Tire Options for our CB1100

[TooSlo_imp]

Our Canadian member, Alain Lee has converted his tube rims to tubeless, and if I recall correctly, he runs OEM sizes 110/140 tubeless tires on his mighty red 2017 EX with sophisticated plane like cockpit.
:biker:

Alain Lee and I run the Outex Kit (tubeless conversions) on both front and rear tires. I am going on three years now, Alain many more years and a few more day long treks. No problems to date.

Alain Lee and I run the Outex Kit (tubeless conversions) on both front and rear tires. I am going on three years now, Alain many more years and a few more day long treks. No problems to date.
Thank you, good to know. The Outex seemed like the clear choice to me. I normally ride the CB1100 to work or around back roads, but I did take it on a 15-day, 8-state solo journey once, so dependability is key. I was also worried about wheel compatibility since I live in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains and the bike gets pushed pretty often, but I see our 2017 EX wheels are MT-rated and should be fine after the Outex kit.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Our Canadian member, Alain Lee has converted his tube rims to tubeless, and if I recall correctly, he runs OEM sizes 110/140 tubeless tires on his mighty red 2017 EX with sophisticated plane like cockpit.
:biker:

Alain Lee and I run the Outex Kit (tubeless conversions) on both front and rear tires. I am going on three years now, Alain many more years and a few more day long treks. No problems to date.

Alain Lee and I run the Outex Kit (tubeless conversions) on both front and rear tires. I am going on three years now, Alain many more years and a few more day long treks. No problems to date.
Thank you, good to know. The Outex seemed like the clear choice to me. I normally ride the CB1100 to work or around back roads, but I did take it on a 15-day, 8-state solo journey once, so dependability is key. I was also worried about wheel compatibility since I live in the foothills of the Smokey Mountains and the bike gets pushed pretty often, but I see our 2017 EX wheels are MT-rated and should be fine after the Outex kit.

Many folks over at the Africa Twin Forum have used the Outex Kit with success. Many others used a cheaper 3M solution with less than 100% success across owners. In any case, surface preparation is paramount in both cases. This is the most important detail.

 

[TooSlo_imp]

might be technically fine, but IMHO they 160 will slow the handing down a bit, they specced the 140 here for a reason, probably to sharpen the handling. either way, yes, a 150/160 will absolutely *technically* be fine on a 4" rim, and id guess most wont notice any difference.

Right. I would prefer the 140 for neutrality, but selection is becoming sparse...Doing the tubeless kit at the least would allow me to run 140-160, and both tubed or not, meaning I'll always have a tire option even if out of town when it fails.

Trust me, I'm also a Gold Wing owner, and the number of "Darkside" folks that I have to explain motorcycle tires to have made me well-versed in "don't out-think the Honda engineers"...But now the tire market is speaking against our low-volume tire size and I need to expand the offerings.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Tube tires are well used on the Africa Twin Forum by folks who take to off-roading regularly. They like the option to lower the pressure and hit impediments hard and not worry about the bead giving way. Hence, tubes are paramount.

 

[Tev62]

I literally, yesterday, put on a T32. bridgestone. rode it this morning, extended ride in, it's brilliant handling.

don't get me started on the darkside weirdos, the concours group had a lot of those guys as well.

I also don't realistically get the aversion to tubes, (ive heard the arguments and think most are bs) ... most of my bikes are spoked wheels, would love to get a set of spoked rims for my '14. I can count on 1 hand the number of flats i've had int he past 20 years, and i ride all my bikes a lot. but to each their own.

It can be feast or famine. I have been very unlucky the last few years with multiple punctures. When in a group last year, I got a puncture far from home, but had it fixed in 10 minutes at little inconvenience to the group. A few months back in another group a fella got a puncture on his tubed wheel, had to get towed and took a ride home in a car. He spent hours and hours arguing with the breakdown service who only wanted to take him to a local bike shop for repair and not back home. The bike shops were closed (Sunday) It was a total faff.

I'll never buy a tubed bike again. Some forum members will know I had my EX-wheels converted to Tubeless by Bartfactory in Italy, great job it was too and a pair of Bridgestone T31's in stock size went on.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

Maximally agree. I have no interest in tubed rims for road riding.

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

lol - my first motorcycle with tubes is the 2019 Honda Africa Twin.

I never would have thought - but is understandable from a wider view of the use domain.

 

[mvk24_imp]

to the point, i would gladly trade my mags for a set of wire wheels on the CB if anyone wanted to. (i know the chance of this is zero).

perimeter spoked tubeless wheels would def be the best option IMHO.

I'd trade if I had spokes for sure.

I have 1 extra front wheel but its a 2 tone mag from a deluxe model.

Eventually I wanna have a spare set of wheels with knobbies on it just to look bratty on bike nights or something haha.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[mvk24_imp]

i mean.. its all preference. But, also, spoked wheels allow for wider rims to correctly get the wider tire/rim combo you want. same bike.. IMHO, the wire wheels really make it. Can even down sizt to 17's if so desired for even more options (mine are 18s though).



this pic is from today:

Great looking bike! Love those gold wheels. What's the original model of that yamaha? I have a few Xj600 Secas

I have a weakness for gold rims, the only Harley model I like is the Dyna Low rider S with the gold wheels also. Funny how even in used condition guys are always listing them 3k over MSRP though

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[misterprofessionality]

i mean.. its all preference. But, also, spoked wheels allow for wider rims to correctly get the wider tire/rim combo you want. same bike.. IMHO, the wire wheels really make it. Can even down sizt to 17's if so desired for even more options (mine are 18s though).



this pic is from today:

Great looking bike! Love those gold wheels. What's the original model of that yamaha? I have a few Xj600 Secas

I have a weakness for gold rims, the only Harley model I like is the Dyna Low rider S with the gold wheels also. Funny how even in used condition guys are always listing them 3k over MSRP though

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

That's because they paid 5k over MSRP for it once the dealer was.done bamboozling them and they're underwater on a balloon payment.

 

[mvk24_imp]

i mean.. its all preference. But, also, spoked wheels allow for wider rims to correctly get the wider tire/rim combo you want. same bike.. IMHO, the wire wheels really make it. Can even down sizt to 17's if so desired for even more options (mine are 18s though).



this pic is from today:

Great looking bike! Love those gold wheels. What's the original model of that yamaha? I have a few Xj600 Secas

I have a weakness for gold rims, the only Harley model I like is the Dyna Low rider S with the gold wheels also. Funny how even in used condition guys are always listing them 3k over MSRP though

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

That's because they paid 5k over MSRP for it once the dealer was.done bamboozling them and they're underwater on a balloon payment.

great point

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[peterbaron]

Nice bike, nice colour an a smoky!
No complaints

 

[GoldOxide_imp]

i mean.. its all preference. But, also, spoked wheels allow for wider rims to correctly get the wider tire/rim combo you want. same bike.. IMHO, the wire wheels really make it. Can even down sizt to 17's if so desired for even more options (mine are 18s though).



this pic is from today:

Great looking bike! Love those gold wheels. What's the original model of that yamaha? I have a few Xj600 Secas

I have a weakness for gold rims, the only Harley model I like is the Dyna Low rider S with the gold wheels also. Funny how even in used condition guys are always listing them 3k over MSRP though

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

(+1) on the weakness. Never thought I would like them, but I do - especially on a "Midnight Special" set-up.

My first inline-4 was a 550 Seca. It was quite different compared to riding the two-smokes.

 

[mvk24_imp]

i mean.. its all preference. But, also, spoked wheels allow for wider rims to correctly get the wider tire/rim combo you want. same bike.. IMHO, the wire wheels really make it. Can even down sizt to 17's if so desired for even more options (mine are 18s though).



this pic is from today:

Great looking bike! Love those gold wheels. What's the original model of that yamaha? I have a few Xj600 Secas

I have a weakness for gold rims, the only Harley model I like is the Dyna Low rider S with the gold wheels also. Funny how even in used condition guys are always listing them 3k over MSRP though

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

(+1) on the weakness. Never thought I would like them, but I do - especially on a "Midnight Special" set-up.

My first inline-4 was a 550 Seca. It was quite different compared to riding the two-smokes.

(+1) on the weakness. Never thought I would like them, but I do - especially on a "Midnight Special" set-up.

My first inline-4 was a 550 Seca. It was quite different compared to riding the two-smokes. Whenever I finally get to grab a chieftain darkhorse with the stage 3 big bore kit I'll probably have the wheels done in that gold/bronze color

And yes a red Xj600 seca was my first bike and a yellow one was the first for my brother also. Very good "all around commuter" bikes. Pretty linear power band but very predictable. I still have both of those bikes they are just in need of some TLC. Gonna rebuild the motor on mine.

But I digress from the tire topic I apologize

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[misterprofessionality]

big news! Metzler just released a brand new Roadtec 02 sport touring tire! Looks to be one of the best performing tires currently in the class. and GUESS WHAT. it comes in 17" and 19" for the front wheel....only......

this entire industry hates us.

 

[mvk24_imp]

big news! Metzler just released a brand new Roadtec 02 sport touring tire! Looks to be one of the best performing tires currently in the class. and GUESS WHAT. it comes in 17" and 19" for the front wheel....only......

this entire industry hates us.

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[peterbaron]

big news! Metzler just released a brand new Roadtec 02 sport touring tire! Looks to be one of the best performing tires currently in the class. and GUESS WHAT. it comes in 17" and 19" for the front wheel....only......

this entire industry hates us.

I”ll take the middle one as a perfect choice

 

[misterprofessionality]

Honestly that's my one and only real unforgivable gripe with the CB1100...the decision to use 18" wheels for "looks" is so baffling. It's like they didn't even bother to consult the tire industry at all. It wouldn't have changed the look of the bike at all to use a 1" smaller wheel, and would have given us way more choices.

 

[mvk24_imp]

Not saying its something I want to do but I wonder if any other 17 or 19 inch wheels or even a front end would fit/work without any modification from a different model.

On the old XJ600s we could basically do a direct swap with the front forks/wheel and all from the yamaha FZR i believe it was. Easy way to do a dual disc conversion on the front and I think the front ends were a dime a dozen from junkyard/crashed fazers

If you wanted to upgrade your rear suspension the rear shock from I believe any of the Vstars would bolt right in also. Yamaha did alot of cross utilization between models. Could even get carb slides/diaphrams from some of their ATV models for way cheaper than if you got them specifically for the XJ600

2014 CB1100, 1981 KZ440 LTD, 1993 Yamaha XJ600 Seca, 1994 Yamaha XJ600 Seca

 

[misterprofessionality]

Believe me....Ive looked into a 17" wheel conversion for our bike from many angles. The cost is high enough that you might as well buy a different bike.