Supermotos with a rear drum?

[DMCpro]

Hi I've got a Suzuki ts 125 x it's got a rear drum I need some sumos for road riding because Tarmac ruins my knob(lies)

Any ideas? I have full work shop access to any tools I could possibly need bar a lathe

Sorry if there's any problems with spelling or grammar I'm on an iPhone


Thanks in advance
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Honda CB-1, TS125X
VW Golf Estate

[stevo as b4]

Surely you need to measure the clearance in the swingarm first to see what width 17" tyre you can fit in there? To do this I'd measure the overall diameter of various sized 17" wheel tyre combinations that are likely to fit, and use the spindle centre point at about the middle of the chain adjustment slot in the swingarm.

For example if say a 17" wheel/tyre was 20" in overall diameter for say a 130/70/17, then measure 10" forward from the spindle centre point and then mark the arm and take a width measurement.

You need to look at chain clearance as well as sometimes tyre width is limited by chain and not swingarm width. It might be possible if things are just a bit tight to use a narrower gauge chain and sprockets, to get the clearance you need, but it's not idea.

Then you need to select a rear rim width that is correct for the tyre size you want to run, and have it laced to your hub.

The other option is to look at bikes with narrow cast 17" wheels and do a conversion that way making new spacers as required to get them to fit, and get the rear sprocket to line up. You might struggle getting a 17" drum braked cast rear wheel in the correct size. I've never looked at a TS125X but I suspect you might have to run around a 130section rear tyre as a maximum and a 100/70 or 110/70 front?

The Honda MTX125 is limited to tyres around these sizes for example.

[Fladdem]

Have you thought about something like the Avon Distanzias? I had some Pirelli MT90 scorpion type things on my Varadero 125, similar tyre tread to the avons, and those tyres were good enough to get the footpegs dragging and to get the knee down or the back end out on occasions. Obviously I was running 18 front 17 inch back, whereas you might have 21 inch front and 18 rear, could case weirdness, but may work out cheaper to buy the tyres than to try to get some 17's. They lasted really well, I believe they were original and had done 15,000 before my dad bought the bike off me. I know what you mean about the tarmac destroying knobs though, I just got 800 miles out of my last tyre, Metzeler 6 days, and it's only a TTR250
Hope this helps.
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Current:1991 Honda MT50 (Soon to be a H100/MTX/MT5 hybrid), 1976 Honda Cub C70, 2005 Honda Varadero 125, 1993 Yamaha TTR250 Open Enduro , 2010 Road Legal Stomp YX140, 1994 Honda CRM 250 MK III, 1999 Cagiva Mito 125, 1992 Honda CB400 Super Four, Stomp T4 230, 1984 Honda H100s, 2009 Sym XS125K
Past:2003 Aprilia RS125, 1982 Kawasaki GPZ550(FREE BIKE!)
I'm having more fun than a well-oiled midget.