240/40 tyre on a Harley.
240/40 tyre on a Harley.
Author
Discussion

BroadsRS6

Original Poster:

785 posts

69 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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A friend has gone from a 190/55 rear tyre to a 240/40.
For anyone who understands such things what are the downsides if any of such a crazy wide tyre? It's a Fat Boy model.
Ta.

Jazoli

9,678 posts

280 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
quotequote all
Downsides, slower steering, more cost, compromised ride and handling, but no-one seems to care as long as it looks cool rolleyes

conkerman

3,519 posts

165 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Looks to be a solid excuse for insurance not to pay out if it isn't a proper fitment.

bogie

17,098 posts

302 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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He must have fit a new swingarm and wheel, offset front pulley etc....quite an expensive conversion, you cant just fit a 240 onto a 6" rear rim, you need at least 8" rim. So its must be a proper conversion ...that you should inform the insurer of.

Some other Harleys, Ducati Diavel and Triumph Rocket are standard on a 240 rear tyre. It rides better than you think, especially on the latest multi compound tyres from Metzeler. I have no problem to use all the rear 260mm on my V-Rod, although when it gets down to the last 1000 miles or so it does take more effort to get it over onto the edge.


Fleegle

16,710 posts

206 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Main downside is that he lost all credibility by buying a Harley in the first place.


DirtyHarley

478 posts

103 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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Main downsides are price of replacement and worse handling in corners. Ride is a bit smoother in the straights, but corners will run wider and low speed handling feels lumpy.
Personally, as HD rider, I wouldn't go for 240/40 on anything I'd ride with regularity - fine on a show bike, bike for commuting / pleasure riding the trade off of the above isn't worth it in my eyes.

bogie

17,098 posts

302 months

Wednesday 10th March 2021
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I think we are forgetting the obvious part of the equation here, a standard Fat Boy has 26 degrees of ground clearance. Likely the owner wont notice the difference whatever size tyre is on the rear as its not using much more than the centre of the tyre smile

jhoneyball

1,802 posts

306 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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pretty sure there is a 240 on the back of my 2013 VRod NRS. Its fun.

BroadsRS6

Original Poster:

785 posts

69 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
bogie said:
He must have fit a new swingarm and wheel, offset front pulley etc....quite an expensive conversion, you cant just fit a 240 onto a 6" rear rim, you need at least 8" rim. So its must be a proper conversion ...that you should inform the insurer of.

Some other Harleys, Ducati Diavel and Triumph Rocket are standard on a 240 rear tyre. It rides better than you think, especially on the latest multi compound tyres from Metzeler. I have no problem to use all the rear 260mm on my V-Rod, although when it gets down to the last 1000 miles or so it does take more effort to get it over onto the edge.
Yes the bike is much modded and tuned with Screaming Eagle engine parts also. 1905cc and about 120 bhp. Sounds a lot for an HD to me!

Jazoli

9,678 posts

280 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
BroadsRS6 said:
1905cc and about 120 bhp. Sounds a lot for an HD to me!
That's the thing with Harleys, my little Z900 has half the capacity but makes the same power, its sounds like the 'screaming eagle' is more strangled chicken.....biggrin

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

220 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Jazoli said:
That's the thing with Harleys, my little Z900 has half the capacity but makes the same power, its sounds like the 'screaming eagle' is more strangled chicken.....biggrin
Yeah but that's a "motorcycle", this is a "Harley Davidson", completely different things.


bogie

17,098 posts

302 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
Surely for a real fat boy look he should have gone the whole hog to say 300mm smile .....Metzeler even do a 360mm for custom bikes, not that its particularly rideable...280mm is about the limit for real world usability




dibblecorse

7,637 posts

222 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Prof Prolapse said:
Yeah but that's a "motorcycle", this is a "Harley Davidson", completely different things.
Ha ha ha ah aha ha ha ah haha ahahah aa aha ha aha ha .....

I'm presuming your statement was to get some lols ????

Prof Prolapse

16,163 posts

220 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
dibblecorse said:
Prof Prolapse said:
Yeah but that's a "motorcycle", this is a "Harley Davidson", completely different things.
Ha ha ha ah aha ha ha ah haha ahahah aa aha ha aha ha .....

I'm presuming your statement was to get some lols ????
Nope, for once on this subject, I'm not taking the piss.

In my experience, people who like Harleys, like Harleys. They might also like motorcycles, but not always, and they don't have to.

That's why when people point out many of these American cruisers are objectively st compared to many motorcycles, their owners usually don't care, because other motorcycles aren't Harleys, so the drawing of comparisons as Jazoli did, is perfectly valid, but also meaningless.

But we always go around the houses on this forum, and the same comments get said ad nauseum, because people don't understand that distinction, or take some sort of personal offence to it.













LookAtMyCat

464 posts

138 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Jazoli said:
That's the thing with Harleys, my little Z900 has half the capacity but makes the same power, its sounds like the 'screaming eagle' is more strangled chicken.....biggrin
And a Fatboy has twice the soul and riding enjoyment than you'll ever get from a Z900. I just traded in a Z1000 for a Harley and had more fun on the ride home on the Harley than I ever did on the Z1000.

black-k1

12,807 posts

259 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
LookAtMyCat said:
Jazoli said:
That's the thing with Harleys, my little Z900 has half the capacity but makes the same power, its sounds like the 'screaming eagle' is more strangled chicken.....biggrin
And a Fatboy has twice the soul and riding enjoyment than you'll ever get from a Z900. I just traded in a Z1000 for a Harley and had more fun on the ride home on the Harley than I ever did on the Z1000.
The statement about capacity and power is a fact. The statement about soul is an opinion. While it can be fun to mix the two their not really comparable.


black-k1

12,807 posts

259 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
Prof Prolapse said:
Nope, for once on this subject, I'm not taking the piss.

In my experience, people who like Harleys, like Harleys. They might also like motorcycles, but not always, and they don't have to.

That's why when people point out many of these American cruisers are objectively st compared to many motorcycles, their owners usually don't care, because other motorcycles aren't Harleys, so the drawing of comparisons as Jazoli did, is perfectly valid, but also meaningless.

But we always go around the houses on this forum, and the same comments get said ad nauseum, because people don't understand that distinction, or take some sort of personal offence to it.
Agree 100%. For most of the Harley riders I have met the fact it's a Harley is really the only important thing. The fact it's a motorcycle comes in a poor second place.

Jazoli

9,678 posts

280 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
quotequote all
LookAtMyCat said:
And a Fatboy has twice the soul and riding enjoyment than you'll ever get from a Z900. I just traded in a Z1000 for a Harley and had more fun on the ride home on the Harley than I ever did on the Z1000.
Its an inanimate object, it doesn't have a soul, just like my washing machine doesn't, I know people get emotionally attached to machines but a 'soul' roflroflrofl

DirtyHarley

478 posts

103 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Hmm, not convinced about the comments above about Harleys / bikes...

Whilst I now am very much in the HD camp as I quite like the ride, style, and ease of spannering on them myself as I now know my way around various models pretty well, I'm pretty much a fan of all cruiser styled bikes.
Despite my fondness for HD now - I initially never wanted a HD, and I only got my first one as the bike I wanted (Triumph Bonneville America) was nearly £2k a year insurance compared to £198 a year for an 883 Sportster; from that each time I have changed bikes I've always gone for a HD as comparable bikes always come out way more on insurance.
My heart very much sits with cruisers of all types, I quite like some nakeds and tourers, but sports style bikes just don't appeal what so ever; they just look plastic and 'meh' to me. But again, horses for courses - if we all liked the same thing it would be boring. And before this thread takes its usual HD slinging match - I nod at pretty much all other bikers with the exception of mopeds!

Donbot

4,194 posts

157 months

Thursday 11th March 2021
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Fleegle said:
Main downside is that he lost all credibility by buying a Harley in the first place.
rofl