Top_Speed1
Panama Canal Crosser
No this is not a darksider move by any means, it's a real motorcycle tire 
So in my experimental and inquisitive mind I was at my dealers about a month ago and was checking out a VMax getting a new 200/50 on the back. I was like wow, that's a nice "fatty" and the mechanic said "yeah it's the norm on a Max but you probably could upsize to it if you wanted". Got my wheels turning (pun intended) but noticed the rear arm (RH) pretty close already on my '09 FJR. I asked in this forum about going halfway to a 190 and got a response back from my bud Fred W. that it would probably be OK and got a "hey, at least it's not a square tire!" comment from him lol. I also read (& posted on a 190/50 thread) and found the 55 to be a bit taller (190x55). Got my wheels turning again! On highway speeds I think I'm winding way too many RIPS anyway, a little less would be good I was thinking!
So I purchased a new set of PR2's, front stayed the same 120/70ZR-17, the rear is now 10mm wider (190/55ZR-17) and about 1 to 1-1/2" taller. Visited my dealer (as I wanted them computer spun balanced vs. the less accurate static) and had the mechanic (Dave) pop them on ($138 for both OTB if anyone cares). Here's the rear just finished in his parking lot, looks pretty normal. The 10mm wider does not poke right out in this image but you surely can see the difference when the two tires were standing side by side (didn't get a pic of that, I'm a dumb azz!)
Whats your vector Victor? what's you clearance Clarence? (...from the whacked movie "Airport") Anyway I still have plenty of clearance, the right side is where the concern was but not anymore... could of gone for a 200!
As far as tallness goes as stated above, she now sits on the center stand with only 1/2" ground clearance (the image was taken at a slightly higher keel but in reality it's only a 1/2" and also goes up on center stand easier!
TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF-
I've been documenting the RPM (on the dream-o-meter) and MPH (GPS) and fuel mileage but there is not a whole lot there for owners who want the B-I-G difference, but there is a difference that is (slightly) noticeable. For instance on the RPM side I would be normally do a (GPS) 60mph and I would turn ~31-3200 RPM's, I now do it at ~3000 which makes total sense since the new tire is 5% larger in diameter (9900 vs 10450).
I've only put 2 tanks of fuel through so far so an estimated better mileage stat would be inaccurate. The gain I would expect should be very small and could only be estimated with many tank fills. That being said, even if I get just 1 more MPG I'm happy (however I'm thinking the highway 75+mph may be where I see the most mileage improvement). The main reason for this experiment was aesthetics anyway... I do like a mean n fat tire in the rear (but not crazy fat like some of the choppers have lol).
As far as feel goes, these PR2's are way way way way better than the pair of Bridgestones I had on as OEM tires. So as most new tires go, they are fantastic to say the least, a slight lean now has the bike now wanting to carve up a canyon road and it feels natural. I always had to put a slight steer (effort) and lean before to lay the bike over but not anymore. I can't give any cudos to the size changing on the rear for this, as some have mentioned it should work in reverse on this but I'm thinking more so on how crappy the Bridgestones were (which to be honest I just thought was natural for this bike). This 190/55 PR2 has a definite dramatic arch or curve (especially compared to my old Bridgy's 180/55 even when it was new 4K miles ago). This setup now naturally wants to dive and carve... holy shazitts! :yahoo:
So I'm VERY happy with this move. I think that I could of even done 200's and still maybe had a 'close to rub' clearance?. I'm sooo freeqn happy with the 190 but maybe with my next tire experiment I will try a 200, who knows, I'm just that crazy that I would try it . I don't do much riding in the rain so PR3's were not for my application/needs. These pics were taken just after the 35mile straight and flat ride home from the dealer so the edges are still vigin-a-sized as you can see.
As a footnote; The Beemer K1600GT/GTL that I'm currently courting has the exact same tire setup as my FJR (now) 120/70 and 190/55
So in my experimental and inquisitive mind I was at my dealers about a month ago and was checking out a VMax getting a new 200/50 on the back. I was like wow, that's a nice "fatty" and the mechanic said "yeah it's the norm on a Max but you probably could upsize to it if you wanted". Got my wheels turning (pun intended) but noticed the rear arm (RH) pretty close already on my '09 FJR. I asked in this forum about going halfway to a 190 and got a response back from my bud Fred W. that it would probably be OK and got a "hey, at least it's not a square tire!" comment from him lol. I also read (& posted on a 190/50 thread) and found the 55 to be a bit taller (190x55). Got my wheels turning again! On highway speeds I think I'm winding way too many RIPS anyway, a little less would be good I was thinking!
So I purchased a new set of PR2's, front stayed the same 120/70ZR-17, the rear is now 10mm wider (190/55ZR-17) and about 1 to 1-1/2" taller. Visited my dealer (as I wanted them computer spun balanced vs. the less accurate static) and had the mechanic (Dave) pop them on ($138 for both OTB if anyone cares). Here's the rear just finished in his parking lot, looks pretty normal. The 10mm wider does not poke right out in this image but you surely can see the difference when the two tires were standing side by side (didn't get a pic of that, I'm a dumb azz!)
Whats your vector Victor? what's you clearance Clarence? (...from the whacked movie "Airport") Anyway I still have plenty of clearance, the right side is where the concern was but not anymore... could of gone for a 200!
As far as tallness goes as stated above, she now sits on the center stand with only 1/2" ground clearance (the image was taken at a slightly higher keel but in reality it's only a 1/2" and also goes up on center stand easier!
TO THE IMPORTANT STUFF-
I've been documenting the RPM (on the dream-o-meter) and MPH (GPS) and fuel mileage but there is not a whole lot there for owners who want the B-I-G difference, but there is a difference that is (slightly) noticeable. For instance on the RPM side I would be normally do a (GPS) 60mph and I would turn ~31-3200 RPM's, I now do it at ~3000 which makes total sense since the new tire is 5% larger in diameter (9900 vs 10450).
I've only put 2 tanks of fuel through so far so an estimated better mileage stat would be inaccurate. The gain I would expect should be very small and could only be estimated with many tank fills. That being said, even if I get just 1 more MPG I'm happy (however I'm thinking the highway 75+mph may be where I see the most mileage improvement). The main reason for this experiment was aesthetics anyway... I do like a mean n fat tire in the rear (but not crazy fat like some of the choppers have lol).
As far as feel goes, these PR2's are way way way way better than the pair of Bridgestones I had on as OEM tires. So as most new tires go, they are fantastic to say the least, a slight lean now has the bike now wanting to carve up a canyon road and it feels natural. I always had to put a slight steer (effort) and lean before to lay the bike over but not anymore. I can't give any cudos to the size changing on the rear for this, as some have mentioned it should work in reverse on this but I'm thinking more so on how crappy the Bridgestones were (which to be honest I just thought was natural for this bike). This 190/55 PR2 has a definite dramatic arch or curve (especially compared to my old Bridgy's 180/55 even when it was new 4K miles ago). This setup now naturally wants to dive and carve... holy shazitts! :yahoo:
So I'm VERY happy with this move. I think that I could of even done 200's and still maybe had a 'close to rub' clearance?. I'm sooo freeqn happy with the 190 but maybe with my next tire experiment I will try a 200, who knows, I'm just that crazy that I would try it
. I don't do much riding in the rain so PR3's were not for my application/needs. These pics were taken just after the 35mile straight and flat ride home from the dealer so the edges are still vigin-a-sized as you can see.As a footnote; The Beemer K1600GT/GTL that I'm currently courting has the exact same tire setup as my FJR (now) 120/70 and 190/55
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