VF500 Tires??

Got some stuff to do on my 500 this winter, one of which is replace the tires.
Through some research I've narrowed it down to: Pirelli Sport Demons, Avon Roadriders, and Metzeler Lasertecs.
My Questions are:
What kind do you recommend? I'll mostly be commuting but I'd also like to be able to do track days/ flying miles.
What size? Is wider any better? I currently have worn-out 100/90 and 120/90 Dunlop GT501s. I've read that I can go up to 130/80 on the rear and 120/70 on the front. Is this true? I'd like to get V-Rated tires as well.

Also planning on doing the CBR Shock conversion if it effects tire selection.
Thanks!

 

I ran stock sized Pirelli Sport Demons on my VF750F and they were great. Good wear and feedback in the corners. They would let you know when you were getting near their limit. They also handled commuting very well, not squaring off like the Metzlers that came on my VFR. I really liked them.

 

You may want to consider the Bridgestone Battlax tire. I run them on my '86 500, 750 and am planning to put them on my 1000 this winter. On the 500, I'm running the stock size up front and I went 1 over on the rear.

 

Just realized that I currently have a worn out set of Dunlop Elites- not the GT501s.
How are the Dunlops? The closest sizes they have to stock are 110/90 or 120/80 for the front and 120/90 or 130/80 for the rear.

 

the gt501's are stickier than the elites but the front tire will loose you abit of stability cause it has a different profile. Nvr ran one in the rear but i know my metzler is fairing very well at 130-90, alot better than the dunlop qualifier or elite II i had run in the past.

 

Thanks for the input, guys!
Does anyone know if a 110 will fit up front? I'd like V-Rated tires and the extra 10mm gives me much more options.

 

I have the Bridgestone BT45's on both of my bikes, stock sizes, and I'm happy with them. The only thing I have to compare them to are the Dunlops that were stock on the Ninja 250, and they are night and day better than the Dunlops. The Interceptor had the BT45's on it when I got it, so nothing to compare them to.

 

The shock won't help you with tire selection. The problem is that although you can sqeeze a bigger tire out back, you don't want to. It really just messes things up by folding the tire under and doesn't make it much wider. Another kicker is that the tires available in the stock (or near stock) sizes are bias ply construction, which sucks. There are few exceptions that are radials, but they aren't real good either, at least not even close to today's standards.

The best way to get good rubber on your VF500F is to switch wheels. I don't roll around on stock tires on any of my VF's anymore!

 

I looked into your wheel conversions as well, but the 500 is my first bike and I'm not sure if I'm going to keep it for a while or get something else in a year or two- I don't really want to spend as much as I paid for the bike on wheels and tires if I'm going to get rid of it.
Does anyone know if a 110 up front will fit?

 

Yes it will, but don't do it. I loved Dunlop radials on my VFR but on my 500 the Bias-ply actually caused dangerous handling behavior on the bike specifically because the tire sizes were wrong. Later, I foolishly bought and fit a 120/130 combo for my 500, and it wasn't worth it, especially as I became a better rider. Go with stock tires. Now the Dunlops I had were the predecessors to the GT501s, but 500 list guys reported that they were the same crap, and they just don't work on those bikes. BT45s have been the standard for the past several years for 500 listers. I have read really good things about the Perelli's, but the Avons are V rated and seem like a good tire, and the Metzler's compounds were updated, but the looks are still uhg. Here let me break things down as a long time 500 owner (my first bike):

Wider tires: When I first got my 500 some idiot on a GSX-R 600 told me my tires weren't wide enough and I'd lever be able to lean over all the way. Complete ignorant BS. Just ask some of the guys who have torn up Deals Gap. The problem is a wider tire slows down the bike, not speeds it up. There isn't much in the way of horse power any way, why put a heavier tire on. But the biggest thing is handling. The 500 Interceptor is a handling motorcycle. It loves railing corners and wider tires make it turn and flick slower. Also, if you pick the wrong bigger sizes it will create poor handling effects that you DO NOT want. The stock sizes are perfect for the bike, get only those, especially if you want to sell it in the future. It will make you look more competent as a bike owner.

H or V rated tires: If you can really push the 500 to the point that you need or can even tell the difference then you belong in the AMA and Mladen had better be damn glad he just retired. The 500 can only do 125mph, and H rated tires are good for 131mph. V rated are only good for 19mph more. Do you plan on doing more than 131 mph all the time?

Wheel upgrade: Only if and when you think/feel it's worth it.

The Gist: Get stock sized tires in the models you first listed. Add BT45 to your choice list and take out any Dunlops (they don't even have the VF500F in their fitment chart). Pick a set of tires (looks might be the deciding factor in that group). Ride and be happy.

Rich

 

I concurr, if you are running the stock wheels then it's best to use the correct sized tires on them.

You might try running a set of Kenda tires. That brand is often referred to as junk because they are Chinese, but I installed a set for a friend a couple of years back and was actually inpressed. He was in a similar situation, he wasn't sure how much longer he would have his 500 so he didn't want to dump a bunch of money into it. The Kenda tires were less than $50 each (I think) and I was expecting the worst. They were pretty sticky and the wear rate was good. He rode them for almost two seasons and they were still going strong.

 

Thanks for the info!
I just got a lead on some F2 wheels for dirt cheap so it looks like I'm going to do the swap. But a few questions regarding the front- here's a copy/paste from Jamie's website:

# The VF500F kit for use with the F1 wheel is for applications using the stock forks and un-modified wheel.
# The VF500 F2 wheel kit requires machining of the F2 front wheel. Machining details included with the kit. Front wheels do not need modified for use on VF700/750/1000 applications.
# The VF500 front kit for use with the F2 wheel requires the use of the original VF500 rotors.

I'm probably just over thinking this, but it says that the F1 wheel is for stock forks; but makes no mention the forks for the F2 wheel. Am I correct in assuming that either wheel can be used with stock forks?
Do the stock brakes need to be modified?
Thanks!

 

All of my kits are for use with the stock forks and brakes - nothing needs changed there. The F2 front wheel machining is the big item for the 500's. My equipment is not large enough to machine a wheel, so you'll have to source a machine shop locally for that work. Figure on between $150-200 unless you can find a shop that really needs the work.

Shoot me an e-mail if you have any other questions about the kits I offer.