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What tires for my 1985 R65?
- Thread starter judd
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- r65 tire profile
Welcome to the forum, judd! Is this a twin-shock R65? According to the specs, tires should be inch-sized, 3.25x18 in front and 4.00x18 in rear. Technically, inch-size is better for the geometry of the frame and how the bike stands up using the center stand and side stand. Personally, I think the 120mm rear tire is too big and presents problems getting the tire off the bike during maintenance. Even 110 is big...100mm converts better to 4.00 inches.
An 18-inch front tire is a little different, so don't know what the availability is for that. I'm running Michelin Pilot Activs on my /7, inch sized, though 19-inch in front. In the past, I've tried Avon Roadriders...I believe they also come in inch-sized.
I'm sure others will come along with their favorites.
An 18-inch front tire is a little different, so don't know what the availability is for that. I'm running Michelin Pilot Activs on my /7, inch sized, though 19-inch in front. In the past, I've tried Avon Roadriders...I believe they also come in inch-sized.
I'm sure others will come along with their favorites.
happy wanderer
Day Dreaming ...
Welcome here Judd. I see it's your first post. Help yourself out by clicking on your user name and filling out what bike(s) you have and where you are. This helps others help you find good things near you and for you.
Kurt just pointed out the original sizes for your bike are inch however I note that the R65 US manual states the sizes you posted. Kurt is right though, the 120 on the rear may be a tight fit!
Lots of folks are still running Lazertecs on their Airheads. Still available and still not a bad choice. Here are some other choices that are popular with Airheads right now.
- Continental Attack Classic I see these recommended on the Airlist often.
- Michelin Pilot Activ (I removed my old Lasertecs last spring and put these on. Have over 4K miles on them now and they are great all around tires and so far they are wearing quite well. I would not hesitate to recommend them now.)
- Metzeler Sportec Klassik is a new tire this year from Metzeler aimed at Airheads. A buddy of mine is trying them out and finds them very good indeed. He put them on same time as me roughly and so no end of life data yet but they are wearing well. Expensive though but they promise long life. ??
Not sure where you are and I know the US has a ton of tire stores so lots of comparison shopping available. I am in Canada and we are lucky enough to finally have a great internet tire supplier up here now too. Given the VERY favourable exchange rate these daze even if I were buying from the US I would check these prices out. They deliver free to my door in Canada but even if there are shipping charges they might still be a better buy right now.
https://fortnine.ca/en/motorcycle-tires
And no I have no interest in the company other than my interest in good tire deals.
So those are the three that I would look at. But like an oil thread, prepare for many other opinions!
Kurt just pointed out the original sizes for your bike are inch however I note that the R65 US manual states the sizes you posted. Kurt is right though, the 120 on the rear may be a tight fit!
Lots of folks are still running Lazertecs on their Airheads. Still available and still not a bad choice. Here are some other choices that are popular with Airheads right now.
- Continental Attack Classic I see these recommended on the Airlist often.
- Michelin Pilot Activ (I removed my old Lasertecs last spring and put these on. Have over 4K miles on them now and they are great all around tires and so far they are wearing quite well. I would not hesitate to recommend them now.)
- Metzeler Sportec Klassik is a new tire this year from Metzeler aimed at Airheads. A buddy of mine is trying them out and finds them very good indeed. He put them on same time as me roughly and so no end of life data yet but they are wearing well. Expensive though but they promise long life. ??
Not sure where you are and I know the US has a ton of tire stores so lots of comparison shopping available. I am in Canada and we are lucky enough to finally have a great internet tire supplier up here now too. Given the VERY favourable exchange rate these daze even if I were buying from the US I would check these prices out. They deliver free to my door in Canada but even if there are shipping charges they might still be a better buy right now.
https://fortnine.ca/en/motorcycle-tires
And no I have no interest in the company other than my interest in good tire deals.
So those are the three that I would look at. But like an oil thread, prepare for many other opinions!
Thank you Kurt and Happy!
Thank you Kurt! What a fantastic list. I moved to Texas from Sydney a couple years ago. My 2 owner 1985 R65 mono was serviced by the same dealership (Procycle) for the past 30 years, but I now find my nearest dealership has been in business for about 6 months and seems to only have experience in the new bikes they are selling. I so appreciate your sending me this list.
The Lasertecs in these sizes have been on the bike for at least 12 years that I am aware of, and I know the previous owner (my Sydney neighbor and original owner) ran them prior to the set on the bike when I bought it from him. It is a mono, and the service manager who took care of her for us never said anything about the rear size. I find the ride on these tires really nice and stable, and have ridden through some really horrible weather, so no problem with the model or sizes so far. My issue is wear as I note below.
And same thanks to you Happy! I really appreciate your advice, and will take care of these profile details as well as check out the tires.
I have been very happy with Lasertecs but last summer was so hot here that the soft bitumen on the country roads I ride on would get gooey and sticky. Ride across it on tires which are already hot, and it seemed to just peel the tread off them. I feel I lost a several years ride off tires that were brand new when I came over.
Thought I would see if there might be something else to look at which would stand up to the really hot roads any better. I will check these out.
Thank you, both.
Thank you Kurt! What a fantastic list. I moved to Texas from Sydney a couple years ago. My 2 owner 1985 R65 mono was serviced by the same dealership (Procycle) for the past 30 years, but I now find my nearest dealership has been in business for about 6 months and seems to only have experience in the new bikes they are selling. I so appreciate your sending me this list.
The Lasertecs in these sizes have been on the bike for at least 12 years that I am aware of, and I know the previous owner (my Sydney neighbor and original owner) ran them prior to the set on the bike when I bought it from him. It is a mono, and the service manager who took care of her for us never said anything about the rear size. I find the ride on these tires really nice and stable, and have ridden through some really horrible weather, so no problem with the model or sizes so far. My issue is wear as I note below.
And same thanks to you Happy! I really appreciate your advice, and will take care of these profile details as well as check out the tires.
I have been very happy with Lasertecs but last summer was so hot here that the soft bitumen on the country roads I ride on would get gooey and sticky. Ride across it on tires which are already hot, and it seemed to just peel the tread off them. I feel I lost a several years ride off tires that were brand new when I came over.
Thought I would see if there might be something else to look at which would stand up to the really hot roads any better. I will check these out.
Thank you, both.
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120/90-18 is correct for a monoshock rear, or at least it was for a monoshock '86 R80 that I used to ride (RIP). H-rated Pilot Activs have worked well for me on my '84 twin-shock bike, after a couple of sets of Lasertecs weather-checked in short order. I don't know how the Michelins do in extreme heat, though, (we don't see many days over 90F, here in Michigan), and the results may differ in the V-rated sizes that I'm seeing available for your rear tire.
