Sportster XL883C 2003 - Need to replace original rear Dunlop tyre with something but not sure I want the same OEM Dunlop again? Any recommendations for tyre and where to buy in Brisbane? Anyone successfully put something a little fatter on?

Cheers

Your going to get a million opinions on what tyre to run!....One general consensus is that the Dunflops are total crap so stay away from them.

I would say that Metzler ME880 Series or Pirelli Night Dragons are the two most common types in use.

I ran the MEtz on my FXR for 15 years and liked them a lot; however I'm now on my first set of Night Dragons and like them even more - cheaper and way stickier.

Night dragons all the way. Do both front and back! It will be a different bike! So much more confidence in the wet !

T1

OK, where do I buy them?

Hey mate, if you're into white walls I just had some Avon white walls installed on my 13 sporty last weekend down in Miami (if you're willing to ride to the GC) - Fitted and installed for under $500. They're the most popular white wall tyre going for sportys at the moment, with really good reviews for both dry and wet weather. The guys at the shop had it ready and fitted in hour and a half after I got there. Super happy. This is their website if you wanna give them a call or a visit - http://www.mcycletyres.com.au/

Brisbane Motorcycle Tyres
2/37 Moss St, Slacks Creek QLD 4127
07 3290 0588
Speak to Con. I replaced both with Metzlers. Really transformed the bike. Very happy. Wish I had replaced from day one as the standard Dunlops are crap.
Thinking about upgrading my bike this year. First job will be to replace both tyres.

How wide in a tire can you go for the sportster rear?

I ended up going with the Avon Cobra on the rear and squeezed in a 140 mm wide tyre.

he's on a frame mount, not a rubber, so narrower tyres were the go at the time. Diff tyre manufacturers mean diff tyre widths, even thought they're all 170 wide, there's often a few mm in it that can make a diff between fitting, or not. Remember they deform under load, so you want a bit of a gap. Anything over a 160 on a rubbermount means removing belt guards, 180 and up expect to change to a chain drive. I'm still running a 150 on a dyna 17" x 4.5" rear rim, pirelli scorpion trails are radial and stick like bear shit to rabbit fur, with a good road profile. One of the few that come in 21" fronts too. ( Damn Customs)

I put new Night Dragons front & rear on my 2010 Sportster & it's a much better ride now....a lot better control & cornering.

Interesting, are the chain drives more allowing when it comes to running wider tyres?

Is there any good aussie info/threads on max tyre/rim widths on earlier sportsters? For example max rim width with chain drive?