Front Tyre for KE175 - 275/21 (pic) Choice of two tyres.

Matt Freeman · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

Hi guys. So I just bought this lovely bike and she needs a new front tyre.
I'm concidereing either this for £40:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400428836507?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

or this for £20:
Maxxis CST
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/275-21-C858-Tube-Type-Universal-Trail-Maxxis-CST-Tyre-/261317476642?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3cd7bc4122

The latter being a bargain! (Which makes me suspicious.)
Anyone ever heard of Maxxis CST? Anything to say?

Thanks. Here she is:
https://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n528/handmadematt/2013-11-10145300_zpse5ab7a22.jpg

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

Can't give any advice on the tyre, but the bike looks lovely.

Matt Freeman · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

Thanks Garth. I'm really pleased with it.
She's all original including the paint. There's a charming patina in places which reminds one that she is 35 years old!

stevo as b4 · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Jul 2003 Karma :

That's a beauty! I'd want to make the front and rear guards the same colour as the tank though personally, but I know that's not originally how they were.

Matt Freeman · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

Stevo. I know what you mean about the guards.
I'm tempted to fit a black one on the front and keep the original wrapped in the loft.

Matt Freeman · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

I went for a Pirelli MT 43 in the end.
It's great, it looks the part as well as being far superior to the cheap alternatives. It has a similar tread pattern to the original equipment.

Incidentally, I have made a colour change to the mud guards. I didn't want to ruin their originality though so I vinyl wrapped them in black. That way it can easily be undone and just peeled off.
I'm pleased with the results. I'll try and throw a picture up at some point.

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

Yeah, but if you've got ice white mudguards & a faded tank? or for that matter a really deep green tank and yellowed mudguards? Wouldn't be a great look. Would look like it's a poorly done restoration off e-bay.
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garth · World Chat Champion Joined: 15 Dec 2004 Karma :

_Iain_ · Banned Joined: 01 Feb 2012 Karma :

Matt Freeman · Two Stroke Sniffer Joined: 13 Jul 2011 Karma :

Here she is with the new guard colour:
https://i1138.photobucket.com/albums/n528/handmadematt/2013-11-28094751_zpsea6c182e.jpg

The tank is in origional paint, already faded and worn in a really attractive way. The white guards were (are) equally faded and worn. It's really going to make no difference at all to anything. It'll just peel off or be left on.

Who's Lizzy Boyce anyway? I don't read magazines.

stinkwheel · Bovine Proctologist Joined: 12 Jul 2004 Karma :

An 80/90 21 would almost certainly fit. A bit wider than a 275 (just over 1/4" wider so check the distance between the forks, it'll fit on the rim though). Gives you a much wider selection of tyres.

Just so you know.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.