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Dual Sport tires for gs450L

  • Thread starter Thread starter getoffmysoil
  • Start date Start date
G

getoffmysoil

Guest
Hey Does anyone know of any dual sport tires that would fit a 1982 gs450L? the rear wheel is 16 inch(smaller than other gs450's i think) and the front is 19.
Ive been able to find tires from separate manufacturers for the front or back but not a matching set available in both sizes.

Front: 90/90-19 Rear: 120/90-16.
 
A matched set might be hard to find. Are you changing the stock L bars out? The pull backs may be wonky feeling off roading. The L doesn't have the best suspension for rough stuff either. Is it a total makeover to come up with a dual sport type bike? The bike is light and nimble with decent power and 6 speed to find the right power band.

Here's a rear tire:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/14732/i/bridgestone-tw40-trail-wing-dual-sport-rear-tire

Up a size for front:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/63955/i/continental-trail-attack-2-front-tire
 
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cool thanks for the links. The bars on it now are almost straight tracker bars. I was given the bike and it was pretty much stripped by the previous owner so i have to replace everything anyway. I'm not intending to ride the bike on anything too rough off road, just a lot of logging roads. To be honest though i don't have much of a clue what i'm doing. Any other tips on how to make the gs450 a little more dirt worthy would be greatly appreciated.
 
Over on ADVrider, a few folks have tried much the same thing with Hondas and Suzukis with 16" rears.

Here's the subforum over there where there are lots of other people making dual-sports out of totally inappropriate machinery.
http://advrider.com/index.php?forums/some-assembly-required.83/

That rear tire is pretty much it in a 16", but it should work OK. For the front, you might also look for a 2.75X19, 3.00X19, or 90/100-19. Be aware that many dual-sport tires require tubes.

Here's the TW39:
http://www.amazon.com/Bridgestone-Trail-Enduro-Motorcycle-100-19/dp/B005J8WX0S


To research goofy tire sizes, American Moto Tire has a very handy tire size selector that will show you everything that's available in a given size.
http://www.americanmototire.com
Great vendor, too -- great prices, free fast shipping.


Overall, sure, you can make a fun little explorer that will go lots of places. You'll need to go slow because the short-travel street suspension will beat the hell out of you on rough stuff. Depending on how gnarly you get, you may want to fabricate a skid plate to protect the engine's soft underbelly and the pipes.
 
thanks a lot for the tire tip and the link to advrider. i was going to get the tw40 for the rear and i guess the tw39 is the corresponding front tire. hah i realize the gs will never be a full on dual sport but the bike was free and im surrounded by forest roads so i might as well have a little fun with it. Any suggestions for rear shocks? the P.O. had really short solid struts on it. thanks again
 
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Has anyone tried to put a 130/80/17 TKC80 rear tire on a gs450?? they dont make a 120 i guess
 
getoffmysoil said:
Has anyone tried to put a 130/80/17 TKC80 rear tire on a gs450?? they dont make a 120 i guess
Click to expand...

I thought your 450L has a 16" rear rim? Anyway, a 130 size may be cutting it close to touching the chain guard and/or the swingarm never mind that you'll be squeezing on a rim that may be closer to a 110 size stock tire anyway. The TKC80 is also a pretty aggressive dual sport tread that may squirm and be noisy on the highway. Let's face it, you will be doing 90% pavement riding right? Remember, the bike suspension is not a dual sport setup and if you do a complete makeover, then save your $ and get a decent used KLR or DL650 and be happier with the results.
 
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Keep your 19" front but find a rear wheel from a non L 450, it will be 18" and will work a lot better on gravel and dirt.
 
lurch12_2000 said:
I thought your 450L has a 16" rear rim? Anyway, a 130 size may be cutting it close to touching the chain guard and/or the swingarm never mind that you'll be squeezing on a rim that may be closer to a 110 size stock tire anyway. The TKC80 is also a pretty aggressive dual sport tread that may squirm and be noisy on the highway. Let's face it, you will be doing 90% pavement riding right? Remember, the bike suspension is not a dual sport setup and if you do a complete makeover, then save your $ and get a decent used KLR or DL650 and be happier with the results.
Click to expand...

yeah i figured a 130 would be cutting it close. i live on a mountain surrounded by dirt and logging roads so ill probably use the bike on hard packed dirt more than pavement. I don't plan on using it to commute or anything. i was looking at the tkc80 but i don't want it to be uncomfortable or noisy when i use it on pavement at speed.
 
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