Bob wrote:
<blatant snipping>
> Here we go again, the dreaded tire thread...
> Changing the front tire makes the most
> difference.
I would like to make one comment about this. I have noticed that there
is an observation of everyone that changes their front tire to a 120. In
effect, "It steers much quicker than the 130 front." Well, while that is
true, it must be remembered, replacing a front tire with the SAME size
will ALSO make a quicker steering front end. Thats because of the tire
'wear' being a factor.
Over the years, 25 plus and going strong, I have replaced many, many,
front tires on my bikes. Virtually all of them with stock size
replacements. And without exception, they all steered quicker right
after replacement. I am not trying to discredit the change from a 130 to
a 120, but am simply pointing out that not ALL the difference is because
of a tire size change.
When a tire 'wears' out, the profile of the tire changes, and that
changes the 'quickness' of steering. In fact, in a funny, almost scary
way, the bike tends to 'fall' into turns so much faster after a tire
change, that I have to 'get used' to the new quickness of turning. Which
is the way it was when the tire was 'new' to begin with, but as it wears
out over time, we don't really notice the change until we replace the
tire.
Anyway, enough of that tirade! ;^)
My 2 cents is, if you can still find 'em, is to stay with the stock size
front end. My feeling is that I want to have as much 'rubber' to the
road as possible for safety and performance reasons. I suspect or will
even admit that the 120 is 'quicker' and easier to steer in a parking
lot, but I don't much of my riding in places like that. ;^)
How about this? If someone wears out their 120, and would be willing to
go back to a 130, let us know how the tire felt after the change. That
would be an interesting comparison. (Or if someone has already done it,
refresh our memories!)
Cheers,
Brandon (Still a 130, always a 130) ('Till they're not available
anymore, that is!)
