Finally installed 130/90/16 front tire

[rocket51]

Just put on my 130/90/16 tire today and my bike handles so much better in turns now. I am looking forward to racking up some miles with new tire. The tire is a Michelin Commander.

 

[Greeny]

Thinking of doing the same when the front tyre needs changing

 

[peter k]

Greeny that's a big jump from 150 to a 130 I'm running a 140 on the front and that is a noticeable difference.

 

[laraza]

More info please. 'handles so much better in turns now' what does that mean? Does it steer more quickly? drop into turns more easily? are you able to hold a tighter line? is braking affected? does it feel as planted? sorry just thinking about this mod but one persons 'handles better in turns' might be anothers 'front end feels twitchy'

 

[rocket51]

I will give more info after I have put some miles on it. I only took it for a short spin after I finished installing last nite.

 

[rocket51]

The 130/90 looks good on the bike. It looks better than the 150 and is very close to the the same size. My calculation was that it was going to be 3mm shorter but on the bike it seems higher probably because it is new. It doesn't look much narrower although should be 20mm, it gives a less bulky look. I am use to running 130/70/18's and 17's on front, the Rocket is the first 150 wide front tire I've owned. I will let you know more later today if it doesn't start raining.

 

[rocket51]

he rocket leans into turns now without any effort where as before I had to use effort and it felt unstable. I can now go into curves and turns with much more confidence. The Metz 150 I had on the bike had some irregular tread wear which might have caused problems with the bigger tire. So far I am very happy with the new tire. I thought it might take care of the high speed vibration but the vibration is still there, maybe not as bad. I think the motor causes the vibration which I feel in the hand grips at 80mph and it increases with more speed, the fastest I have been is 120mph.

 

[barbagris]

load and speed ratings?

 

[rocket51]

H speed rating which I believe is 139mph and weight max is 805 lbs.

 

[rocket51]

I didn't see a higher speed rating on the Michelin Commander and 120 is about the top end on my bike. I hope to get Wayne's down load to get more power but even then I don't think I will be doing much over 120mph because of vibration. Do others have vibration in grips when doing excess of 80mph?