130/80 up front, 140/80 out back?? Anyone done it?

Judo Fire · February 12th, 2021, 02:38 PM

Good afternoon. I just joined the forum today. Im going to start a brat tracking scrambler type build soon (or a scrambling tracker brat). I was searching all OVER the web, trying to find dual sport tires and knobby front tires for a 17" wheel are basically non-existent. In fact, the ONLY thing I could find, that didn't look like a mere wet-pavement tire (that actually had some lugs), were rear tires. The narrowest rear tire was a 130. Any idea if that will work up front?
I'm not planning on dragging my knee around paved corners with this thing, it will be a true 50/50 dual sport that will get plenty of riding in the sandy ATV trails of northern Michigan, so I do need a fairly aggressive dual sport tire.
As far as the rear tire goes, I was planning on getting a 140/80 unless someone thinks it's fine to run a 150/70. I'm assuming an offset sprocket kit may be in order to pull it off, and Im not totally against modifying the swing arm if need be (will I need to?) but how well would a 150 fit on the factory wheel? Speaking of wheels, I looked into aftermarket wheels as well, to maybe go wider, and I can't find much info.

BTW, the actual bike I will be modifying is a 2007, but after much research, dual sport tires for 16" wheel are even fewer and further between than they are for 17s....and the few I could find, didn't even look like dual sport tires, they looked like wet-pavement tires for an Enduro. Which wouldn't be worth the crap on a muddy trail. I already know I will have to swap in a J swing arm, brakes, axle, etc and I'm good with that if it gets me the tires I need.....and since I'll be swapping all that stuff anyway, is there a different model bike that I should be looking at? Something compatible with the 250 frame that holds a wider factory wheel? I'm kind of new to this stuff. I've done a lot of wrenching and offroading over the years (Jeeps) and I'm a metal fabricator and fabrication engineer by trade with a full fab shop at my disposal. I know my way around a shop, I'm just new to sport bikes.

Artruck · February 12th, 2021, 08:30 PM

Don’t run a dual sport/adv rear tire on the front. To run a rear tire on the front it’s best to run it reverse direction and that wouldn’t work with the tread design.

Also if the bike is an 07 with the 16s I would just find dual sport tires that size. Don’t switch everything to 17 (which are not as strong for off road use as the 16s) just to fit tires.

Look for Kenda k671 tires. You can fit 130/90 in the back and front on the pre-gen 250s. It slows the turn in, but otherwise rides very nice and the front has a pointier profile than a rear for better handling. You will need a new front fender, other wise everything JUST fits with a bit of room.

Judo Fire · February 13th, 2021, 07:36 AM

I appreciate the feedback. The fender is the least of my worries, it's going bye bye, as is all of the rest of the plastic. If I run a fender at all, it will be a small one, up high, near the headlight, and I'll make a louver or stone guard for the radiator. That's about it.
As far as the tires are concerned, those Kendas are nowhere near aggressive enough. They might be okay for a little gravel here and there but it's not what I'm looking for.

Judo Fire · February 13th, 2021, 07:42 AM

If I'm looking at Kenda tires, think more along the lines of the K784 Big Block.

February 12th, 2021, 02:38 PM	#1
Judo Fire ninjette.org newbie Name: Justin Location: Southern Michigan Join Date: Feb 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2017 Kawasaki Z125, 2007 EX250F, 1986 FXSTC Posts: 4	130/80 up front, 140/80 out back?? Anyone done it? Good afternoon. I just joined the forum today. Im going to start a brat tracking scrambler type build soon (or a scrambling tracker brat). I was searching all OVER the web, trying to find dual sport tires and knobby front tires for a 17" wheel are basically non-existent. In fact, the ONLY thing I could find, that didn't look like a mere wet-pavement tire (that actually had some lugs), were rear tires. The narrowest rear tire was a 130. Any idea if that will work up front? I'm not planning on dragging my knee around paved corners with this thing, it will be a true 50/50 dual sport that will get plenty of riding in the sandy ATV trails of northern Michigan, so I do need a fairly aggressive dual sport tire. As far as the rear tire goes, I was planning on getting a 140/80 unless someone thinks it's fine to run a 150/70. I'm assuming an offset sprocket kit may be in order to pull it off, and Im not totally against modifying the swing arm if need be (will I need to?) but how well would a 150 fit on the factory wheel? Speaking of wheels, I looked into aftermarket wheels as well, to maybe go wider, and I can't find much info. BTW, the actual bike I will be modifying is a 2007, but after much research, dual sport tires for 16" wheel are even fewer and further between than they are for 17s....and the few I could find, didn't even look like dual sport tires, they looked like wet-pavement tires for an Enduro. Which wouldn't be worth the crap on a muddy trail. I already know I will have to swap in a J swing arm, brakes, axle, etc and I'm good with that if it gets me the tires I need.....and since I'll be swapping all that stuff anyway, is there a different model bike that I should be looking at? Something compatible with the 250 frame that holds a wider factory wheel? I'm kind of new to this stuff. I've done a lot of wrenching and offroading over the years (Jeeps) and I'm a metal fabricator and fabrication engineer by trade with a full fab shop at my disposal. I know my way around a shop, I'm just new to sport bikes.

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February 12th, 2021, 08:30 PM	#2
Artruck ninjette.org member Name: Ben Location: Lawrence Join Date: Jul 2018 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ex250 (black), silver 2005 ex250 scrambler, 2003 ex250 donor bike, 2006 kymco people 250 Posts: 73	Don’t run a dual sport/adv rear tire on the front. To run a rear tire on the front it’s best to run it reverse direction and that wouldn’t work with the tread design. Also if the bike is an 07 with the 16s I would just find dual sport tires that size. Don’t switch everything to 17 (which are not as strong for off road use as the 16s) just to fit tires. Look for Kenda k671 tires. You can fit 130/90 in the back and front on the pre-gen 250s. It slows the turn in, but otherwise rides very nice and the front has a pointier profile than a rear for better handling. You will need a new front fender, other wise everything JUST fits with a bit of room.

February 13th, 2021, 07:36 AM	#3
Judo Fire ninjette.org newbie Name: Justin Location: Southern Michigan Join Date: Feb 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2017 Kawasaki Z125, 2007 EX250F, 1986 FXSTC Posts: 4	I appreciate the feedback. The fender is the least of my worries, it's going bye bye, as is all of the rest of the plastic. If I run a fender at all, it will be a small one, up high, near the headlight, and I'll make a louver or stone guard for the radiator. That's about it. As far as the tires are concerned, those Kendas are nowhere near aggressive enough. They might be okay for a little gravel here and there but it's not what I'm looking for.

February 13th, 2021, 07:42 AM	#4
Judo Fire ninjette.org newbie Name: Justin Location: Southern Michigan Join Date: Feb 2021 Motorcycle(s): 2017 Kawasaki Z125, 2007 EX250F, 1986 FXSTC Posts: 4	If I'm looking at Kenda tires, think more along the lines of the K784 Big Block.