New Front Tire

[vxiirider]

I just started running a Bridgestone Battlax BT45 , 130/90-16 rear tire on the front of our Voyager Trike. This is a rear tire mounted in reverse rotation and 41# of air and it is really a much better handeling tire that the Avon Venom that it replaced. The trike seems to steer much easier and it may be that the rear tire is made of a harder compound than a front tire is. I got the idea from a Goldwing Trike Forum that reported great tire life on the front of their Goldwing 1800 trikes, some reported getting over 14,000 miles, time will tell.

[Winddancer]

Are you running car tires on your rears or do you still have MC tires??

and Welcome to the darkside..:)

[vxiirider]

I guess you can call me a double darksider, the rear tires are 215/55-17 so I have a BIG contact patch on the rear since there is no lean in the corners I don't have to worry about them sliding out from under me. We run them at 18# each and the ride is very comfortable for my passenger / best friend, Mary Jane.

[gearheadfla]

I guess you can call me a double darksider, the rear tires are 215/55-17 so I have a BIG contact patch on the rear since there is no lean in the corners I don't have to worry about them sliding out from under me. We run them at 18# each and the ride is very comfortable for my passenger / best friend, Mary Jane.

I have a car tire on my 88 2 wheeler, it feels better planted in the turns than the E-3 did, BTW, the tail pipes seem to touch before the pegs do, just sayin.

[David (N. Alabama)]

, BTW, the tail pipes seem to touch before the pegs do, just sayin.

That would concern me Jim. The bike is designed so that the movable pegs touch first. That tells me that possibly the rear of the bike is lower than it should be. Smaller diameter tire? Not enough preload on the rear shocks? You might want to check into that.

[gearheadfla]

, BTW, the tail pipes seem to touch before the pegs do, just sayin.

That would concern me Jim. The bike is designed so that the movable pegs touch first. That tells me that possibly the rear of the bike is lower than it should be. Smaller diameter tire? Not enough preload on the rear shocks? You might want to check into that.

Here is Windancer on the Dragon with his XII and a CT. Note the pipes.

[David (N. Alabama)]

, BTW, the tail pipes seem to touch before the pegs do, just sayin.

That would concern me Jim. The bike is designed so that the movable pegs touch first. That tells me that possibly the rear of the bike is lower than it should be. Smaller diameter tire? Not enough preload on the rear shocks? You might want to check into that.

Here is Windancer on the Dragon with his XII and a CT. Note the pipes.

Not sure why you are showing me the photo with no explanation Jim. Can't tell if his peg is also dragging in the photo. Can't tell if he has the preload on the rear shock set up correctly in the photo. Is the diameter of the CT the same as the diameter of the stock tire when mounted on the same rim?

I've ridden my XII on the dragon and my boards touched without my pipe touching. No pics of parts dragging, but you can see where my board feeler is and there is no way my pipes are close.

[gearheadfla]

The difference may be the Cobra pipes, The CT is actually taller than the MC. I did take a quick look at mine after we started this and by eye the tail pipes look a tick lower than the pegs. Two up and loaded in a turn while accelerating. I can see where something that is behind the axle could squat a little more than the middle. I've seen chassis's load in all kinds of weird ways in my years of stockcar racing, and more than once it didn't work out so good for me. lol BTW cool pics, we can't wait to ride the Dragon in July on our way home from Ohio. Here's a pic of the CT beside the MC, both mounted and inflated on rims.


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[David (N. Alabama)]

I'm thinking preload on the rear suspension was not set correctly for the weight causing the rear to squat. This is amplified if the front suspension is upgraded with progressive springs.

[k7nutN7nut]

The CT is actually taller than the MC.Here's a pic of the CT beside the MC, both mounted and inflated on rims.





.

Interesting...!
My '00 came with E-3's on it, there still in "pretty good" condition, however, this car tire on the rear has my interest?
I bet you can get some good life out of those as opposed to a MT!?
I see the pic's of people cornering with them, but I think I would like to feel it first...well...I guess that's not gunna happen!?

Is that a good alternative...to put a CT on the rear?

[Winddancer]

Hi.
I will add the needed comment to the picture..
Yes my pegs would scrape on the dragon, but the exhaust did a lot more..
I was very heavy, since I was on a 5,000 mile 11 day trip and we carried everything we needed on the bike and the trunk and bags are full..
CT is taller then MC tire, preload was set on 3,with 40lbs of air (if I recall right)..
I do have progressive fork springs.. 35lbs in rear CT, 42lbs in front which is a Michelin Commander II( any anyone cares)

[gearheadfla]

K7nut, feel free to PM or E-Mail me Gearheadjcm@hotmail.com and we can go over the CT questions if you like. I love mine.