Topic: fitting a 200mm rear tire

[Burnboy]

I know there are numerous threads about fitting a large rear tire and how to do it but I'm in the process of doing it and it just doesn't work. I have a swingarm off a 77 and am trying to fit a 160mm tire. I have maybe an eighth inch of clearance on the right side from the swingarm. I don't see how its possible to fit anything larger. The only remedy I can see is moving the tire back more and getting a longer chain but this will cause it to be so far back that there would be no room for adjustment. Am I missing something here?

[MCRider]

I know there are numerous threads about fitting a large rear tire and how to do it but I'm in the process of doing it and it just doesn't work. I have a swingarm off a 77 and am trying to fit a 160mm tire. I have maybe an eighth inch of clearance on the right side from the swingarm. I don't see how its possible to fit anything larger. The only remedy I can see is moving the tire back more and getting a longer chain but this will cause it to be so far back that there would be no room for adjustment. Am I missing something here?

I've never heard of anyone fitting larger than a 150 unless it was in a chopper frame with offset sprockets.

[Burnboy]

maybe they were talking of chain clearance. would 1/8th be good enough clearance for the tire and swingarm

[babyfood1217]

maybe you could list off what you have done already (ie: what spacers are you using with the rear wheel/hub assembly, sprocket carrier from which year?  different years had different heights, and like mcrider said, offset sprockets may come into the the playing field.)  Use the search function peruse a few of the builds/member that have undertaken this type of thing.  Also, Cyclexchange.net will provide some info on wide wheels/tires.  Searching for cyclexchange on this board will likely bring up a bunch of info for you. 

In the meantime, maybe I should ask what your rim size is.  150 or 160 on a 18" rim is pushing it, even with the SA from a '77.  Think about getting a later model rear wheel ('77 should be a 17", as should the 750A's), not sure what other years/models - I only know '77 because it's what I have. 

Another question, you didn't mention if the 1/8" is only on one side or on both (ie: is your wheel centered?)

-Chris

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

From what I understand nothing bigger than a 130 can fit in a stock swingarm. Hardtail chopper frames are usually limited to a 200mm by utilizing offset sprockets. Anything bigger than a 200mm in a chopper would require a seperate jack shaft assembly to provide the necessary offset for chain clearance from the tire.