will raise the rear end UP a fair amount if you squeeze them onto a rim that's a half inch narrower. This "tall" profile means that you aren't sacrificing "turning performance" by putting a fatter tire down on the pavement... think of it as being kinda/sorta more "triangular" - you don't NEED rubber on the road when the bike is straight up and down, you need rubber on the road when you're leaned over (unless you're drag racing) If you can find the 190/50 tire, you probably won't notice any difference but if you buy a "taller" tire like a 190/60 or a 190/65 and then squeeze it onto a 5.5 inch wheel, it will make your handling a bit "funny." | ||
| Xbgeorge |
I like my 190 better than the 180. My turn in is alot smoother than before. It was really twitchy before, but now rolls into the turns. I like it better, but a more experienced rider might prefer the 180 on the track. Most liter bikes use a 190 now. | ||
| Andymnelson |
It's a good opinion. Mine is that it won't have any negative affects and gives a bit of a wider appearance. In direct response to your question Jim: no, in my experience there is not better handling to be had, but not any worse for street use either. | ||
| Bads1 |
Slaughter, I have a 190/50 on Last Laugh and a 180/55 of the same brand Michelin on my wifes 9. I can stand back or get right up close. No matter I can tell night and day between the two. | ||
| Xbmacon |
ok I went backwards from most, I bought the bike with a 190/55 and changed to a 180/55 (both Conti sport attacks). The change effected the handling a good bit in my opinion. It felt absurdly stable with the 190 and "twitchy" with the 180. It is taking some getting used to. Better description may be that it was "more forgiving" with the 190 and "more responsive" now with the 180. This may just be me though. | ||
| Teh_nub |
My XB12Ss became more stable on the interstate and also had better/quicker turn-in going to the 190/50 rear. I also don't have the same "stand up" under hard corner braking either. As far as weight, my bike pulled wheelies much easier going to the 190. I didn't weigh my old tire or the new one so who knows if there is any difference in the total weight of each. Could also be a difference in the overall diameter, or contact patch and the stock tire was slipping a little, who knows... Bottom line I saw better performance and handling going to the 190 then I had ever had in the life of the bike and 180 rear. I think a lot of people aren't looking at what make/model tire they are putting on to begin with. I have a 190 Pilot Road and since it's a sport touring tire, the profile isn't as aggressive as the pilot power. However, starting off with an aggressive race tire, I could see it getting unstable since squeezing the tire is making a steeper profile. | ||
| Zatco81 |
Anybody that has made the change have any before & after pics? | ||
| Jraice |
I wouldnt do it unless you have a reason to (to use a specific tire). I have read of it done for aestic reasons in the past with the Ninja 250 but that thing has a TINY rear tire. These bikes already have a proportional tire, the 180 is the norm of most super sports, it looks fine. I have also seen it done on some other bikes (I believe the SV650 is one of them) that have 160 rear tires and a 180 is used (usually a new rim is used but I think I have read of them being squeezed on as well) because the tire they want (usually a sportier tire) is not made in 160. I cant think of a good reason to do the 190 on the buell though. Teh_nub, did you change from tire model "X" 180 to model "X" in 190? If not then your analysis is not worth much as there are really no two tires out there (makes of tire) that feel exactly the same. | ||
| Bads1 |
You can't give a bad reason to do it either. I have two S's both run the same brand and one is 190 the other a 180. They both feel identical. I've been running a 190 on my Last Laugh for 5 years now. Can honestly say it will stay that way. I can be honest I did it for appearance on that bike but found no real difference. If I put a 190/55 on instead of the 190/50 that is on it I may find a difference. But I didn't want a taller looking tire. | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
I have my second set of 190's on my bike, the Conti Force Max. The first pair were Conti Road Attack. I love how it feels. I have been on the track with both sets of tires and they hold like glue. The bike seems to roll easier, their great in rain, great on the track. My only problem with the 190's is I can't get rid of the chicken strip like I could on the 180's. (but from what I hear from the BOYS, that's OK) IMHO it's a personal preference. Go with what feels good. | ||
| Tattoo72 |
Well I bit the bullet today and purchased some new sneakers. I bought Bridgstone Battlax BT016's. Bought them online from Motosport.com for $250 delivered. After reading a few articles online I went with the 180 rear. | ||
| Dgrobels |
can a 200 tire fit, Im looking for an inexpensive tire and tomahawk makes them pretty cheap and they only have 200`s in stock right now. | ||
| Js_buell |
Dgrobels look for the thread about tomahaks tire here in the xboard you might change your mind. | ||
| Buellinachinashop |
The new Duc 1198 comes stock with a 190. | ||
| Jraice |
+1 Js. I would rather save up my money and get good tires even if that meant not riding for a while. What type of riding do you do? They are rather pricey but I have decided when I make my change Ill be getting Pilot Road 2's. You get the hard road compound in the center with a softer edge (might be the pilot compound, not sure) and the overall shape is a bit more rounded then the sharp Pilot Power, but I hear it feels great, very stable in turns and turns in just fine. That tire will last a lot longer then a sport tire but for street riding will give your near sport tire performance up until you get to slow track speeds. Again thats a pricey tire but the mileage/grip ratio is very high. You bought a buell, not a super cheap motorcycle and not a poor handling motorcycle, dont cheap out and make it a poor handling expensive motorcycle. Only bikes I'd put a tomahawk on personally are those that are not intended to be good handling bikes, and even then I'd look into some more trusted shoes for my ride. | ||
| Teh_nub |
If you look at miles per dollar spent, the pilot road and pilot road 2 have the best value even with the higher initial price. This is coming from my local tire guy that puts all different brands on all types of bikes and people with different riding styles and consistently see's the Michelin's last longer. | ||
| Lighting |
Working on my second 190 and to be honest, didn't notice a difference between the 180-190, at least for street use and believe me I have push it pretty hard. |
