CB550 Cafe/Brat Tire Suggestions?

titan5699

titan5699

Been Around the Block
Hello all! I am building a Cafe/Brat in the style of a retro-mod, I have some new parts and modern styling but trying to keep most original parts and retro class. It's a 1976 Honda CB550. I am new to these bikes and have seen quite a bit of various tires and companies to choose from. That is why I am asking all of you for your help. If you could, please suggest some tires that you would recommend or steer away from. If you need any more info about the bike or anything else that could make your suggestions a better fit for my bike, please ask!

Thank you much!
 
Battleax are good tires.
I don't think he read your post.

Avoid Coker firestones like the plague, otherwise find something you like and read reviews.
 
Thank you very much gents! I will look further into the Bridgestones.

If you have more recommendations/warnings, keep them coming please.

I have also seen a lot of people using Avons but I wasnt sure which model(s) is preferred.
 
Avon Radrider seems to be the tire of choice around here.
 
no experience yet but shinko 712's are cheap and get great reviews everywhere. I'm ordering a set tonight.
 
And a couple more stupid questions:

-Should I stay with the same size on the bike now? I know 19" front, 18" back, but is there a standard size I should stick with for these bikes? I'm sticking with spoke wheels, so I know they need to be tubed tires.

-Should I run the same brand/model front and back? I have seen a lot of people use certain ones in front and another in rear. Avon Speedmaster in front seems to be popular.
 
You can put tubes in it. you can run tubes in a tubeless tire, but can't run tubeless on a tire that needs tubes (or a wheel that is designed for tubes). BMW actually has a tubeless spoked wheel.

It has to do with the design of the bead for sealing and the lining of the tire. Tubeless tires essentially have the tube bonded inside the tire...of course, it is not circular in cross section, but the tubeless tire is lined with an airtight rubber compound. Tube type tires are not.
 
mydlyfkryzis said:
You can put tubes in it. you can run tubes in a tubeless tire, but can't run tubeless on a tire that needs tubes (or a wheel that is designed for tubes). BMW actually has a tubeless spoked wheel.

It has to do with the design of the bead for sealing and the lining of the tire. Tubeless tires essentially have the tube bonded inside the tire...of course, it is not circular in cross section, but the tubeless tire is lined with an airtight rubber compound. Tube type tires are not.
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Thank you for straightening that out and for the info.
 
BT45 is available for tubed or tubeless, and in H or V speed ratings.

I'm partial to Dunlop D404s, but only because I had a set that was a mile master fluke, at 44K miles in 18 months, they still had legitimate tread. Unheard of, they only last 9-12K miles on most bikes.

Then again, I have a 12 or 13 year old, 20K mile plus Cheng Shin on the back of my Savage. With viable tread, too bad I can stick my thumb in a sidewall crack on it, that tire is out of production (since Cheng Shin and Maxxis decided to butt fuck all of us and go to dirt bike, quad and truck tires only).

My Honda will get the current versions of the Goodyear and Dunlop TT tires I received it with, and those tires were no newer than 1979 models. Probably Shinko or Duro, it is a 248cc twin, it doesn't have the power to justify high quality tires.
 
the Shinko 777 comes in a 100/90/19 if your really concerned about keeping nearly stock tires sizes. It's like 44 bucks.
 
titan5699 said:
Any thoughts on the Avon Speedmaster front tire?
Click to expand...

It is nicknamed the "Skidmaster" for a reason... the front end can drift pretty easily, but I still run them on choppers and barhoppers. Try and find a tire that looks like the mid 1990s Dunlop Qualifier that came on Intruders. Like the clone on my Savage...

drum4_zps72b7c657.jpg
 
Jrbrownie00 said:
the Shinko 777 comes in a 100/90/19 if your really concerned about keeping nearly stock tires sizes. It's like 44 bucks.
Click to expand...

Thanks man. Price isn't my biggest concern. I'd rather shell out a little more for something that I can have more confidence in. You know what I mean?

But thanks for the suggestion still, that seems like an awesome price though lol
Scruffy said:
It is nicknamed the "Skidmaster" for a reason... the front end can drift pretty easily, but I still run them on choppers and barhoppers. Try and find a tire that looks like the mid 1990s Dunlop Qualifier that came on Intruders. Like the clone on my Savage...

drum4_zps72b7c657.jpg
Click to expand...

I'll keep my eyes out for the Dunlops. Thanks for the input about the Speedmasters, maybe I'll steer away from them if thats the case lol.
 
titan5699 said:
Thanks man. Price isn't my biggest concern. I'd rather shell out a little more for something that I can have more confidence in. You know what I mean?
Click to expand...

I'm the same way but the reviews on Shinko's are really good. I have no experience with them so I'm kind of in your boat. I'm gonna try them out though. Cheers.
 
Jrbrownie00 said:
I'm the same way but the reviews on Shinko's are really good. I have no experience with them so I'm kind of in your boat. I'm gonna try them out though. Cheers.
Click to expand...

Cool man. I was unaware that they had good reviews, just thought you meant that you were thinking they were decent tires. Let us know what you think of them!

Safe riding, cheers!
 
Guys on the Savage forum LOVE Shinko tires. Decent price, decent life, very decent handling. Front and rear for less than the cost of the starts cupping at 3 months or 3K miles stock IRC front...
 
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