Front tire

[trikerbiker634]

Whats everybody running for your bias ply front tire on your Voyager 1700 and what kind of mileage did you get? Did you run it reverse direction?

 

[ol' school]

I am running an Avon Cobra AV71 in the stock MT90B16 (same as 130/90B16), not reversed. It was installed when the motorcycle was a two wheeler. I have ran Avon tires on the last few motorcycles I have owned and have been happy with the handling and the tire wear. I run between 40 - 42 pounds of air in the tire depending on if I am riding solo or two up as Avon recommends. When it needs replaced I will be installing the Avon Trike Tire as they are making it in our size. If you go to their website you will see they have a separate link in the Avon Cobra column for the trike tire. They are only making our size which fits the Tri-Glide also and a 130/70R18 which was made with the Gold Wing in mind. A friend of mine put one on his 'Wing trike and loves it.

 

[trikerbiker634]

OL' School, Are you sure it will fit our Voyagers, because I actually sent them an email specifically asking them about their MT90B16 and gave them my make, model, year, tire size etc and they replied that at this time they do not have a "trike specific" tire that will safely fit the Kawasaki Voyager. That was only a couple 2-3 months ago. I"ve since then have had a computer hard drive crash/virus but if I still have it I'll copy and paste the emails. Safe riding!

 

[trikerbiker634]

Ol School, found this:


Dear Avon, I notice you list a couple tires for trikes specifically. I have a 2011 Kawasaki Vulcan Voyager Trike – non ABS brakes. My motorcycle came with a 130/90-16 front tire, will the MT90-16 size tire fit? Thank You, Dave
Answer
This is a common question, but the two tires are different. The MT90B-16 carries a higher load rating than the 130/90-16 equivalent. When replacing your original equipment tires, always check with the motorcycle manufacturer before attempting to mount tire sizes which differ from those suggested in the owner’s manual. Deviation could result in an unsafe handling vehicle.
Altering the tire size may require a different rim size. For this reason, we suggest you consult your dealer to be sure that the rim size is compatible before making any changes to the tire size on your vehicle. Be sure adequate clearance is maintained at all times. At this time we do not have a tire for your application. Thank you for your inquiry.

NOT SURE if they just want to cover their butt with their reply or what. I guess I need to check our rim width size as Avon site recommends a 3" wide rim but has a minimum of 2.50" to 3.50" and make my decision from there.Can't find the spec for my rim/wheel anyplace so I guess I'll have to wait till snow melts so I can get to trike and just try to measure the rim. safe riding.

 

[ol' school]

I have the MT90B16 on my CSC Kruze trike which was made from a 1700 Nomad and have no fit or handling/ride issues. In fact it is a big improvement from the stock Bridgestones Kawasaki installed. I have approximately 10,000 miles on the tire with no issues and it has plenty of tread life left.

As far as them saying the MT90B16 is rated different for a higher load it is because their tire has a re-enforced sidewall for more load capacity than a standard 130/90B16 which I figure is a good thing especially now that the motorcycle has been triked and is about 400 lbs. more than it was as a two wheeler.

If you go to their page that shows the regular Avon Cobra tires being made for two wheelers it even has a footnote saying the MT90B16 is a replacement for a 130/90B16 so whomever answered your e-mail doesn't even know what their own companies website states.

As far as the front rim width look in the specifications in your owners manual. On page 12 of my Nomad manual is states the rim width is 3.50". Our front rims are the same size, your Voyager and my Nomad, so I don't see where you would have any problems.

Hope my reply helps ease your mind on the fit issue.

BTW, how are you liking your CSC trike. Looks nice!

 

[trikerbiker634]

Ol School, Thanks for the info. I really wanted to get the "trike tire" from Avon but their reply kind of made me ponder that decision. It does make you wonder about their reply though. Maybe its because of the 3" width recommendation, liability concerns, who knows. Thanks for the rim width, my manual is also "snow bound" so I figured I could find it online but didn't, at least where I was looking. Probably don't have to run it in reverse direction then, since its trike specific? Loving the trike even though I was only able to get about 2000 miles on it before winter. I like a lot of things better than my Goldwing Trike 1800 I had. I'll know more come warm days, my concern is heat transfer to my body and wife's which wasn't an issue with the wing. Safe riding ThumbUp

 

[trikerbiker634]

a little bigger view

 

[ol' school]

No, you don't have to run it backwards. It is made to run on a trike the way it is made.

Check out this website...

http://www.rjsoriginals.bizland.com/Kawasaki/Vaquero 1700.htm

They make heat deflectors that mount under the front of the seat to help redirect heat from the rear cylinder away from you. We put a set on our Nomad and even my wife can tell the difference in the heat she was feeling. They took enough heat off me that in the fall when it starts to get chilly I almost take them off to feel some engine heat.

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View attachment 33612 a little bigger view

Definitely nice!!! ThumbUp

 

[ol' school]

Here is a few pics of ours...

 

[trikerbiker634]

Ol School, I've looked at them already but thanks for the "user" report, at least I know they work now. My brothers also been thinking about them for his new Harley 2 wheel. That throws more heat than the voyager! I've been procrastinating on getting them because of the price tag plus I"m going to wrap my pipes first because I want to check to make sure the acorn nuts are letting the pipes tighten down enough to the heads and I'll be replacing the gaskets. Then if that's not enough I'll probably go with them.
My spending for toys "reserve fund" is a little low right now after putting on the new windshield, driver aux. front floor boards, new sena 20s communicators, new helmets, new arm rests for the wife, Ipod connector and my new Russell day long seat which is on order as I type. Had them on 2 other bikes and for me they are awesome seats.
Thanks again....safe riding!

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Nice rig as well Ol School...........

 

[ol' school]

Yeah they are a little salty but worth it... My brother says the same thing about his Harley. A V-twin is a V-twin when it come to putting off heat that warms body parts that aren't supposed to be cooked. He is talking about putting a set of RJS's heat deflectors on his.

I have found motorcyles/trikes definitely spend your money. There is always that next thing you just got to have for it... It is fun though!!! ThumbUp

 

[2Paps]

Check out this website...

http://www.rjsoriginals.bizland.com/Kawasaki/Vaquero 1700.htm

They make heat deflectors that mount under the front of the seat to help redirect heat from the rear cylinder away from you. We put a set on our Nomad and even my wife can tell the difference in the heat she was feeling. They took enough heat off me that in the fall when it starts to get chilly I almost take them off to feel some engine heat.

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I'll 2nd the vote for rjs. While I didn't complain loudly I wasn't all that comfortable sitting at stop lights in 90+ deg. I kept looking at all the alternatives including the KAMS kit and finally settled on the deflectors. You may have to keep in mind that most of my riding was in the PNW when I made that decision. Now that I'm in the sunny south I may have to reevaluate. We'll just have to wait and see.

 

[trikerbiker634]

Thanks 2Paps for the "user" review. I'm kinda leaning like you as well and the Kam's kit will be my last attempt to control the heat which hopefully after wrapping of the pipes and/or the RJS heat shield will take care of the issue. safe riding.

 

[2Paps]

Thanks 2Paps for the "user" review. I'm kinda leaning like you as well and the Kam's kit will be my last attempt to control the heat which hopefully after wrapping of the pipes and/or the RJS heat shield will take care of the issue. safe riding.

The only caution I can offer is; if you do opt to wrap the pipes be careful that you don't let the wrap interfere with the reinstallation of the heat shields.

 

[trikerbiker634]

Gotcha......safe riding

 

[Rmitchell55]

Have you had the mods done by Kawasaki? There was a mod done a few years back that added about 3/8" thick fiberglass insulation to the front and rear heat shields. One of the cheapest mods you can do to limit the heat on the Kawi's is block the air injection into the exhaust ports of the heads that is used for secondary combustion for unburned fuel. On the 1700's remove the right side air cleaner cover and in the upper left corner you will see a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter, get a #2 rubber stopper and ram in into the hole or better yet remove the inner cover and stuff the rubber stopper into the hose. If you do that then you won't have to worry about the stopper coming out and getting in the throttle body.

The KAMS system will make your bike run hotter because it seals the rad fan to the front cylinder which directs the air flow through the radiator and down under the bike. It also replaces the front heat shield and the radiator.

 

[ol' school]

Have you had the mods done by Kawasaki? There was a mod done a few years back that added about 3/8" thick fiberglass insulation to the front and rear heat shields. One of the cheapest mods you can do to limit the heat on the Kawi's is block the air injection into the exhaust ports of the heads that is used for secondary combustion for unburned fuel. On the 1700's remove the right side air cleaner cover and in the upper left corner you will see a hole about 1/2 inch in diameter, get a #2 rubber stopper and ram in into the hole or better yet remove the inner cover and stuff the rubber stopper into the hose. If you do that then you won't have to worry about the stopper coming out and getting in the throttle body.

The KAMS system will make your bike run hotter because it seals the rad fan to the front cylinder which directs the air flow through the radiator and down under the bike. It also replaces the front heat shield and the radiator.

Yup, "marbling" the AIS hose in the right air cleaner to block the air to the exhaust ports helps. ThumbUp

 

[trikerbiker634]

RMitchell55, no mods done that I can tell in that regard.

 

[2Paps]

Heat fix?

Thanks 2Paps for the "user" review. I'm kinda leaning like you as well and the Kam's kit will be my last attempt to control the heat which hopefully after wrapping of the pipes and/or the RJS heat shield will take care of the issue. safe riding.

If you haven't seen this info you may want to rethink your cure solution.

http://www.vulcanbagger.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43310

This is the way I'm going next year.

 

[2Paps]

RJs deflectors

TrikerBiker634, When we went to reinstall the deflectors on my trike yesterday there was no way to make them fit. I suggest talking to RJ and tell him you have a CSC trike kit installed. He may have some that fit.