 Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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As someone who exclusively rode Harleys, and collected everything that had anything to do with Harleys for many years, I am struck by how odd some of them look.
I was behind a monster bagger this morning with its skinnya$$ ridiculously thin rear tire for such a large bike (over 700 pounds). These people must never have looked at their bikes from the rear. With that wide rear end, and that skinny tire in the middle, they look silly.
I really think the designers at Triumph broke the code with the Bonny. That 170 mm rear meat looks perfectly matched to the bike. Of course I wouldn't complain if it was slightly wider - say 180mm.
Beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder, but I think our machine is the nicest looking motorcycle made! I still can't stop myself from going out into the garage an looking at it a couple times a day.
Pedal Till You Puke
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I'll agree that the rear of the BA/SM, with it's semi-fat tyre, is as sweat a visual design as you'll find. However, there are some handling benefits associated with less than huge rubber. Also, after buying about three replacements, I sometimes wonder if the visual appeal is worth the cost of a 170 Metz.
Speaking of visuals and tyres - A contradiction, in my mind, would be a mid 50's to mid 60's Sporty - Skinny tyres for sure, but an eyefull of beauty to me.
2004 Triumph Speedmaster (J Lo) 2006 Yamaha Stratoliner (Adele)
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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This Bonny sure handles better than any Harley I have ever ridden, and I have ridden my share of about everything they build with the exception of the Sporty.
Having said that, I always did love the looks of the old Sportys!
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder, but I think our machine is the nicest looking motorcycle made! I still can't stop myself from going out into the garage an looking at it a couple times a day.
I sit on my Speedmaster every day, whether I'm riding it or not. 
Kevin - Luceo Non Uro
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Quote:
Quote:
Beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder, but I think our machine is the nicest looking motorcycle made! I still can't stop myself from going out into the garage an looking at it a couple times a day.
I sit on my Speedmaster every day, whether I'm riding it or not.
Thanks Kevin, I didn't want to admit it, but I do the same! 
Pedal Till You Puke
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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My buddy was cleaning his Road King yesterday and he had the bags of it. I parked my SM next to it after I gave it a polish and the Road King looked a little odd sans bags, When we compared rear tyre sizes mines bigger...not that i'm into measuring up or anything like that 
...yes, that is a single seat...no, I will not put the other seat on...yes, I am selfish...yes, you should buy your own bike
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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I was amazed when I bought my bike in '02 that my two closest Harley-riding buddies at the time, one with an '02 Road Glide and the other with an '01 Dyna, were both running 135 rear tires. Especially on that bagger they looked TINY. I rolled up on my brand new TBA and it looked nicely balanced front to rear. 
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Yes, 135 mm rear meats look ridiculous on a large bagger! One of the things that immediately impressed me about the '02 Bonny when I first went to see one was the rear tire size - it was like the signature on a great painting.
Pedal Till You Puke
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Quote:
This Bonny sure handles better than any Harley I have ever ridden, and I have ridden my share of about everything they build with the exception of the Sporty.
But, that was also true when a Triumph came with a 4.75/18 and Harleys came with a 6.00/16. Also, my Night train came with a bigger rear tire, a 200, (think that's around 8.00 in real numbers)and it doesn't handle better than my Triumph.
Truth is, I'm getting tired of this fatmania. It's getting as extreme as the gumband tire craze on the fartmobiles.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Well, I guess the only thing that gets me about the fat mania is that the new preferred ride of the yuppies is now the (so called - most don't have a clue what a real chopper is) chopper with the obligatory monster rear tire.
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
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When I moved to NY, my landlord had a fatboy. He was helping me unload my bike from the truck, and the first thing he said was "Is that the stock tire?"
Benny
Black & Silver '02
Too many mods to list
Not enough miles ridden
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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When I moved to NY, my landlord had a fatboy. He was helping me unload my bike from the truck, and the first thing he said was "Is that the stock tire?"
No wonder - the alleged "Fat Boy" has a 150mm rear tire - I would call that a "Skinny Boy" for such a big bike!
Pedal Till You Puke
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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...Truth is, I'm getting tired of this fatmania. It's getting as extreme as the gumband tire craze on the fartmobiles.
+1. I havent riden a "big" tyre bike but I dont think it would be a pleasant experience having to tip a 300mm into a corner with a skinny on the front. Still most of them arent for going around corners..or anyware for that matter
...yes, that is a single seat...no, I will not put the other seat on...yes, I am selfish...yes, you should buy your own bike
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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I was noticing this in the driveway last week...had the BA and the Bagger out to prep and wash for a trip, checking tire pressure. Yup the look from the rear comparing them is quite different. I just attribute it to the newer disign of the BA, and HD keeping the line basically the same over the years. I like both. A man(Oops, I meant person!) can NEVER have too many motorcycles... Add another 1 to the fattirephenomenomreject.
later, Tom.
But, what do I know?
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 Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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Anyone remember the Yamaha BW350 Big Wheel? When the fat tires are on both wheels, it actually handles pretty well.
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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My Brother, a Dyna owner, was very jealous to see my Speedy and the fat rear tire he can't have. He tried to get something bigger, but was limited by the fender and the belt drive.
Gerry
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
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And THEN...one can overdo it a bit.
Take a look at the new Victory Hammer. A very nice machine, that looks as if it could actually be somewhat fun in the twisties(for a cruiser).
And what do those yo-yos at Victory do? They put a friggin' 250 tire on the rear. TWO-friggin'-FIFTY!!!
Anybody ever actually try TURNING a bike that has TOO MUCH rear tire???
It's called...."PLOWING" the front end, and making the bike want to stand up in turns.
And ALL because it..."looks cool".
Yep! Just like a good Single Malt Scotch, you might call me "an acquired taste" TOO.(among the many OTHER things you may care to call me, of course)
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Reminds me of the "Big Dog" salesman who told me "These things turn easily and make great over the road bikes"
Yea right. Their fine from bar to bar.
"Proud to be an Infidel" ... "100% pure American Jingoist"
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Another "americanata" like we use to say in Italy. "americanata" = something crazy/strange/stupid/exagerated (choose you preffered adjective) that only an american can do. Now this is the trend of the big rubber. We can only hope that it'll finish soon, and will come the trend of the elegant and intelligent. For me and for lot of experts in bikes and mechanics 150 is the right size for a cruiser. 160-170 is a bit nicer but not necessary. And 170/180 radial low profile is right for a sport bike that needs a bit more traction and precise feeling to put on the road. When an american see that 170 is a bit more nice looking than 150, he will think that 200 can be better, and 250 must be even better!  Sometimes I think must be something megalomaniac into some american cultures... I only come from another culture and am just tring to understand why some things is USA are so strange...  Am I offending you?
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Next we will be comparing the books of Italian war heroes versus American war heroes. Unfortunately, the former can only be found in the mineature book section.
Pedal Till You Puke
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Yeah Rambo, Commando and the best one Walker Texas Ranger!!!
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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hey...play nicely... different countries (continents) different views...
I also believe a tyre can be too big... or too small. I can't believe the Hardly is even stable with their tyres let allow put the 'power' to the ground.
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel... 
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel... 
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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hey...play nicely... different countries (continents) different views...
I also believe a tyre can be too big... or too small. I can't believe the Hardly is even stable with their tyres let allow put the 'power' to the ground.
Harley and power? What power? 
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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that's why there's the ' marks around it.... 
Gina
03 America - Pretty stock - except the TBS wheel...
06 America - missing, presumed in bits. With it's TBS wheel...
09 America - It's very blue....
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Quote:
Next we will be comparing the books of Italian war heroes versus American war heroes. Unfortunately, the former can only be found in the mineature book section.
Italian war heroes's list is made of unknown names who have fighted without money, poor armies, and crude hands if necessary, eating rats and dogs, ignoring rain and snow, to defend their own country against nazism and dictatorships.
Your american war heroes are people who have "played" outdoors into other countries and have never known what does it means to have the invasor at home.
USA has never had an indoors war before 9/11 (if it's a real terrorist attack and not an organized event for economical and political reasons by an economical power that oppress USA from inside, like lot of people think both in USA and outside)...
And anyway the first real american heroes have been the policemen and firemen dead in that events than any other technologically armed man sent by your government in every war USA has "played" outdoors.
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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Robert,
I am deeply offended by your America bashing remarks.
This forum is not the place for it.
On Monday, we in the USA celebrated Memorial Day to honor the
brave men and women of our country who made the greatest
sacrifice of all for freedom.
If it was not for American "Heros" like my Mom and Dad,
And the rest of "the greatest generation" that served in
the United States Armed Forces in World War II,
You would be speaking German, or Russian.
Respectfully,
Charles Coe
A proud American
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Joined: Jul 2006
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
Am I offending you?
No. were pretty think skinned here, too. What you are experiencing is ethnocentricism. It's common- most everyone experiences it. It stems from limited exposure to other cultures. Since your culture is you measuring stick, anything that is different would be, for lack of a better word- odd and there for inferior, nonsense, strange, etc.
2002 Bandit 1200/ GSXR cams/ 1277 BB Kit/ Holeshot header and can/ 38mm flatslides/ a good head/lotsa hp/lotsa tq- lots of rear tires...
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Big Bore
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Big Bore
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Am I offending you?
That is your intention and I strongly suggest you refrain.
Gina, this is not a 'different culture/views' trying to understand. This is deliberate baiting. We've seen 'Robert' pull this crap before. I also understand the American member's reactions. You would do the same if what you know and love was attacked. Those attacks don't happen around here because the majority of our members have too much respect for each other.
In mechano's case, he has no respect for anyone.
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity" - Robert Heinlein
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
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Quote:
Italian war heroes's list blah blah blah
What the ****** does this have to do with Harley tire sizes?
HA! I slipped that on in under the padlock...
Last edited by FriarJohn; 05/31/2007 9:52 AM.
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Re: Skinny rear tires on Harleys
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Am I offending you?
You're getting there.... why? is that your goal?
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