Front Wheel Changeover

CRocker · 04-26-2017, 03:15 AM

I have a 2007 1600 Nomad...not sure I like the 150/80-16 front tire...in my searching for an alternative...it looks like the narrower front wheel (I assume it's narrower because of the tire size) off a 2009 Nomad might be a simple option...looks like all the axle, spacers, bearings, etc are the same...the front rotors have different part numbers...but, EBC shows the same brake rotors for both bikes...and, with that wheel I could use a 130/90-16 front tire...

Does anybody with more sense than I have...and, more experience in this matter...have any info they could offer up...?

**Rasta** · 04-26-2017, 03:46 AM

Just buy the 130/90/16 tire and put it on the rim that you have. No need to buy another rim. My front rim had the 150 and had put the 130 with issue

**MAS Tequila** · 04-26-2017, 03:54 AM

I've been running a 130/90 for at least the last three front tires on the stock rim.

I also run a 140/90 on the rear.

CRocker · 04-26-2017, 08:33 AM

Now...that's the answer I'm looking for!

VulcanE · 04-26-2017, 05:27 PM

I have an '05, and the front wheel off a V2K, Voyager, and/or Vaquero is a direct swap, using your same rotors, axle, and spacers. I have had all the wheels listed above, and they are the same width as the stock 1600 Nomad wheel. I run a MT90-16 front tire (basically the same as a 130/90-16) and I do like the handling better, seems to be a little more nimble, but the ride is ever so slightly, not quiet as cushioned.

VulcanE · 04-26-2017, 05:35 PM

Here's the Voyager wheel (currently on the bike but with a Mt90-16 Avon Cobra, like in the last picture)

The Vaquero wheel

and the V2K wheel

CRocker · 04-26-2017, 06:57 PM

Wow! Thanks for all the info guys...after researching the rim and tire sizes on the bike, it looks to me like Kawasaki over-tired...or, under-rimmed this bike...so, now I'm looking at tires from a whole different perspective...

**BudMan** · 04-26-2017, 07:42 PM

Cliff that voyager wheel looks great on there. I didn't know it would bolt right on.
Gets me to thinking....

Navigator · 04-27-2017, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRocker

Wow! Thanks for all the info guys...after researching the rim and tire sizes on the bike, it looks to me like Kawasaki over-tired...or, under-rimmed this bike...so, now I'm looking at tires from a whole different perspective...

I'll be doing the same thing when my front tire wears out. The stock is fatter than that on an 1800 Gold Wing. Riders of other makes like the Triumph Rocket 3 routinely go to a narrower tire. Please let us know what you settle on how you like the narrower tire.

VulcanE · 04-27-2017, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudMan

Cliff that voyager wheel looks great on there. I didn't know it would bolt right on.
Gets me to thinking....

Yeah Dave, I think it looks pretty good too................... Much better than the stock wheel, and no mods required.

CRocker · 04-27-2017, 06:14 PM

I'm looking at some Voyager 1700 front wheels on Ebay...so...it looks like they put a 150/80-16 on my 2007 Nomad's MT3.00 front wheel...and, they put a 130/90-16 on the MT3.50 front wheel of a Voyager...

...am I going to have to move back to Colorado to understand this...?

VulcanE · 04-28-2017, 11:03 AM

My OEM 1600 front wheel, and all three of the ones I listed above, are all 3.5" wide wheels. The Nomad and the V2K had the 150/80-16 front tire, and the Voyager and Vaquero came with 130/90-16. The 1500s I think have a 3" wide wheel.

CRocker · 04-28-2017, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VulcanE

My OEM 1600 front wheel, and all three of the ones I listed above, are all 3.5" wide wheels. The Nomad and the V2K had the 150/80-16 front tire, and the Voyager and Vaquero came with 130/90-16. The 1500s I think have a 3" wide wheel.

Odd...the front wheel on my 2007 VN1600 Nomad definitely says MT 3.00...I'll shoot a pic later...family emergency requires travel now...look at Ebay listing 252639090877...

CRocker · 05-04-2017, 07:52 PM

The front wheel of my 2007 Vulcan 1600 Nomad...it clearly shows MT 3.00...I saw another one today that showed the same thing...

I'm still going to go to a 130/90-16 front tire...of course, this set of tires only has about 500 miles ...sheesh!

Peg · 05-04-2017, 10:07 PM

I changed the 150 tire on my Nomad to a 130, and the Voyager came with a 130 anyway. 130/90 is a much better size for both bikes... helps it to drop into turns or from turn to turn much easier, and doesn't feel like it wants to stand upright so much all the way through either.

I saw someone recently trying a slightly narrower tire on the rear too, working on the same principle - easier turning.

04-26-2017, 03:15 AM	#1
CRocker Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 119	Front Wheel Changeover I have a 2007 1600 Nomad...not sure I like the 150/80-16 front tire...in my searching for an alternative...it looks like the narrower front wheel (I assume it's narrower because of the tire size) off a 2009 Nomad might be a simple option...looks like all the axle, spacers, bearings, etc are the same...the front rotors have different part numbers...but, EBC shows the same brake rotors for both bikes...and, with that wheel I could use a 130/90-16 front tire... Does anybody with more sense than I have...and, more experience in this matter...have any info they could offer up...? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-26-2017, 03:46 AM	#2
Rasta Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ankeny Iowa Posts: 3,697	Just buy the 130/90/16 tire and put it on the rim that you have. No need to buy another rim. My front rim had the 150 and had put the 130 with issue __________________ VROC#34321 VBA#01867 2012 NCR Rally Savanna. IL. 2013 National Rally Estes Park, CO 2014 NC/SC Rally in the Ozarks, Mountain View AR 2014 NE US/Eastern Canada Rally,Lincoln NH 2015 VBA/VRA Eureka Springs AR 2015 Antlers Rally, Antlers OK. 2016 SCR Rally Salem MO. 2016 NCR Rally Hillsboro WI 2017 Eureka Springs AR 2017 National Rally Lake George NY 2004 Blue and Silver 1500 Nomad(RIP 9-26-19) 2000 Red and Silver 1500 Nomad 2012 Pearl White 1700 Voyager
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04-26-2017, 03:54 AM	#3
MAS Tequila Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Psychiatric Ward FL Posts: 3,429	I've been running a 130/90 for at least the last three front tires on the stock rim. I also run a 140/90 on the rear. __________________ MT 2016 FLHP Psychiatric Ward FL VBA 936
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04-26-2017, 05:27 PM	#5
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	I have an '05, and the front wheel off a V2K, Voyager, and/or Vaquero is a direct swap, using your same rotors, axle, and spacers. I have had all the wheels listed above, and they are the same width as the stock 1600 Nomad wheel. I run a MT90-16 front tire (basically the same as a 130/90-16) and I do like the handling better, seems to be a little more nimble, but the ride is ever so slightly, not quiet as cushioned. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-26-2017, 05:35 PM	#6
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	Here's the Voyager wheel (currently on the bike but with a Mt90-16 Avon Cobra, like in the last picture) The Vaquero wheel and the V2K wheel __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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04-26-2017, 08:33 AM	#4
CRocker Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 119	Now...that's the answer I'm looking for!
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04-26-2017, 06:57 PM	#7
CRocker Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 119	Wow! Thanks for all the info guys...after researching the rim and tire sizes on the bike, it looks to me like Kawasaki over-tired...or, under-rimmed this bike...so, now I'm looking at tires from a whole different perspective... Last edited by CRocker; 04-26-2017 at 06:59 PM.
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04-26-2017, 07:42 PM	#8
BudMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Greenwood, Ark. Posts: 4,736	Cliff that voyager wheel looks great on there. I didn't know it would bolt right on. Gets me to thinking.... __________________ Dave Jesse 2012 1700 Gray/Black Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad Green/Silver Sold VBA #1108 2010- Eureka Springs - Antlers - 2011- Maggie Valley - Antlers 2012- Margaritaville Ride - Van Buren - Antlers - 2013- Estes Park - Antlers 2014- Mountain View - Antlers - 2015- Eureka Springs - Antlers 2016- Salem - Antlers - 2017- Eureka Springs - Lake George - Antlers - 2018- Custer - Antlers
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04-27-2017, 06:14 PM	#11
CRocker Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Arkansas Posts: 119	I'm looking at some Voyager 1700 front wheels on Ebay...so...it looks like they put a 150/80-16 on my 2007 Nomad's MT3.00 front wheel...and, they put a 130/90-16 on the MT3.50 front wheel of a Voyager......am I going to have to move back to Colorado to understand this...?
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04-28-2017, 11:03 AM	#12
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	My OEM 1600 front wheel, and all three of the ones I listed above, are all 3.5" wide wheels. The Nomad and the V2K had the 150/80-16 front tire, and the Voyager and Vaquero came with 130/90-16. The 1500s I think have a 3" wide wheel. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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05-04-2017, 10:07 PM	#15
Peg Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Coast, North Island, New Zealand Posts: 1,375	I changed the 150 tire on my Nomad to a 130, and the Voyager came with a 130 anyway. 130/90 is a much better size for both bikes... helps it to drop into turns or from turn to turn much easier, and doesn't feel like it wants to stand upright so much all the way through either. I saw someone recently trying a slightly narrower tire on the rear too, working on the same principle - easier turning. __________________ Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold)
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