Not getting any input from "other bike" forum so ...

[79XS11F]

Does anyone know if a 150/80-16 rear tire can be used on the CHAIN driven 650 Special with the 16 inch rear wheel . Would the tire allow enough clearance between the chain and the tire's wider profile.
I need to know as I am about to buy tires for my chain driven XS1100 project bike that makes use of a 16 inch 650 rear wheel with a stock sprocket and i would like to use the fattest tire I can.
Thanks
Rob

[Korr]

Check with DiverRay. I can't remember what size tire he used for the rear of his midnight special, but he only had about a 1/4 inch gap left on the drive shaft side. He didn't have to modify anything i don't think.

[DiverRay]

I put a 140/90 16 on the rear of the Midnight. I do NOT have 1/4", I have about 0.050" The 150/80 16 SHOULD work well.

[xschop]

650 chain

I have seen a couple stock 650's and it looks like there is a good 20-30mm clearance betwwen stock chain and tire at the rear. Are you using the alloy 650 rim or the spoked? Because if spoked, then you can relace it with a wider alloy rim and stick on a 170-180 rear tire. The custom chaindrive unit's sprocket is designed to adjust laterally and the rear sprocket is a No-brainer with the same width spacer/s installed.....Chop

[xschop]

updates

I just checked out your Hop-up bike, That is going to be a cool looking bike. I saw that you hadn't notched the frame yet. You may not need to if only going with a 150 series rear tire....Our Aussie friend had a 180 on his with just a plastic down-tube guard on his lower frame. I went 200 so I definitely had to notch it !!!!AFTER WELDING IN THE BRACE!!!! DO NOT NOTCH THEN WELD!!!! you could distort the pivot area.....Chop