1984 VT700C C/T mounting issues...

[b]Hello all. I have a 1984 Honda VT700C that I have mounted a Douglas 195/60/R15 on. I found that this size is about as LARGE as one can possibly go with this bike and the stock swingarm. I even had to machine a spacer to perfectly center the wheel in the arm. So...just to inform those who have a bike this size, and want to go D/S, you may wanna go a bit smaller. Now...that being said...the tread on this tire mounted measures a whopping 7-1/4 inches wide. The stock rear fender will NOT work with this tire, ok?? I was not planning on using a stock set up any way, as my bike has been...modified anyway. (Trailer rear fender, 9" wide, frenched lic. plate, L.E.D. lights, etc) I just wanted to warn others who may be wanting to mount up with these older Hondas that you may want a smaller (narrower) tire out back. Personally, I LOVE it. It looks great, and makes my bike stand out from the crowd, fer sure! -----Metalguy

Metalguy, my dad has an '84 VT700. His is pretty much bone stock, he's only had it about a year. I'd love to see some pics of what you've done to yours. I'd love to show him a modded VT700.

Thanks

Um, metalguy's bike doesn't look ANYTHING like a 700 any more.... Post the pic though, the one with you on it!

Steve-O wrote:Um, metalguy's bike doesn't look ANYTHING like a 700 any more.... Post the pic though, the one with you on it!

That's why I want to get a look at it!

Stock bikes suck!

Ok, let me give it a try.....




and one of the tire off the bike...

Very nice! That thing looks badd on there!



Congrats...........................bobby

.

Nice! Thanks for the pics.

i just did this aswell to my 86 vt700c.
the burns in the pictures are of whats left of the last m/t this bike will see.

i went with metalguys advice with a thinner tire, however the opportunistic tire was taller, 185/65/15. (federal brand, $20 brandynew)

no one in town really wanted to mount the tire, reasonably priced atleast, so me and a friend did it at our shop.
a press brake made easy work of breaking the bead of the old tire, but i ran into problems with my air chuck...

apparently its impossible to set the bead of a cartire with the valve in place. i now know i need a 'real' airchuck.

it was my first manual tire change, and it went pretty smoothly.

with the 185 i retained my stock fender (as of now, atleast) and as for being a bit taller than metalguys, i noticed
a bit of change in revs in relationship to the speedo, im not sure how much the speedo is off. but negligible.

the first moment pulling out on a car tire for the first time, it felt a bit stiffer, but all new tires feel different... i can't see myself going back to a m/t on this bike.


i can't thank this forum and metalguy enough for showing me the light of the dark. thanks
matt

I have a little over 11k on my federal tire. luck to you with it.

mark f

metalguy wrote:[b]Hello all. I have a 1984 Honda VT700C that I have mounted a Douglas 195/60/R15 on. I found that this size is about as LARGE as one can possibly go with this bike and the stock swingarm. I even had to machine a spacer to perfectly center the wheel in the arm. So...just to inform those who have a bike this size, and want to go D/S, you may wanna go a bit smaller. Now...that being said...the tread on this tire mounted measures a whopping 7-1/4 inches wide. The stock rear fender will NOT work with this tire, ok?? I was not planning on using a stock set up any way, as my bike has been...modified anyway. (Trailer rear fender, 9" wide, frenched lic. plate, L.E.D. lights, etc) I just wanted to warn others who may be wanting to mount up with these older Hondas that you may want a smaller (narrower) tire out back. Personally, I LOVE it. It looks great, and makes my bike stand out from the crowd, fer sure! -----Metalguy

How wide is your stock swingarm, that looks similar to what i want to do with mine, and put a wider tire in the back, Mine's an 85 vt500c... Think i can use that tire or go for skinnier? I did some grinding to get the slick i USED to have on the back work, but i can't remmber what size it was.