Stick with the stock tire size, you'll save a little money and most of all you'll save the geometry of the bike. So many people want to mess with both 250R and 500R...it makes no sense. Why are looking to get a wider tire? If it's leaning angle that you're trying to increase keep the stock tire. Taking the tire to the edge with the stock tire will lead to scraping your boots on 35mph sweeping turns that are taken at 65mph (I have/had Flanders footpegs so I gained a little more clearance):

 

Thanks for the response. What tire is that on your bike? It looks fine and should be just what he needs. I ride a Road Star Warrior and I really like the wide tire, it has a 200 on the back.

Thanks for the advice and I will stay with the 130, but what brand and model is that tire in your picture.

 

No problem, glad to help out. The tire is a Bridgestone Battleax:

J&P Cycles® Bridgestone Battleax BT45V High Performance Tires

Now that I think about it, was it Bridgestone or Firestone that had problems with the Explorer? Hmm...doesn't matter, the tires are great. They are really good for the twisties and they should last about 8k miles without having to baby them. How bad can they be? The little Kawi-only shop that I take my bikes to had them in stock so that's gotta say something about their quality.

 

Firestone.

Car tires are manufactured with less precision than motorcycle tires, unless you buy a Shinko.

 

Let the info pour, thanks guys. I have used the Battlax on my Warrrior and they are a very good tire.

I am sourcing one from my local Kawa shop and the 130 it is, thanks again for the info.

SideBar: You guys rock, my first visit and post and you came back with info straight away, thanks for sharing. This is my son's first bike and he is anxious to get riding. We just picked it up on Sunday, pretty clean for a 1997 (39k).

I am thinking on checking valve clearance, anything else you all would recommend we tighten up as I go through it?

I will post up pictures once I get it cleaned up.

 

Search here:
Suspension,Tires & Chassis

 

now that was a useful link, thank you! I found an Avon AM26 130/70/17 that looks like a good fit.

Anybody use this tire and how was it?

 

Pirelli sport Demon's seem to be really popular on the 250 and 500. They are about 180-200 for a set from motorcycle superstore. check our ninja250.org. They have a great section on tires.

 

gr8ride...thanks for the info, I am finding more and more, this bike is kewl. Like I said, it is my son's, but from all I am reading, it sure seems like it has a faithful following....