160 rear on XJ 650, test ride this week...

In order to fit the 160 in the rear, i had a 9 mm distance plate added to the rim (picture) theres a small disjunction from the center, but i hope it wont make much difference... im gonna make the first test ride this week, i hope it will come out good...what do you guys think? any prayers? anyone with experience with center disjunction :?

 

First let me state that I've never added a 9mm plate, nor have I run a really oversized rear tire. The following is my best guess at what could happen.

I don't think having the bike out of alignment like that will be a good thing. I would expect you could see strange handling characteristics as lean - particularily strange as it will behave differently on either side.

If it is compensated by a slight change in bar input I'd be concerned about the rear tire being out of alignment with the tracking line... leading to really strange wear patterns on the inside of the rear tire.

You needed the 9mm plate to get the tire to clear the drive shaft?

I really don't think this is a good idea for a daily driver... if it's not your daily driver then I guess it could look good.

Cheers,
woot.

 

Fitting a 160 tire on a rim that is meant for a 120 or 130 is crazy and potentially dangerous.

You will be crushing the carcass of the tire and end up with a contact patch smaller than the 120. The handling will be terrible. I can not recommend strong enough that you don't do this.

Having the wheels out of alignment is less dangerous as there are some bikes from the factory that do not come perfectly aligned (Moto Guzzi comes to mind).

I imagine that you are also using a 160 radial and your front tire is not. All tire manufacturers warn against this.

Take my advice for what it's worth, but at least think about it.

Thanks,
Chris

 

Some Harleys set up for sidecar work have their wheels out of alignment by 1/4" or so. Still, I'd be pretty careful with this setup. I don't think I'd be doing many top speed runs.

 

This would be a bit more than a 1/3 of an inch... that's alot IMHO.

Also sidecar rigs aren't going to be at high lean angles either - which in this case I think is a significant point as when you lean the bike while it is out of alignment it will have a stronger pull one way than the other... and it will make the tires pull against each other likely?

I don't think this is a good idea for a daily driver... but I haven't heard what the intended goal of this project is either. Looks? well I'd guess he has achieved it then.

 

So what ever happened? I have been wondering about how this worked ever since he posted it in the summer.

 

Dunno. but likely it was a Fiasco.. Not worth even thinking about let alone trying.. Village Idiot stuff IMO.