wide tire handling
Tourer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 362
Likes: 1
From: RI
RE: wide tire handling
ORIGINAL: dog155
You wide tire advocats take a ride and see if you can keep up with me.Then we will all know for sure.I would be more than happy to prove a point.Dog
You wide tire advocats take a ride and see if you can keep up with me.Then we will all know for sure.I would be more than happy to prove a point.Dog
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 12,946
Likes: 32
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: wide tire handling
My only experience was a test ride on a victory kingpin with a 240 in the rear. Felt like a lumbering steam roller going down the road, and when I went into my first corner, it felt like it was fighting the idea of turning.[&o]
I like my 150 in the back of my Superglide. Only "mushy" feeling is from the swingarm bushings.[
]
~Joe
I like my 150 in the back of my Superglide. Only "mushy" feeling is from the swingarm bushings.[
]~Joe
Stage I
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Lehighton, PA
Handling vs Sporty
To the guy who said his wide tire handles as well as his wife's sporty, has she ridden your ride, and does she feel the same? I currently have an 02 Sporty and am considering upgrading to an 08 V-Rod but that wide 240 tire is making me hesitate. I keep hearing it's tough on turns. I'm on the short side so I'd have to change out the seat and pull the foot controls back which makes it difficult to test ride before I buy.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
I have tried a couple one with 127" and 250 tire,the other a 155" and a 300 tire.the handling on both of them was to say the least Scary! My riding style dictates two tires close to the same size.For a cruiser/dragster, and a little time to get used to the beasts,they look cool.The only way to ever know if it will fit your style is throw a leg over one of them.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 185
Likes: 4
From: MY
Originally Posted by 2blackbelts
First of all the ride, as it relates to the size of the tire, also depends on rake, trail, extension, frame geometry and build, etc., and whether you're running a left side or right side tranny
Does anyone know how a 250 rear on a 1996 FXSTC Softail Custom would feel and handle, assuming everything is left stock? Looking at a Heartland Conversion if I get this bike and the only choices are a 180 or a 250 (200 would have been my preferred choice)
Any feedback much appreciated
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 15,705
Likes: 22,718
From: Farmington ,MS
The size of the rear tire has little to nothing to do with how the bike handles...period. The reason a lot of people think that is, most wide tire bikes are raked out...which changes the handling drastically. Plenty of sport bikes have a 240 rear, and will out handle any Harley made. I have had a 130, 200, and 250 on the same bike...and still have the stock rake...didn't really make any difference in the way the bike handled. I would look hard at the $995 250 tire kit on ebay before springing for the heartland...that is what's on this bike and I was pleased with the quality...there are also several 200 tire kits out there that are very good.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Softail-...1e0849&vxp=mtr
http://www.ebay.com/itm/For-Softail-...1e0849&vxp=mtr
Last edited by Tom84FXST; Mar 26, 2013 at 05:44 PM.