ducatipaso.org

Hi everyone! First time poster... Paso Noob....

My 1990 906 w/ 44,000 klicks arrives in a little over a week, with a set of half-worn Michelin radials on board. Here it is: http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing ... =265019797

And of course, I am half a universe away in New Zealand and I'm already freaking out about the tyre situation, and will most likely convert to a 17" rear at some point.

I feel pretty relaxed about running a 130/70 x 16 on the front of the bike ($299 each! ARGH!) but I can't stand the idea of a horrible 150/80 on the rear. That just wrecks the look of the whole bike in my view.

However, I found this tyre: Bridgestone Excedra G722 OE Rear Tire - 170/70H-16 TL/
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/ ... C_ID=10010

which is nominally H-rated and is meant for cruiser bikes....

I can't find the specification for the thing though, and want to know if anyone has fitted it - or if it is rated for fitment to a 5" rear wheel like the 906.

I need to say that I'm a 44 year old man who hasn't ridden in 20 years, and in NZ we lose our licence at 140 km/h, so it is unlikely I will ever exceed 160 klicks on the Paso. So an H-rated tyre shouldn't be a problem - right?

Any advice greatly appreciated. Thanks all.

this data may help:
the bridgestone excedra G722 170/70 R16 - 173mm (6.8 in.) wide, 25.3 in. dia.4.5" rim recommended
a better choice may be:
the bridgestone exedra G704 180/60 R16 - 175mm (6.9 in.) wide, 24.5 in. dia. 5 in. rim recommended
or perhaps this one:
the metzler ME880 180/60 R16 - 174mm (6.85 in.) wide, 24.76" dia. 5 in. rim recommended
maxi scooter tires may fit, no one has tried yet (?)
the avon AM63 Viper Stryke 140/70P R16 - 140 mm (5.5 in.) wide, 23.7 in. dia. 4.5" rim recommended

for the front tire, a scooter tire has been fitted with success:
the michelin pilot soprt sc 120/70H R16 supossedly the same diameter as an A59 and 120mm wide 3.5" rim recommended

i hope this helps. please keep us in the loop regarding your final fitments and good luck! welcome back...

best, randy.

you should first talk to the tire manufacturers to see if these models are recommended for a bike like the Paso or not explaining them the current tire situation and charachteristics of the Paso.

140/70 and 120/70-16 are a no go.
170/70-16 was never used as far as I know of. The rolling radius is about perfectly identical to the one of the 150/80 so you`ll run in the same swingarm clearance issues and being about as wide as a 180/60-16 you`ll probably have the same chain/tire clearance issues as that size so you may end up with the main problems of both alteratives.

HR is not an issue at all. Even german TÜV will approve that and they are very strict.

...but I can't stand the idea of a horrible 150/80 on the rear. That just wrecks the look of the whole bike in my view.

And a 3-spoke 17" rear in combination with the Oscam rim in the front, doesn`t ?!

G.

Mobius,

Looks like you beat me to it!! Had emailed Dave about the 906 but I was too slow in following it up, you were quick enough. It sounds like a great buy, well done.
Cheers,

Fraser.

Hi Fraser, yeah thanks, after chatting to Dave he seemed like a pretty straight up dude (he's 62 years old) - so I sent him $500 to hold it for me pending a PPI - which was done yesterday at H.O.G.E.D Customs in Napier - but I have yet to see the report. I am not anticipating any problems apart from trivial items. The fact he also runs a 900SS seems to indicate a long-time Ducati fan, and these people (like 928 enthusiasts - see below) tend to look after their machines like their own children.

G. - yes - I understand exactly what you're saying... However.... the tyre/wheel *profile* is what detracts from the side view, and the size of the brake and swingarm/chain/sprocket do a pretty good job of hiding the wheel at the back. I saw a Paso with a different rear wheel not that long ago - and it took me a few seconds to notice it. It didn't look bad at all IMO.

Randy - thanks so much for that detailed information. I will make sure I talk to the distributor before I fit any 16" tyres at all. And when/if I do, I'll make sure to post back. Unfortunately, having not ridden a bike (at all!) since my GSXR400 in 1989 (I have also owned a Ninja 900, GPZ750, XR500, XR250, RD250, and FZ750) I will not have the foggiest idea of how good any tyre is - and given my advanced years, and appreciation of my own mortality, I doubt I will be able to say much about them. All I know is that tyre technology has come a LONG way since I started fitting Michelin radials 23 years ago - so even the most budget tyre today is probably better than the best tyre back then. (It's certainly true of rubber for the 928.)

I am still unsure how to proceed in this regard. It does seem to be a real issue, and if I can find some wheels from a Monster (as my buddy has done for his 906) then I may replace both wheels. Alternatively, I understand a set of GSXR wheels works too. My bud's dad is an excellent engineer, and has restored several classic bikes - so he is definitely more than able to do the conversion - so given the real issues with selecting tyres, that is the way I will probably go.

I hate making these sorts of decisions: at least with my Porsche 928S the only part not made any more is the "P O R S C H E" sticker which goes on the rear panel. And my car is 28 years old! Parts are also not that expensive, generally, but let's not talk about the labour involved!

As I intend to only run the bike during the summer months (and the best of winter days) I can take it off the road for a few weeks to get the wheel switched over...

P.S. my avatar is the bike I *really* want. I can ride it like this to protect my powerup. Hehe.

Welcome on board.
I hope you enjoy your Paso and good luck with the tires.
Ciao

Hi Mobius. I have just started a topic on the 180/60/16 I fitted - you may be interested. By the way, I'm in Hawkes Bay.
Cheers, CB