Coker Firestone Champion Fatty Tire question....

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

As my Cafe project nears completion, I find myself day dreaming a new look for my 78 Standard Basket Case. I am really digging the Firestone Champion tires, and want to center the build around that. The 500-16 tire looks sick as hell. Planning to run one on the back, but I also want one on the front Twisted Evil

I am wondering if anyone has laced a 16" wheel to the front of their XS and if that big ol tire will fit?

calicruiser

i have not laced a 16 to the front but I doubt it would fit. that 500-16 is pretty fat and the front forks aren't. I run a 400-19 up front and it looks sweet.

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

That sucks. I was hoping I might get one to fit.

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

what width rim you running on the 500-16?

BigGeorge · Full Member Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Posts: 267

I have seen only one 16" tire on the front of a xs650 but the owner had to custom make wider trees so the tire fit between the forks.. Kind of gave it the wide glide look...........BG

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

I saw a bobber on the back cover of the Horse rag this month...which gave me the idea. It was running a springer front end though. Might have to look what it would cost to rig the bike up with something like that to allow the fatter tire. Wish I could remember the website for the company that build the bike. Looked sick as hell!! Thinking a nice fatty tire in the front and some apes like these:

That second bike was built by a group of local highschool students in a shop class Cool

BigGeorge · Full Member Joined: Apr 13, 2008 Posts: 267

I Think the bike you are refering to is "The Drifter" by Flyrite choppers.. It looks good with the 16" tires front and rear because it also has a stretched frame with a 120 inch motor. Everything on the bike is BIG.. I have seen only one xs650 with 16" tires front and rear and with wider forks it now makes the engine look too small when you look at the bike as a unit...If you follow the builds in "The Horse" you will notice a trend away from fat tires and back to 18" rears and 19" fronts.. I think our xs650s look great when you run a 4.50 x18 rear with a 4.00 x19 front... Just my opinion...............BG

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

that might be it...although the bike was red, and I don't think it was raked out. Will have to check tonight when I get home

calicruiser

hey man just came across this bike. it has a 16 front that fits inside the xs forks BUT the dude says he had to shave the inside of the fork legs to make it work. . . IMO BAD IDEA!!!!!! I know someone who did just that to make a 21" work on his xs and it cracked, literally. He had to replace the fork lower. it does look slick though!!

www.650motorcycles.com...sBike.html

josh

MN_TX650 · Full Member Joined: Jul 17, 2008 Posts: 331

I am thinking it would look better with the springer in front...and be safer than shaving the forks. But definately the fat look I am going for! The chopper on the back of the Horse is called the Salt Shaker...built by Flyrite or build from their parts atleast.

scotts

I'm wondering if any of these Firestone's (or look-alikes) will fit with a front fender?
I bobbed the front fender on my Brat Style project bike. Right now, it has "stock" tires on it. They're brand new and I'm hesitant to replace them, but those style bikes just SCREAM for some Firestones.

calicruiser

scotts wrote:

I'm wondering if any of these Firestone's (or look-alikes) will fit with a front fender?
I bobbed the front fender on my Brat Style project bike. Right now, it has "stock" tires on it. They're brand new and I'm hesitant to replace them, but those style bikes just SCREAM for some Firestones.

yeah that style really does need the firestones to pull it off and NO front fender! i dont think i have seen a brat bike with a front fender! toss it man

josh

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