Tube question for Wifes VLX600CD

Hellow Shadow Riders (Is that a lighter version of a DarkSider sorry couldn't resist)

Anyway, as I mentioned in the general forum I have decided to take our bikes to the Darkside. Due to limited funds we are only spending money on "Needs" and my wifes Shadow needs a new rear tire. Soooo, she gets to go first.

I am planning on going with a 185/65/15 tire for her bike. 2 questions, 1) is that a good choice in size for her bike and 2) what size/type tube do I need to get?

I don't know much about motorcycle tubes and their sizes, my bike is tubeless and never kept any bike long enough in my youth to have to deal with it.

I do plan on getting Dynabeads for the balancing. Sealing her rims is not an option at this time due to the "Down" time. She would go nuts waiting for her bike to be rideable again, and might decide to take mine

Thanks for the help.

Jeff

just use a motorcycle inner tube , size 180-15, it will work with a tubeless tire.
I would buy a new one, I always did when I had spoke rims on my bikes.
as for the the tire size you are going to have to write down the tire size you have now
and then measure the gap around the tire to see if you have enough room OR:

https://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/general-motorcycle-tech-information-f14/how-to-check-to-see-if-the-tire-will-fit-your-bike-t2898.htm

that should show you how much room you have and how big you can go.
good luck, I hope that this helped.


Horse

horseman8m wrote:just use a motorcycle inner tube , size 180-15, it will work with a tubeless tire.
I would buy a new one, I always did when I had spoke rims on my bikes.
as for the the tire size you are going to have to write down the tire size you have now
and then measure the gap around the tire to see if you have enough room OR:

https://mcdarksiders.forumotion.com/general-motorcycle-tech-information-f14/how-to-check-to-see-if-the-tire-will-fit-your-bike-t2898.htm

that should show you how much room you have and how big you can go.
good luck, I hope that this helped.


Horse

Horseman8M, she still has the original Dunny 170/80/15 tire on her bike, although there is not much tread left. Its the same tire that is on my VTX1300.

According the the reference link in the General section, the recommended DS tire max would be a 195/60/15 same for her bike and my VTX. I have read a few threads in the Shadow forum where they started with a 165 and are now considering the 185. I was hoping the 185 would work IMO it would look much better in her bike. When the time comes for my bike I am hoping to go with the 205 Wideside Look.

thanks for the info on the tube.

Jeff

I'm right at 5k miles on my ct with the vlx, use the reg mt tube, yeah a new one, the 165/80/15 will be the most likely tire for her, she may not even feel the difference, I think one guy on here put the 195/--/15 on, but he hasn't posted in awhile.

I ride semi agressively, have 40k miles on my vlx that I put on it, I will go up to the 185/65/15 or 185/60/15 if and when the tread ever wears down on the 165.

There was nothing to mod when putting the 165 on my vlx.

mark f

Otis56 wrote:I'm right at 5k miles on my ct with the vlx, use the reg mt tube, yeah a new one, the 165/80/15 will be the most likely tire for her, she may not even feel the difference, I think one guy on here put the 195/--/15 on, but he hasn't posted in awhile.

I ride semi agressively, have 40k miles on my vlx that I put on it, I will go up to the 185/65/15 or 185/60/15 if and when the tread ever wears down on the 165.

There was nothing to mod when putting the 165 on my vlx.

mark f

Hi Mark
Just curious, you suggest she should start with the 165 as you did, but you will eventually upgrade to the 185. Why would she not start with the 185? Is the handling that much different that she will need to learn to ride on a CT so she should start out narrower?

Thanks

Jeff

Otis56 wrote:I'm right at 5k miles on my ct with the vlx, use the reg mt tube, yeah a new one, the 165/80/15 will be the most likely tire for her, she may not even feel the difference, I think one guy on here put the 195/--/15 on, but he hasn't posted in awhile.

I ride semi agressively, have 40k miles on my vlx that I put on it, I will go up to the 185/65/15 or 185/60/15 if and when the tread ever wears down on the 165.

There was nothing to mod when putting the 165 on my vlx.

mark f

I think Mark should answer all the shadow questions , he has the experience and has a way of putting it that everyone can understand , ( even me )

Hi Mark
Just curious, you suggest she should start with the 165 as you did, but you will eventually upgrade to the 185. Why would she not start with the 185? Is the handling that much different that she will need to learn to ride on a CT so she should start out narrower?

Thanks
Jeff

I don't know about the handling diff between the 165 and the 185, I read here and other places that the 165 handles closest to the stock mc tire, doing this will lessen the amount of differences she will feel.

My buddy has a bike like mine with a mt on it. We swapped bikes and he could tell a big difference between my 205 and his.

I could not tell the difference in handling. So, I think there is a "getting used to it" factor. Especially the wide tire. Does your wife want looks or good handling? I"m dropping down to a 185 on my bike to get better handling. My thinking is that the wide tire is a lot about looks....at least for me.

Steve-O wrote:My buddy has a bike like mine with a mt on it. We swapped bikes and he could tell a big difference between my 205 and his.

I could not tell the difference in handling. So, I think there is a "getting used to it" factor. Especially the wide tire. Does your wife want looks or good handling? I"m dropping down to a 185 on my bike to get better handling. My thinking is that the wide tire is a lot about looks....at least for me.

Hi Steve-O,
To answer your question, she is a Lady, soo it is definitely all about looks and I have to get it sounding good soon too

Then go wide. Just take it out in a parking lot for awhile and get used to the feel of hte tire. Won't feel much different going fast, but it will feel different in slow turns. Once you get used to the new tire (and just so you know, if you put a metzler on the back you would have to get used to it too), go for it. A long drive with long sweeps is a good training ground too.