I've been cornering way to hard on my new WG. No chicken strips on either tire, but that's not hard considering the small contact patch on the skinny 21" front. How wide a 21 can you run on the stock rim without messing up the handling? I plan on switching to Metzeler 880's when the stockers are toast. BTW, this is my first 21" wheel on a bike. I've always had 19"s and 16"s except for a couple of 17" sport bike wheels mixed in. Thanks in advance.

Tim

 

I'd like to understand more. What do you mean cornering hard?
I've got over 10,500 miles on mine now. I haven't noticed any problem with the front wheel.

 

quote:I'd like to understand more. What do you mean cornering hard?
I've got over 10,500 miles on mine now. I haven't noticed any problem with the front wheel.

Sorry, I mean I've been cornering very aggressively, probably more aggressively then I should on such a skinny tire. The bike handles great, much better than I would expect from a cruiser with this chassis geometery. Again, has anyone tried a slightly wider front tire for more contact patch?
Tim

 

I'd say if someone makes a wider 21 that fits your rim width, give it a try.

Edit for spelling.

 

si just recently changed my first tires and went with the mets stock dunlops were 80/80 i have gone with the 90 series, up front big difference i also changed springs and lowered the front, rides and handles like a slot car now, i had 11000 miles on stock tires

 

I haven't found the front wheel to be a problem. I scrape exhaust and pegs all over and never had the front wheel lose it,OE dunlopor the new Metz 880 90/90.The new Metz though doesn't follow road cracks etc like the OE dunlop did.Metz does make a 120/70/21 not sure if it would fit one would need to measure.

 

The 90/90 Metzeler works fine on the stock wheel, I had one on mine. The 120/70 needs a 3-3.75" rim per Metzeler, the stock rim is 2.15". Don't know of anything between the 90/90 and 120/70, width-wise.

 

I was scraping the pegs (as usual) sometimes yesterday on the tires that came with the bike, right with my friend on his Ninja. Still lots of tread after 10,500. I have to admit though that I've never bought Dunlop as replacement tires.

 

I've heard on a raked-out bike, a wider tire will actually hurt your cornering ability. But I don't know what degree of rake they are talking about.

 

my goodness....how do you guys get that kinda mileage out of the stock tires? My rear is bald and I mean bald at 5500 miles and the front isn't far behind. Doing the penny test I can see all of old Abe's head. I do ride very aggressive mostly due to being a MX racer I am told by my buddies. The roads here must be way more abrasive.

It is scheduled for change Sat. as well as the 5K service.