Tweet
This comes up from time to time (note the V-max swingarm post) so I thought I'd post an abbreviated version of what's needed to go larger than a 140/90-16 (the largest size that will fit the stock bike); You can go up to 6.1" wide, but some tires may need some 'shaving' on the drive side.
To get anything larger than a 140/90-16 on you need to heavily modify the swingarm. Cutting away the 'flat' by the driveshaft, then re-filling that area will gain you just (barely) enough room to fit a 160/80-16 rear. But you won't be done; you also have to cut out the brake anchor pin on the other side and install one that's removable, otherwise you can't get the tire past the pin. This will also require that you install the tire/wheel and final drive as a loose assembly; again, there isn't enough room with the FD installed.
To give an idea, here's a few pics....
I cut/refilled the arm so the actual driveshaft sticks out of the arm...
... then fabbed a thin tin cover to seal the opening, holding the cover as close to the shaft as possible.
Here's the removable anchor pin. I turned a threaded insert for the arm and welded it in, then modified a 1/2" bolt for the new pin. The bolt bottoms in the hole.
I'll post this as a full tip if I ever get the bike completed...
To get anything larger than a 140/90-16 on you need to heavily modify the swingarm. Cutting away the 'flat' by the driveshaft, then re-filling that area will gain you just (barely) enough room to fit a 160/80-16 rear. But you won't be done; you also have to cut out the brake anchor pin on the other side and install one that's removable, otherwise you can't get the tire past the pin. This will also require that you install the tire/wheel and final drive as a loose assembly; again, there isn't enough room with the FD installed.
To give an idea, here's a few pics....
I cut/refilled the arm so the actual driveshaft sticks out of the arm...
... then fabbed a thin tin cover to seal the opening, holding the cover as close to the shaft as possible.
Here's the removable anchor pin. I turned a threaded insert for the arm and welded it in, then modified a 1/2" bolt for the new pin. The bolt bottoms in the hole.
I'll post this as a full tip if I ever get the bike completed...
Comment