**update on pg 2** - I highly recommend the swap

For anybody running radials in close to stock sizes I wanted to get your opinion on the handling of the bike vs running bias tires. Everything I have been able to find suggests that there should be a big improvement by switching, but having always run bias plies on this bike I don't have any personal experience.

I'm looking at a set of radials that have an optimal rim width of 2.5" and 3.5" which should fit the bike perfectly. I don't see any reason why there would be an issue, but just looking for anyone with real world experience running radials on this bike. Reading spec sheets can only get you so far..

 

I dont run radials on mine so i cant say how it would handle but, there is a sticky thread at the top of the post's here called "tyre size/tire size" and it will have all the information you need regarding radials/vs bias ply with peoples opinions that have ran them,and also the reason i dont use them on mine

 

Thanks for the reply. I'm familiar with that thread & there's some good info there, but I wanted to collect some more info specifically related to bias ply vs radial since most of the stuff in that thread is related to tire size.

One one hand there is the Dunlop disclaimer about not running radials on a bias ply equipped bike, but every review and comment I have read from people switching to radials say that it was a huge improvement across the board.

I decided to find out for myself so I ordered a set of Avon Azaro radials in a 110/80-17 and 140/80-17 which have optimal rim widths that are the same size as the Hurricane wheels. As soon as I get them mounted and scrubbed in I'll post my opinion here.

 

There is absolutely no reason to run bias ply tires on a sportbike with 17" wheels. These old bikes weren't designed around some magical property of bias ply tires like that stupid conservative-to-the-point-of-being-braindead sticky thread implies, they came equipped with them because that's all they had at the time. Of course modern tires are superior in every way.

I'm stuck with bias on my old VFR for the moment because it has odd size wheels -- 16" front, 18" rear. They're as sophisticated and sporty as you can get in a bias, and they suck massive amounts of ***. Guess what the most common mod is for old Viffers -- fitting F1 or F2 17" wheels so modern sportbike tires can be used.

 

Great, please do let us know how it handles and feels. Im very curious myself.

 

I always kind of figured the same thing since there were very little if any radial tires offered in the late 80's when these bikes came out. I discovered a couple threads that talked about the CBR wheel / radial tire swap on the VFR when I was looking for info on radials. Thanks for the info.

My tires are here so hopefully I'll have them mounted up soon..

 

i would like to have your feedback from avon azaro 110/70 140/80 cause i dont know to get them or demons.

 

My front is actually the oe size a 110/80. I was looking at sport demons too, but didn't want to have a drop in height on the front since they don't offer a 110/80 in the demons.

They should be mounted tomorrow, but just looking at the profile and design of the Avon radials vs the Michelin Activs I have on there now I am expecting a big improvement.

I bought them from Motorcycle Superstore if anyone is interested.. Avon AV45 and AV46

 

quite i while i wasnt here and di just discover f4's shock just bolt on hurricane (and they are very cheap these days) except it is 10mm shorter so the rear would be 10mm shorter unless you use a 140/80 tyre which is 8mm taller than stock.
Or you could use f4 shock and lower front... between 110/70 and 110/80 there are more or less those mm, i think wont be a big deal to manage with them,
anyway im not fogarty but i think lowering fork by 10mm its ok and i ever rode with -6mm with no issue stability an better steering

 

i can get daemons 110/80 if you still need it
Pneumatico MOTO PIRELLI SPORT DEMON FRONT - 110/80 -17 57 V: vendita di pneumatici MOTO PIRELLI su Pneus Online