Cal-Vin tire experience anyone?

[Guzzistajohn]

Tire question "fellas" 

My Cal-Vin came with Perelli Sport Demons 140/90 17 REAR & 110/90 18 FRONT (thanks Vintagehoarder) but it's time for a change.

What brand/size do you guys run?? Is it different than other Calis??

I was thinking SHINKO but RevZilla says they don't make these sizes. I'm thinking there must be a substitute.

Thanks,  John in the Sho-Me State

[oldbike54]

 John , have been running Shinkos one size down from stock on the Jackal , 130 17 90 on the rear , 100 18 90 front . The steering will be much quicker going down a size no matter what brand you choose .

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

I kinda thought that was the case, RevZilla just can't advise me on that. Thanks for the comeback 10-4 


777's or 712???

[Guzzidad]

    I just put a Shinko 110/90 18 on the front of my 01 EV and I'm real happy with it. When I need a rear I'll get the matching Shinko. My bike uses a 140/80 17. The tire model I got is called Tour Master and I got it from Dennis Kirk.

[oldbike54]

I kinda thought that was the case, RevZilla just can't advise me on that. Thanks for the comeback 10-4 


777's or 712???

 712'S , have tried the 230's , thought they slowed down the steering a bit , although they were fine . Never tried the 777's . The Shinkos are so cheap the fact that they don't last as long as a Metzler never was of concern .

 Dusty

[Guzzistajohn]

712'S , have tried the 230's , thought they slowed down the steering a bit , although they were fine . Never tried the 777's . The Shinkos are so cheap the fact that they don't last as long as a Metzler never was of concern .

 Dusty

The 712's are $131.00 "less expensive" than the METZ Road tech. From RevZilla. We're ridin' together on that Cowboy 

[Ncdan]

John , have been running Shinkos one size down from stock on the Jackal , 130 17 90 on the rear , 100 18 90 front . The steering will be much quicker going down a size no matter what brand you choose .

 Dusty

+ 1 on the Shinko tire.

[bigbikerrick]

Hey John, you can also go "Up" a size ,at least on the rear. I was running 150mm wide shinkos on the rear of my Cali aluminum. I think that bike has the same size swingarm/rear rim as your calvin.
Rick

[Guzzistajohn]

Thanks rick!

[Dilliw]

I think my EV is better with the smaller 110/80 front tire along with the fork tubes raised (mine are 12mm).  If there’s a penalty it’s that the bike is a little “light” up front at about 85mph, but not what I would call “twitchy” and certainly not concerning. 

I’ve never tried the Shinko’s; I’ve been very happy with the Pilot Activ’s. 

[Guzzistajohn]

I think my EV is better with the smaller 110/80 front tire along with the fork tubes raised (mine are 12mm).  If there’s a penalty it’s that the bike is a little “light” up front at about 85mph, but not what I would call “twitchy” and certainly not concerning. 

I’ve never tried the Shinko’s; I’ve been very happy with the Pilot Activ’s.

I've ran Activ's on the LMII it's a good tire. I want to see what all my tight wad buddies are crowing about on the Shinko's

[janguzzi]

DUNLOP

Front:
110/90 - 18 M/C 61V TL Arrowmax Streetsmart 
Rear:
140/80 - 17 M/C 69V TL Arrowmax Streetsmart

Very good tires.

I was also looking for Michelin Pilot Active but they are not released for the Vintage (in Germany).
The reason for this is the "B" in the papers:
110/90B18 61V
140/80B17 69V
For Dunlop this was not a problem.

[kballowe]

Yes.

Bridgestone Battlax BT45 matched set $208 delivered
https://www.denniskirk.com/bridgestone/battlax-bt45v-tire.pfp540357.prdf?fs=540355&rs=540361

Continental Conti Go matched set $200 delivered
https://www.denniskirk.com/continental/conti-go-tire.pfp543503.prdf?fs=543537&rs=543544

Michilen Pilot Activ matched set $281 delivered
https://www.denniskirk.com/michelin/pilot-activ-tire.pfp542774.prdf?fs=543599&rs=543604

Shinko 230 Tour - using 130/90 rear .vs 140/80 rear and exact match front $155 delivered
https://www.denniskirk.com/shinko/230-tour-master-tire.pfp544683.prdf?fs=544697&rs=544707

[Guzzistajohn]

Should have just called you Kevin. THANKS!

[mtiberio]

John , have been running Shinkos one size down from stock on the Jackal , 130 17 90 on the rear , 100 18 90 front . The steering will be much quicker going down a size no matter what brand you choose .

 Dusty

what he said

[80CX100]

On my CalVin, I found the worn stock Metzler's 808/888? followed road snakes horribly and they never felt as planted as I would've liked.

Replaced with Michelin's Pilot Activ, they seemed to hug the road better, and road snakes don't seem to bother them, fwiw ymmv

Kelly

[rocker59]

Michelin Pilot Activ.   

[Guzzistajohn]

On my CalVin, I found the worn stock Metzler's 808/888? followed road snakes horribly and they never felt as planted as I would've liked.

Replaced with Michelin's Pilot Activ, they seemed to hug the road better, and road snakes don't seem to bother them, fwiw ymmv

Kelly

I have a FB friend that said the same thing about the Metzelers. I ordered the Shinkos, We'll see how it goes.

[Guzzistajohn]

Michelin Pilot Activ.   

I have Activ's on the LMIII grippy but short lived

[stratoguzzi]

I put Bridgestone BT-45s on my California Vintage...nice ride and great grip! But what I like the best is that there are grooves in the center of the tire.It helps to determine tire wear...

[Guzzistajohn]

I put Bridgestone BT-45s on my California Vintage...nice ride and great grip! But what I like the best is that there are grooves in the center of the tire.It helps to determine tire wear...
[/quote

I've ran BT45's on the LeMans also. Good tyre

[vintage53]

Michelin Pilot Activ. .. On my Calvin.  Yes!   

[Kiwi Dave]

Michelin Pilot Activ. .. On my Calvin.  Yes!

Me too!  Front tyre Michelin Pilot Activ 110/90-18 61V; Rear tyre  Michelin Pilot Activ 140/80-17 69H.  I only got less than 6,000 miles out of the Metzlers, but I suspect it was because I was unhappy with them.