CB 500

[Jon]

It was predictably a litte skittish flat out over Snaefell but not that much such that I could register it following it on my weaving, bouncing W800!

If you would rather your W800 didn't weave, stick a BT45 120/90/18 on the back and a stock sized BT45 on the front

Jon (W650)

[Capitano]

Good advice. I do like the BT45s on the CB500.

Then again for the most part I like the TT100s on the W800 and as riding it at the kind of speeds "encouraged" on the I.O.M mountain mile isn't something I intend doing possibly ever again I may stick with the TT100s notwithstanding the fact that they look the part too.

[Jon]

Good advice. I do like the BT45s on the CB500.

Then again for the most part I like the TT100s on the W800 and as riding it at the kind of speeds "encouraged" on the I.O.M mountain mile isn't something I intend doing possibly ever again I may stick with the TT100s notwithstanding the fact that they look the part too.

It's the height. The 130/80 allows the back to drop and the W's weave at speed. The 120/90 sits the rear a tad taller and the bike tracks like it's on rails at speed..Trust me on this!

[Capitano]

I can appreciate the theory and I'm sure it would work a treat. Probably a far better solution than the replacement shocks and fork springs some W riders are fitting.

However I kind of like the bike for what it is so I probably will just take note and stick with the stock tyres regardless.

[Capitano]

...but thanks for the good advice, naturally.

[Jon]

...but thanks for the good advice, naturally.

I fitted the Hagons but took them off again. Although the handling was indeed 'on rails' afterwards, the harder springs necessary to keep the arse up at speed made the bike skip on cat's eyes and road ridges under acceleration. On 'B' roads it was not great, especially coming through bends. I managed to track down a new set of original W650 ones instead for mine last year!

The 120/90 tyre doesn't look wrong by any means, and the original 1998 Cologne show bike actually had a narrower back tyre than the 130 of the production bikes, suggesting the designers thought the 130 OTT too.... Personally I always thought the 130 was a little bit 'US Drag bike'...It's even fatter than the custom made K81 built for the 500 plus lb 70 BHP Trident!

The slightly narrower rear makes the bike feel a tad more 'organised' tipping into bends too

I used to have a K181 TT100 4.00 /18 on the rear of mine...Very nice, but didn't last...old tech compounds . The last one was a 4.00-18 BT45. i now have the 120/90 BT45 on the back and a Road Rider for the front... The front tyre shouldn't really be a dual compound...

[skyrider]

yes its the cb that capitano has posted pictures of but the naked model i was after ps thanks for the info

[Capitano]

No worries. I hope the write-up was useful.

One thing I forgot to mention was that the battery expired last year at about 30,000 miles. Well actually it just started failing to hold charge and needed charging every week.

When removed it was obviously a cheapie that had been fitted when the bike was put back on the road at 6000 miles, The sealed replacement from WEMOTO has been a fit-and-forget item.

The first headlamp bulb blew at around 34000 and it has had a couple of rear bulbs in its life with us.

All in all this one at least has been incredibly reliable and robust I'm glad to report.