Oh noes, not the wide tire question again!!!

SleekStreak · 08-09-2005

What's the biggest tire that will fit on a...

no, seriously, I'm not going to ask that question. But a similar one.

I have a feeling I already know the answer considering I've been kind of half-heartedly web searching and flipping through countless bike mags to find out if there was one for the last several months, to no avail, but I figured I'd ask this fine community.

I found a thread on the forum that said there was a wide tire kit for the Vulcan Mean Streak, but the thread was well over a year old and the web site referenced in the thread no longer exists.

I know the stock question... 190 is pushing it, 200 is pinching it. But, does anyone know of any existence of a Vulcan (Mean Streak) wide tire kit? It seems like there's a wide tire kit out these days for every make and model but ours.

I don't necessarily have the wide tire bug, but I'm really curious to know.

1400pilot · 08-09-2005

In the Metzler Catolog they list the different size tires that they have researched and found to work on the rear of bikes, without any mods and still being safe.

SleekStreak · 08-09-2005

Seriously, I wasn't asking that question. I was just being sarcastic and trying to be funny but that proves once again my sense of humor is LACKING.

I was only interested if anyone knew of a wide tire conversion kit for the Vulcan.

1400pilot · 08-09-2005

Thought you were serious, as it is a logical question, thought about a wider tire for my 1600, when I put a new one on before the Montana trip, but its mostly hidden so why spend the extra money, but Metzler did off a wider tire though.

Constrictor · 08-09-2005

The problem with coming up with a wide tire kit for our bikes is that we have a shaft drive. If we had a chain or a belt, its not incredibly difficult to engineer a way to push the belt/chain sprockets out a little. Relocating a shaft is incredibly difficult. I just dont see how it could be done within a reasonable price. If such a kit does exist, however, I would definitely be interested!

flynsouth · 08-09-2005

The only wide tire kit I've seen for a Vulcan is to trade it in on a Hammer. Fatter rear, crummier in the turns, your call.

04Meanie · 08-09-2005

I've heard the benefits of a wider tire are not so great. It only lowers the sidewall of the rear tire because of the width of the rim so it doesn't really look wider and the cornering sucks. I put new tires front and back in the spring and stayed with the 180 rear. My bike is super fun to ride in curves so I would not want to give that up for a small change of less than a half inch wider look to the rear tire.

*trikebubble* · 08-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleekStreak

Seriously, I wasn't asking that question. I was just being sarcastic and trying to be funny but that proves once again my sense of humor is LACKING.

I was only interested if anyone knew of a wide tire conversion kit for the Vulcan.

Someone posted a picture from a show once. Had a MS with a 280ish rear tire and chain drive. Looked a little silly in my opinion. But I'll bet it handled real sweet in the corners. (my attempt at sarcasm)

Constrictor · 08-09-2005

I think the unanimous reasoning behind wanting a wider tire is purely for looks. The Mean Streaks already handle so well from the factory, that Im sure a small decrease in handling is acceptible to most people since Im sure not everyone even comes close to pushing their bike to its limits.

SleekStreak · 08-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1600pilot

Thought you were serious, as it is a logical question, thought about a wider tire for my 1600, when I put a new one on before the Montana trip, but its mostly hidden so why spend the extra money, but Metzler did off a wider tire though.

True, the stock mean streak does nearly completely hide the rear tire with the stock turn signals, that psuedo bumber, and then the license plate. However, there's quite a few nice addons available to relocate the turn signals to clean up the rear end.

I personaly just mounted the license plate with a vert-side license plate mount, and completely removed the stock turn signals to replace them with some Show Chrome bullet lights that I attached to the side of the fender. The fenders actually quite high and the entire back tire shows quite nicely once you get rid of all that crap back there.

SleekStreak · 08-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Constrictor

The problem with coming up with a wide tire kit for our bikes is that we have a shaft drive. If we had a chain or a belt, its not incredibly difficult to engineer a way to push the belt/chain sprockets out a little. Relocating a shaft is incredibly difficult. I just dont see how it could be done within a reasonable price. If such a kit does exist, however, I would definitely be interested!

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the VTX is shaft driven and everybody and their uncle has a wide tire kit for that bike.

Lattimer · 08-09-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by SleekStreak

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the VTX is shaft driven and everybody and their uncle has a wide tire kit for that bike.

I think the fat tire kits convert the VTX to belt drive.

traysvega · 08-09-2005

Not not a belt drive kit,,,when I had a vtx1800 I looked into it and all they do is modify the swingarm by notching it and filling it back in(aslo alot of aftermarket now available)...when they notch it the notch is very close to the shaft buy not enought to rub...And its very expensive.

aspet · 08-09-2005

Im looking for a Mean streak swingarm/driveshaft , i know how to modify these things !! but the stock 17' rim cant be used maybe a17 witha wider profile or a 18" thats wider ! what do you suppose the VTX companies do ?? they modify the swingarm, they still hae the stock drivershaft but use wide tires , hen the stock driveshaft is cut and shaved from the iner walls there is more room but new steel has to be welded on top to make it sturdy , then a wide rim is chosen so you can get 210 , 230,240 , i just need a donor , preferably nearby !! cheeeeerrrrrrrrsss

SleekStreak · 08-09-2005

That pic is SICK. I wish there was a calling for one for the MS. I believe VTX owners outnumber us something 10-1 easily. We just need to get more people buying meanies and the aftermarket crowd will make us one fo sho.

It actually came down to a VTX of the MS when I was buying my bike. I decided against the VTX because I didn't want to be like everybody else. But that pic sure looks nice.

traysvega · 08-10-2005

Sleekstreak I happen to like the wide look also ...someone has to figure out a way...I remember how the VTX was done,,only prob with me attemping this is finding a rim for it....the notching of the swing arm didnt look to be all that hard..Anyone find any aftermarket wheels yet for the ms?

Constrictor · 08-10-2005

If someone would develop a belt drive conversion for the Mean Streak, not only would it allow us to mount larger rear tires, it would also give us back some rear wheel horsepower that the driveshaft is eating up.

traysvega · 08-10-2005

Yep , a belt drive would be nice..I'd go for it...I know alot of peolpe here don't care for the wide tire look,,because of the handling changes,,,but I'm a straightliner,,and had a spill around a hard corner ,,so I tend to be a puss in the corners now anyways

When I was at a nhra event in columbus I did find this meanie with a wide tire rear chain conversion,,,stood around forever trying to find the owner with no results,,,no one (they told me)knew who owned it...Oh well....

SleekStreak · 08-10-2005

That's some serious mods there. Fender, sprocket, chain guide, and look at the inner engine housing. And what's up with the little arm lifting the chain up so that it runs into the engine housing at an acceptable angle? I mean, having all your torque running across an arm bolted on by one bolt can't be a good thing.

Not sure I'm too crazy about it. I used to have a Vulcan LTD 750 and the chain was nothing but a hassle. Not sure I'd be willing to shell out a lot of dough to mod my bike back to one.

Constrictor · 08-10-2005

That is definitely cool though. I would prefer a belt over a chain, but at least a chain would allow for wider tires and less parasitic drivetrain loss.

08-09-2005	#1 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,954	Oh noes, not the wide tire question again!!! What's the biggest tire that will fit on a... no, seriously, I'm not going to ask that question. But a similar one. I have a feeling I already know the answer considering I've been kind of half-heartedly web searching and flipping through countless bike mags to find out if there was one for the last several months, to no avail, but I figured I'd ask this fine community. I found a thread on the forum that said there was a wide tire kit for the Vulcan Mean Streak, but the thread was well over a year old and the web site referenced in the thread no longer exists. I know the stock question... 190 is pushing it, 200 is pinching it. But, does anyone know of any existence of a Vulcan (Mean Streak) wide tire kit? It seems like there's a wide tire kit out these days for every make and model but ours. I don't necessarily have the wide tire bug, but I'm really curious to know.

08-09-2005	#2 (permalink)
1400pilot UBER CLUB MEMBER #2 Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Holdrege, Nebraska Posts: 13,839	In the Metzler Catolog they list the different size tires that they have researched and found to work on the rear of bikes, without any mods and still being safe. __________________ Click for a map of the states I've ridden in 08 ZG1400 Concours 06 KDX200 04KX65

08-09-2005	#4 (permalink)
1400pilot UBER CLUB MEMBER #2 Forum Supporter Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Holdrege, Nebraska Posts: 13,839	Thought you were serious, as it is a logical question, thought about a wider tire for my 1600, when I put a new one on before the Montana trip, but its mostly hidden so why spend the extra money, but Metzler did off a wider tire though. __________________ Click for a map of the states I've ridden in 08 ZG1400 Concours 06 KDX200 04KX65

08-09-2005	#5 (permalink)
Constrictor Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Steger, IL Posts: 1,023	The problem with coming up with a wide tire kit for our bikes is that we have a shaft drive. If we had a chain or a belt, its not incredibly difficult to engineer a way to push the belt/chain sprockets out a little. Relocating a shaft is incredibly difficult. I just dont see how it could be done within a reasonable price. If such a kit does exist, however, I would definitely be interested! __________________ 2005 Magma Red Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 1998 Bright Red Pontiac Trans Am 405.5 RWHP 385.1 RWTQ 2004 Nighthawk Black Honda Accord EX 6-speed

08-09-2005	#6 (permalink)
flynsouth It's time for me to ride BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 806	The only wide tire kit I've seen for a Vulcan is to trade it in on a Hammer. Fatter rear, crummier in the turns, your call. __________________ 2006 Midnight Nomad 2002 Pagan Gold Meanie Honda CR250R

08-09-2005	#3 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,954	Seriously, I wasn't asking that question. I was just being sarcastic and trying to be funny but that proves once again my sense of humor is LACKING. I was only interested if anyone knew of a wide tire conversion kit for the Vulcan.

08-09-2005	#7 (permalink)
04Meanie Turtle Wax Taster BTK Intermediate Join Date: May 2004 Location: Bossier City, La Posts: 198	I've heard the benefits of a wider tire are not so great. It only lowers the sidewall of the rear tire because of the width of the rim so it doesn't really look wider and the cornering sucks. I put new tires front and back in the spring and stayed with the 180 rear. My bike is super fun to ride in curves so I would not want to give that up for a small change of less than a half inch wider look to the rear tire. __________________ 2004 Mean Streak

08-09-2005	#9 (permalink)
Constrictor Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Steger, IL Posts: 1,023	I think the unanimous reasoning behind wanting a wider tire is purely for looks. The Mean Streaks already handle so well from the factory, that Im sure a small decrease in handling is acceptible to most people since Im sure not everyone even comes close to pushing their bike to its limits. __________________ 2005 Magma Red Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 1998 Bright Red Pontiac Trans Am 405.5 RWHP 385.1 RWTQ 2004 Nighthawk Black Honda Accord EX 6-speed

08-09-2005	#13 (permalink)
traysvega Finally Got Into First Gear BTK Beginner Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hebron ,Ky Posts: 59	Not not a belt drive kit,,,when I had a vtx1800 I looked into it and all they do is modify the swingarm by notching it and filling it back in(aslo alot of aftermarket now available)...when they notch it the notch is very close to the shaft buy not enought to rub...And its very expensive. Last edited by traysvega : 08-09-2005 at 06:00 PM.

08-09-2005	#14 (permalink)
aspet Banned BTK Beginner Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Glendale, CA. Posts: 49	Mean Streak swingarm Im looking for a Mean streak swingarm/driveshaft , i know how to modify these things !! but the stock 17' rim cant be used maybe a17 witha wider profile or a 18" thats wider ! what do you suppose the VTX companies do ?? they modify the swingarm, they still hae the stock drivershaft but use wide tires , hen the stock driveshaft is cut and shaved from the iner walls there is more room but new steel has to be welded on top to make it sturdy , then a wide rim is chosen so you can get 210 , 230,240 , i just need a donor , preferably nearby !! cheeeeerrrrrrrrsss

08-09-2005	#15 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,954	That pic is SICK. I wish there was a calling for one for the MS. I believe VTX owners outnumber us something 10-1 easily. We just need to get more people buying meanies and the aftermarket crowd will make us one fo sho. It actually came down to a VTX of the MS when I was buying my bike. I decided against the VTX because I didn't want to be like everybody else. But that pic sure looks nice.

08-10-2005	#16 (permalink)
traysvega Finally Got Into First Gear BTK Beginner Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hebron ,Ky Posts: 59	Sleekstreak I happen to like the wide look also ...someone has to figure out a way...I remember how the VTX was done,,only prob with me attemping this is finding a rim for it....the notching of the swing arm didnt look to be all that hard..Anyone find any aftermarket wheels yet for the ms?

08-10-2005	#17 (permalink)
Constrictor Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Steger, IL Posts: 1,023	If someone would develop a belt drive conversion for the Mean Streak, not only would it allow us to mount larger rear tires, it would also give us back some rear wheel horsepower that the driveshaft is eating up. __________________ 2005 Magma Red Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 1998 Bright Red Pontiac Trans Am 405.5 RWHP 385.1 RWTQ 2004 Nighthawk Black Honda Accord EX 6-speed

08-10-2005	#18 (permalink)
traysvega Finally Got Into First Gear BTK Beginner Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Hebron ,Ky Posts: 59	Yep , a belt drive would be nice..I'd go for it...I know alot of peolpe here don't care for the wide tire look,,because of the handling changes,,,but I'm a straightliner,,and had a spill around a hard corner ,,so I tend to be a puss in the corners now anyways When I was at a nhra event in columbus I did find this meanie with a wide tire rear chain conversion,,,stood around forever trying to find the owner with no results,,,no one (they told me)knew who owned it...Oh well....

08-10-2005	#19 (permalink)
SleekStreak Needs A Real Job BTK Expert Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 2,954	That's some serious mods there. Fender, sprocket, chain guide, and look at the inner engine housing. And what's up with the little arm lifting the chain up so that it runs into the engine housing at an acceptable angle? I mean, having all your torque running across an arm bolted on by one bolt can't be a good thing. Not sure I'm too crazy about it. I used to have a Vulcan LTD 750 and the chain was nothing but a hassle. Not sure I'd be willing to shell out a lot of dough to mod my bike back to one. __________________ 2002 Kawasaki Mean Streak 1500 http://bookmanstudios.com/bikediary Last edited by SleekStreak : 08-10-2005 at 02:20 PM.

08-10-2005	#20 (permalink)
Constrictor Way Too Much Free Time BTK Expert Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Steger, IL Posts: 1,023	That is definitely cool though. I would prefer a belt over a chain, but at least a chain would allow for wider tires and less parasitic drivetrain loss. __________________ 2005 Magma Red Kawasaki Mean Streak 1600 1998 Bright Red Pontiac Trans Am 405.5 RWHP 385.1 RWTQ 2004 Nighthawk Black Honda Accord EX 6-speed

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