front tire 120/80-16 VS 130/90-16

[racerrad8]

So who is willin' to comment on the idea that the 16" wheel is what the bike was designed for, not 17" and performs better. 

I'll comment...

I rode the heck out of my 86 with the 16". Once I put the Avon radials on the bike it changed the complete characteristics of the bike. In fact the first two rallies I attended with my stock 16" wheel FJ.

Once I designed the RPM fork valves is when I realized I was going to have to upgrade.

I was able to ride the bike so much harder that problems started to arise. Not so much with the tire/wheel but with the brakes. Since the front forks were now operating at a much more controlled manner, the control of the bike was much greater, I was able to ride into any corner really deep. That in turn showed the weakness of the front brakes.

I was warping the front rotors every time I rode the bike hard. I warped a set in Porterville. Since I had to go home to fix the transmission on my FJ, I installed anther set of straight rotors I had. I warped that set in Colorado.

The took care of that for me, a late model set of lowers, a FZR1000 wheel and blue spot went on after that.

So, the change to the 17 does many things for you. I offers you much more tire selection options, better and larger brake rotors and blue spot calipers.

My wife's FJ still sports the 16" with an Avon. Robert has been riding that FJ at all of the recent rallies and does very well with it.

Randy - RPM