Rear tyre size XJ900RL

Hi Guys,
I am running a 120/90-18 rear tyre on my XJ900RL
I notice that there is not so much room on the right between the tyre and the swingarm/shaft drive.
Anyone put wider and lower profile times on these bikes? What is the experience and what should one watch out for?

I am aware that a smaller profile e.g. 120/60 would give the bike more punch in acceleration and bring top speed down (that would be a positive since top speed riding is a rarity if ever)

I am searching for technical issues/difficulties etc..

btw. In my search seems modern bikes have all gone down the road of the low profile wide rubber and seemed that the online stores I have visited so far (ship to me in Switzerland) seem to think I am looking for a front tyre when I plug in my rear bike tyre size.

Would be great to hear from others about this.
many thanks

A

 

Wider tire may not help. Going bigger on a narrow rim changes the shape of the tire and may look better but handle worse.
A few brands make a 130/80-18 but a gamble that it won't rub the swing arm

 

Stay stock. There's a reason these are the recommended sizes.

There isn't much clearance to begin with....That's normal.

 

Hi Core,

You have probably already bought a new tire. But here's a data point for you anyway. I have a 130/80 18 Metzeler Laser on my 900. There's about 6mm of clearance to the shaft drive. I would be concerned that a different brand of that size might not fit.

This bike has always felt a little odd in the handling department to me. When you tip it in to a corner it requires some strange inputs to hold a line. This might be from the larger tire. I had the same tire on before and when it wore it was even worse (I try my best to wear the sides of the tires out because on a street motorcycle, cornering wear is free!)

The bike has a strange wandering at speeds below 50 mph (I haven't looked into the head or swing arm bearings though).

I wonder if I should have gone with the original size, but it's so skinny!

 

Skinny is good. A wider tire does not equate to a better tire, especially on a bike that was not built with a wide tire in mind.