Time for new tires- Stock size or bigger for my vf500?

My bike's previous owner had put a 120mm rear tire on the bike(up from 110) but kept the 100m front.
Is there any benefit with the wider rear tire? or should I get a 110?
Thanks!

 

No benefit on your bike. In fact, it probably slows steering and screws up handeling.

Stock sizes brother! You'll be happy.

BZ

 

I just put a 110 up front and a 120 in the back... The bike handles differently; it seems a little more stable going straight, but a little more unstable in the turns. It could just be me though, it was the first ride of the season. :crazy:

Also, the 110 up front is rubbing on my fender.

 

I went one over on the rear, but left the front stock. I like the wider tire on the rear because it is a little more tire contact on the road. As pjrocco stated, the 110 on the front rubs, so you might want to leave that stock.

 

im running a 110 front and a 150 rear and so far my bike handles like a champ no down side there:crazy:

 

i ran a 140 rear with stock 100 front on my 86 vf500, and loved it.

 

on my nighthawk i went from 110/80 & 140/70 to 120/70 & 160/60. it looked a hundred times better and seemed to perform much better too! but every bike is different. it is as big gamble to fork out the cash before you know the outcome... i wasnt even sure if it would fit let alone perform. i got very lucky it was very close!

 

Matt:

I’m not going to turn this into a pissing contest. If people want to put fatter tires on their older VFR’s go for it. The only thing I’m doing is speaking from experience.

The 4th gen VFR stock sizes are 120/70 front and 170 rear. When I had a 3rd gen it had a 180 rear and handled great. When I picked up the 97 it had a 180 rear on it too. When I started to practice cornering in my local parking lot I realized immediately the 97 was a pig to turn. I adjusted the suspension, still a pig. I had no idea why until fellow VFRW member RVFR enlightened me that the stock rear tire size is 170. I started doing track days and bought new tires. The 97 turns and handles fantastic now and I wish I had known what the problem was before hand.

In these times that fat tire craze has people stuffing tires on their older bikes that just kill the handling.

People, if you want fatter tires, but don’t swap out rims to accommodate if that’s an option, then have fun.

BZ out!

 

It's not your imagination; the handeling sucks when cornering.

BZ

 

I've put a larger rear tire on my old FZ 700 and seemed fine on the street UNTILL I went out with a few racing buddys of mine and found out the hard way when you get to greater lean angles you will wash out the rear and crash because the tire profile is messed up due to narrow rim width.
go ahead put it on go out and try and drag a knee you will crash every time.

 

stock is always good

 

not trying to turn this in to a pissing contest, im just tell the guy that ive not had a problem with the tires on my bike and its worked out really well. not trying to upset anyone here.

but im running a f2 rear wheel also so

 

You've got the F2 wheel, that's why you have no problems.

No worries, not offended.

BZ