CB650 wheels

[Maxcaddy (Nighthawk)]

Would any of you good folks know if wheels from a later Honda or anything else, that would take a radial tyre, can be easily fitted (to a '83' SC-C), especially the back wheel  ?. 

Ideally keeping the twin discs up front and drum rear, but not absolutely so  ?

Many thanks

MC

[pae]

Hi and welcome. Can't help on the wheel question though,

regards, Phil

[Bryanj]

Radial or crossply both fit same size rims so dont understand the question

[SteveD CB500K0]

Your bike has Comstar wheels (at least the one in your avatar has) so tubeless tyres should be OK. As Bryan says. radial or crossply - your choice.

[Maxcaddy (Nighthawk)]

That's good news .  So what size radial tyre would you recommend fitting to a 2.5x16 rear rim then ?

[SteveD CB500K0]

The issue with these old Hondas is that there is limited clearance between the swingarm for wider tyres.

Check out the ones you have fitted now and see how much extra you could fit in.

Wider tyres don't necessarily mean better handling though - these bikes were designed for skinny...

[Maxcaddy (Nighthawk)]

Thanks, but it's not the clearance thats the limiting factor, its finding a radial that goes on a 2.5" rim.

The minimum rim for most (all ?) rear radial tyres is 3.5".  Hence the question, what other wheels fit ?

[Bryanj]

Clearance is the limiting factor cos if you do find a 3.5 rim wheel that fits and get a tyre to fit it will rub on the swing arm cos it aint wide enough.

Q why radial, personaly i dont think they are worth it on a limited power and handling bike like the 650

[Maxcaddy (Nighthawk)]

Understand where you're coming from, but looks to me as if Radials in 130/80 will fit, a 140/80 should fit, and a 150/70 could fit, depending on wheel offset, and that's without modding the swinging arm, which as it is so long is desperately calling to be braced 

A,  Sorry, but disagree, in my experience Radials can transform the handling of a number of 80's bikes.  OK with those long leading axle forks its never going to be a VFR, but that standard 16" comstar back wheel and x/ply tyre setup is lethal, especially in the wet.  That is, unless crossply's have come on a heap in the last 7 years   .

Anyway, no worries, I'll take my trusty engineers rule to a couple of meets and see what I can size up 

MC