Larger Front Tire (and raise the front Fender)

DAN · 04-09-2011, 05:55 PM

This post is a spin off of "Larger rear Tire" Thread also here in "How To's". You may want to look at the "Larger rear Tire" subject posts as they will have more information if you are changing both front and rear tires.

The standard Front tire on the GZ 250 is a 110/90-16. You could also use a 120/80-16 and have the same diameter. My 1999 GZ came with Dunlop D-404 tires. They are only avalable from Suzuki as "original equipment" not on the general market from Dunlop. The smallest Dunlop D-404 is a 130/90-16. This is the same size as a "Harley" front tire so I call it the GZ 250 "Fat Boy". After consulting directly with The Dunlop MC Tire customer service rep, I was sent via fax the rim size tolerance charts showing the 130/90-16 is within the allowed limits for the GZ 250 rims (both the front 130/90-16 and the larger rear 140/90-15 D-404's are approved by Dunlop for the corrisponding GZ rims). I changed both the front and the rear tires to these D-404 larger respective sizes.

Here are the points of consideration you will have to take into account if you make these tire size mods.

The GZ will be 3/4 of an inch taller and the ground clearance will also be 3/4 of an inch greater (no more dragging the left exhaust pipe over the curb). There is a side effect to this though, The kick stand foot will require a point 7 to point 75 inch foot. I bolted on a 4 inch by .7 inch aluminum extrusion (half of a telescope dovetail bar) that did the job nicely. Will post kick stand picture.

The front fender will have to be raised aprox. one inch. I only raised mine 3/4 inch (as seen in picture) and recommend at least 1 inch or more.

This thread is an explanation of how to raise the fender. To be continued next.

mike250 · 03-20-2015, 06:42 PM

I know this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone can help me. I searched for the how-to write-up for the larger rear tire and couldn't find it. Would anyone care to share the link to it please?

DAN · 12-10-2015, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike250

I know this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone can help me. I searched for the how-to write-up for the larger rear tire and couldn't find it. Would anyone care to share the link to it please?

Posted under Blaine, April 29th 2010

blaine · 12-10-2015, 06:34 PM

http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3150

spldart · 04-28-2016, 08:50 PM

I'm liking the looks of this mod.
Would a Shinko 250 Front MT90-16 fit the bill?

spldart · 05-05-2016, 11:54 PM

Never mind. Mod finished and looks good. Pics this weekend.
Oversized front and rear..... I'm looking PHAT!

spldart · 05-06-2016, 08:36 PM

Very phat! Fills the fender nicely

Now I'm wondering how much modification I'd have to do to go from the oversize 140/90
in the rear to a 150/90

Vegas Street Rider · 05-07-2016, 08:56 PM

Did you raise the front fender Spldart? What size front and rear did you end up going with? Looks like a big boy bike. I like it. I see where you went with a 140/90 on the rear. Should have read more carefully.

spldart · 05-07-2016, 09:04 PM

I went with a 1 inch rise on the front fender as to the experienced advice of this threads author.

Oh and I used a dremel to make the new mounting holes. It would be easy to slip a drill and break the plastic fender. Otherwise measure and mark twice so as to dremel once.
The mod was easy.
I don't see any reason to fear doing it.
The only issue, if you can call it that, is you have an unused set of holes in the fender. But they aren't very visible.
I highly recommend.
Ride is good and it feels more stable leaned over.
In fact. You can feel the added height more in hard cornering. I used to scrape pegs occasionally. Now I don't.
And to me. JMHO. The oversized front and rear make the bike feel more sure footed.

spldart · 05-07-2016, 09:05 PM

But that's Just My Humble Opinion.

04-09-2011, 05:55 PM	#1
DAN Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Lauderdale Posts: 25	Larger Front Tire (and raise the front Fender) This post is a spin off of "Larger rear Tire" Thread also here in "How To's". You may want to look at the "Larger rear Tire" subject posts as they will have more information if you are changing both front and rear tires. The standard Front tire on the GZ 250 is a 110/90-16. You could also use a 120/80-16 and have the same diameter. My 1999 GZ came with Dunlop D-404 tires. They are only avalable from Suzuki as "original equipment" not on the general market from Dunlop. The smallest Dunlop D-404 is a 130/90-16. This is the same size as a "Harley" front tire so I call it the GZ 250 "Fat Boy". After consulting directly with The Dunlop MC Tire customer service rep, I was sent via fax the rim size tolerance charts showing the 130/90-16 is within the allowed limits for the GZ 250 rims (both the front 130/90-16 and the larger rear 140/90-15 D-404's are approved by Dunlop for the corrisponding GZ rims). I changed both the front and the rear tires to these D-404 larger respective sizes. Here are the points of consideration you will have to take into account if you make these tire size mods. The GZ will be 3/4 of an inch taller and the ground clearance will also be 3/4 of an inch greater (no more dragging the left exhaust pipe over the curb). There is a side effect to this though, The kick stand foot will require a point 7 to point 75 inch foot. I bolted on a 4 inch by .7 inch aluminum extrusion (half of a telescope dovetail bar) that did the job nicely. Will post kick stand picture. The front fender will have to be raised aprox. one inch. I only raised mine 3/4 inch (as seen in picture) and recommend at least 1 inch or more. This thread is an explanation of how to raise the fender. To be continued next. __________________ 1999 GZ250 - teal green past bikes 100cc twin yamaha-1960's era - first bike 100cc and 125cc honda CB 350cc yamaha twin - 1970 160cc honda -1966 model 350cc honda CB 1970 350cc honda SL 650 Yamaha 1972 F650gs BMW 2007 Virago 750 Yamaha 1996 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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12-10-2015, 06:34 PM	#4
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	http://www.gz250bike.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3150 __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised. Last edited by blaine; 12-10-2015 at 06:37 PM.
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04-28-2016, 08:50 PM	#5
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	I'm liking the looks of this mod. Would a Shinko 250 Front MT90-16 fit the bill? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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03-20-2015, 06:42 PM	#2
mike250 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 2	I know this is an old thread, but I'm hoping someone can help me. I searched for the how-to write-up for the larger rear tire and couldn't find it. Would anyone care to share the link to it please?
	0

05-05-2016, 11:54 PM	#6
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	Never mind. Mod finished and looks good. Pics this weekend. Oversized front and rear..... I'm looking PHAT!
	0

05-07-2016, 08:56 PM	#8
Vegas Street Rider Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 1,108	Did you raise the front fender Spldart? What size front and rear did you end up going with? Looks like a big boy bike. I like it. I see where you went with a 140/90 on the rear. Should have read more carefully.
	0

05-07-2016, 09:04 PM	#9
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	I went with a 1 inch rise on the front fender as to the experienced advice of this threads author. Oh and I used a dremel to make the new mounting holes. It would be easy to slip a drill and break the plastic fender. Otherwise measure and mark twice so as to dremel once. The mod was easy. I don't see any reason to fear doing it. The only issue, if you can call it that, is you have an unused set of holes in the fender. But they aren't very visible. I highly recommend. Ride is good and it feels more stable leaned over. In fact. You can feel the added height more in hard cornering. I used to scrape pegs occasionally. Now I don't. And to me. JMHO. The oversized front and rear make the bike feel more sure footed.
	0

05-07-2016, 09:05 PM	#10
spldart Senior Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Stafford, Texas Posts: 604	But that's Just My Humble Opinion.
	0