Motoscrubs.com

Whilst out enjoying a ride on the MkIII during a break in the rainy season known as Springtime in Michigan, the vintage 1965 inner tube in the nearly equally old rear tire decided it was time to expire- not with a bang, but a fart and a wheeze.

Fortunately, I was on my way home and only had a half block to go, so I was able to enjoy the light weight of the Ducati single as I pushed it home.

As I was ambulating, I pondered my options:

1) Purchase a new tube, and install it in the circa 1967 rear tire. Advantage - Cheap and quick. Disadvantage: Still rolling on really old tires.

b) Purchase new tube and rear tire. Advantage - A little more, and a little safer. Disadvantage: 1965 front tire and tube

>) Purchase new tires and tubes, and get it over with. Advantage - Not dying at speed. Disadvantage: 2.50 - 18 and 2.75 - 18 tires no longer grow on trees (well, technically, they grow IN trees, if you wish to split hairs.)

Best option seems to be >), but what tires? I'm not restoring the bike, so I don't need exact Pirelli replicas, but I don't want to spoil the look of a basically original bike with a modern tread design.

So.

After all this typing, what I want to knlow is this:


What tires will give me a vintage look, with modern rubber compounds so I can ride the way I prefer (which is fast) and not worry about a hard as a rock tire slipping in the corners?

I bought some Michelins from Road and Race in Australia and I live in the USA. Don't be worried about shipping international (if you are in the US that explains why the tires are so hard to find.)

Tires aren't going to break in international transit, and they're highly unlikely to get "lost" as they are rather hard to misplace. Most vendors will just wrap some tape around a pair of tires. No need to box them.

As for shopping the UK or Italy or Australia, try spelling tire as "tyre" and a whole new world opens up to you.

You can see the Michelins M45 pattern on my MK3D here..

http://www.motoscrubs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=427

They seem to work well (although I haven't used them in the wet yet) and I quite like the look of them.

Kev

IRC GS11 come in sizes for the Duke. And are at least S rated, which is a good bit more than my 450 can achieve. So they are real motorcycle tires, not just big moped tires. I have 3.00x18 front and 3.50x18 rear. They have separate front/rear tread design. They also look more period than the recent high tech offerings. So if you aren't racing, they should serve you well. At the rate I ride my Duke, they will need replacing for age well before a tread wear issue occurs. I'm not saying that our old Dukes, can't benefit from modern rubber, but in the spirited riding I occasionally do on the twisty back roads of my area, the IRC's have never given me reason to worry. I also acknowledge that there are those whose spirited riding is on a different plane than mine, but you guys know who you are. of course it's no secret that there are those amongst us who must have the high zoot, high dollar stuff on our rides even if we never approach the limits.

http://www.irc-tire.com/mce/index.html

Dunlops maybe?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/vintage-k70/k81/tt100-tires/p2015093.jcwx?filterid=b1989c51715j3

Pete

Pete wrote:Dunlops maybe?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/vintage-k70/k81/tt100-tires/p2015093.jcwx?filterid=b1989c51715j3

Pete

Pete
will the 4.00 and 4.25 rubber fit under the Duke single fenders?

MotoMike wrote:

Pete wrote:Dunlops maybe?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/vintage-k70/k81/tt100-tires/p2015093.jcwx?filterid=b1989c51715j3

Pete

Pete
will the 4.00 and 4.25 rubber fit under the Duke single fenders?

I hadn't thought of that. My widecase has some fairly wide tires on it, but I think there is less room under the narrowcase fenders.

____ I've fitted 4.00 & 4.25 sized rear-tires on ALL models of 250 thru 450 DUKEs !
On the non-SCR models, the seat-bolts must be mounted with their threads outwards, and the wheel-rim must be kept perfectly true, or else the fatter tires will rub on the bolt-heads.
__ I really don't recommend larger than a 3.60-size on the non-SCR models.


DUKE-Cheers,
-Bob

Bridgestone bt45's are a pretty decent dual compound sport tire, they come in 90/90 18 front and 110/80 18 or 110/90 18 rear. According to a chart I have, 90/90 converts to 2.75/3.00 and 110/90 to 3.75/4.00, I have a set on wm3's and the front is about 3 3/8" wide, the rear 4 1/4".
The tread pattern isn't quite vintage/classic but not 'modern sportbike' to the extreme either. They were right around $150, to my door.

These guy's have them at a pretty good price with free shipping;
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/produ ... eAttr=5385


Bill

Heidenau Reifen has a number of vintage tread patterns in small sizes. I spoke with the U.S. rep at a recent vintage show in San Jose CA. He's very enthusiastic about the vintage market and the products he carrys. http://www.moto-amore.com/ I installed a K44 on my BMW and have been quite satisfied with the quality. You can also get Heidenau tires from Motohelp (Dave McGachan) another great vintage enthusiast. Matt W.