Hitchcocks Forum

Hello all
I guess this may have been asked before, I did a quick search it wasn't too helpful. I'm wondering what the fattest, stickiest rear tyre I can fit on my bullet is? Standard back end, swing arm etc(I don't mind hacking the chainguard). I'm a bit of a tart so I want it to look business like. I know ground clearance is limited but I still want sticky and I love taking out the guys on their superduper sports bikes on the twisty bits. Back in the day I used to like a Pirelli phantom on the rear and a Metzeler lazer on the front, great set up. Used to be able to lock up the front and stay on!
Take care

I know that the universal Ensign tyres probably wouldn't be your first choice, either for grip or for looks, but I did get away with fitting a 4" on the back (and the front, but that's another story) so that's probably as wide as you can go before modifying the swinging arm.

Hi Thrasher. I am wondering if you may have taken an ill advised turn somewhere along the way. IMHO "Taking out" modern sports bikes on an Enfield is never going to happen for many reasons including brakes, steering geomerty, HORSE POWER (I think the starter motor on my 1000 Honda may have more power than my Bullet engine), wheel size, ground clearance, power to weight ratio etc. The frantic overtake in the twisties will not just have unsettled them but sugest to any reasonably competent sports bike pilots that you and your bike may be totally out of control and the best action is to aviod at all costs and clear off over the horizon at the next possible oppertunity giving the Enfield as wide a berth as possible. That is assuming you are still unright and on board the plot and they are not attending the scene of a road traffic accident. Of course your tounge could also be firmly wedged in your cheek !

"reasonably competent sports bike pilots" will of course leave me in their dust but it's amazing how few "reasonably competent sports bike pilots" their are. There are however loads of roar away from the lights, don't really know how to ride sorts, though I'm sure your not one. Granted I am a lunatic. Anyway still want some sticky doughnuts for my slow old bullet

Hi there Mr Thrasher----On my No.1 Bullet 500 Classic I am using AVON ROADRUNNER in 100/90 H 19 on the rear, with AVON SPEEDMASTER Ribbed on the front.

------------- However, if you want a "Ride on the W-I-L-D side" then the AVON SM Mk2 BLOCK on the back is the one for you. Go 2-up and push it really HARD into alternate left/right/left corners and follow that immediately with 20 to 30 miles of wet/oily roads and the odd emergency brake. You'll certainly impress your local "Rocket-Ship" brigade as you manfully come to grips with an old machine doing it's own version of the Tango !! Much street cred---yo dude !! GOOD LUCK !!!!!

Hi -- as on a previous thread, I have the standard Speedmasters and can ground the pegs quite happily (although this may relate to riding style as well as grip). On my Norton Commando I have Dunlop TT100 K81s and have no problem keeping up with reasonably-ridden Speed Triples, BMW F800s and the like through the bends. A decent rider on any modern sportsbike, and probably an expert on a Honda CBF250, would leave me in the dust.

Also, beware of the idea that fat tyre = better cornering. There is an opinion in the Commando forums that too fat a rear tyre will bugger up the handling completely.

Of course when I'm not leaving "reasonably competent sports bike pilots" in my dust I'm being burned off by pizza delivery guys who would all be giving it to Lewis Hamilton if they weren't saddled with rapidly cooling four cheeses and garlic bread. Actually I used to crash on a regular basis in my yoof and have been taken out by other fallers in production races. Those were the days, maybe I should go back to the old Elsie's (LC350 Yams) pure hooliganism. I'm a post modern hooligan these days

Just put Avon RoadRiders on my Electra X - more modern tyres, but feels fantastic. This is an irregular groove pattern not a block pattern, like Avon AM (left side of picture) in catalogue......

Thrasher as per Ian Martin I also question your judgement and indeed sanity but to give you half a chance go with the tyre designed with stiff frames and low horse power and to give optimum cornering footprint it has to be the tt100