Tires

[Jvalenza]

I have a 1981 Honda cb650 and I’m trying to find some good tires to put on. This is my first bike ever and I would like a tire that’s got a lot of grip for the corners. Not worried about highway miles as much.
What are you guys thoughts?

[Bruno_Gagnon]

I have placed an order for 2 Michelin :

Pilot Activ Rear Tire 130/90-17 68V
and
Pilot Activ Front Tire 100/90-19 57V

Those are modern tires but specifically design for our vintage bikes. I have yet to receive and install them. I will let you know how they compare with my olds Bridgestone Spitfire 11F.

../Bruno

[Jvalenza]

Thanks Bruno, how did you like those Bridgestone’s?
I’ve been thinking about getting some Avon Am26 but I can’t find them in the correct size. So I’m thinking about get the new Avon road rider mark 2s

[Solomoriah]

I've been running Bridgestone Battlax BT45's for four years now, and I go to buy a replacement front tire and they don't have them anymore. 100/90-19 seems to be gone, except they are still on Amazon for $111.18. But while on Amazon I found the Bridgestone Spitfire S11F tire in that size for $79.57. It's a sport/touring type tire, the same as the BT45. Bruno, I see you ran the Spitfire... is it any good? Doesn't seem like I can get a rear tire from that line that fits, unfortunately.

I'm also looking at the Avon AM26. I can get the front in 100/90-19 and the rear in 120/90-17; I've been running the 130/80-17 BT45 rear tire, but that size is really hard to find in other brands. Ideally I'd like to eventually match front and rear (though I just put that rear tire on so they won't match for a while).

AND JUST to round out my crazy long list of questions... I have a Dunlop D404 front on my Yamaha (a "gift" from the former owner) which seems pretty good. The D404 isn't available in either 120/90-17 or 130/80-17... will there be any problem running the 130/90-17 on my 1980 CB650?