Why do you want to mount bigger tires? My friend put a 180/55 on the rear of his Monster when it takes a 160/55. The tire is so bowed that he has, literally, 1" chicken strips that he'll never scrub off. I told him that I could see him lose stability when leaned hard; he would wobble a little and have to bring the bike up a bit nid-turn. So he'll never use the outside 15% of his tire. Now add the fact that he's wearing the middle out faster also because of the bowing and you can see how he's screwed two ways. Waste from both non and over use.

I kept the stock sizes when I rode my 500R and the tires never let me down. In fact, my much more experienced friend said that it was the front suspension that was holding me back. So if you're after performance, definitely keep the stock sizes.

 

what do you mean by "fit wider wheels"? This is my first bike. Shoot me straight- I want to put 120 on the front and 140 on the back. Is this a good move or not? should I just stick to the stock sizes? Also, what brand tire would you reccomend? I have seen lots of good stuff on BT45 battlaxes.

Go to the Bridgestone site, click on the Battlax BT45 product in the window at the top. Then click on the "details on this tire" button at the lower right corner of the page. You will find the 120/70-17 fits a 2.75"-3.75" wide rim and the 150/70-17 fits a 4.00"-4.50" wide rim. Look on your rims. If they are in those ranges and there is fender clearance the tires will fit. If the rear is a 3.50 you can fit the 140/70-17 on it.

Now what will happen if you can actually fit them is your steering will become significantly slower than stock and will take more effort to turn into corners. If you can tolerate that, fine. Just be forewarned of the consequences of going bigger. Personally I might consider the 120, but I guarantee I wouldn't do the 150. The wear won't be much greater if any and it just takes more power to spin the extra weight. I'd consider the 120 just to have more foot print under braking, but would probably raise the forks in the triple clamps to try to compensate for the change in ride height and steering quickness. But that's me. I have an idea of what I would want and how to get it.

My bike has a 110/70-17 on the front and a 140/70-18 on the rear right now and I plan to go 120/70-17 (or 120/60-17) with possible raising of the fork tubes in the triple clamps on the next set of tires, but will stay with the 140 on the back for the extra performance and quicker handling. I may change to a wider 17 on the front and rear to enable me to use radials, since I have the wheels sitting in the garage. Like I say, I know what I like and want plus I know how to get it.

If you like the quickness of handling presently with your 500 stay with stock sizes. If you're going for a look, have at it.

 

coming from a fellow 500R...the biggest you can go w/o any mods is a 120/60 front and a 140/60 rear. there are some with a 150/60 and even a 160/60 rear, but i wouldn't recommend them since the width of the rear wheel is only 3.5"...

click on the "to view data" link. its a google spreadsheet with a lot of riders choices for tire sizes. hope that helps you out

Kawasaki Ninja EX500 Tire Size Chart ●●● Submit Your Review! ●●●

 

but please don't unless you fit wider wheels, honestly you'll ruin the handling

The quote from my reply gives a clue as to wether i think it's a good move :wink:

Wider wheels means, err, wider wheels, from another model or aftermarket. The width of the standard wheel rims really dictates the tyre-width that works best.

The wheel width will be cast onto them for you to check.

 

what do you mean by "fit wider wheels"? This is my first bike. Shoot me straight- I want to put 120 on the front and 140 on the back. Is this a good move or not? should I just stick to the stock sizes? Also, what brand tire would you reccomend? I have seen lots of good stuff on BT45 battlaxes.

 

You can probably go 140 or even 150 on the rear but please don't unless you fit wider wheels, honestly you'll ruin the handling