Author Topic: Tires for Honda scramblers?  (Read 7499 times)

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Offline JBMorse

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Tires for Honda scramblers?
« on: October 11, 2010, 09:05:11 AM »
Hi, I posted this on the honda twins forum too, but I know there's also a lot of twins experts here.
Hi all,
I'm wondering what kinds of tires were/are common on the scramblers, namely the cl350.  I'm going to be putting together a scrambler with kind of a vintage style, solo seat, 60s Honda style paint, and generally slimmed down a bit.  I've seen lots of old sramblers of different makes with knobby rear tires and would like to get one for mine.  I like the looks and I do lots of back roads and dirt roads so it would work great.
Here's what I have now:

It's a Swallow brand trials tire, but is very old and I don't want to run it.  That name doesn't exist anymore.
Here's an example of what I have in mind from a motorcycle classics article on a BSA Victor:


When I look at the old Honda brochures, I don't see any scrambers with those kinds of tires.  They look like TT100's or something similar:


So did scramblers never come with trials type rear tires?  It seems whenever I see old scrambler heaps for sale at swap meets, they have a trials type rear tire and a ribbed front tire. 
Are there any tires in that style being made today that would work?  The closest I've found so far is a dual sport tire, something like this IRC:

IRC also makes a dual sport tire called the GP-1 that looks similar.  Would these be a good choice?  And if so, what would be a good combination for front and rear tire?
1. A trials/dual sport rear with a ribbed front?
2. A trials/dual sport rear with a block pattern front (Dunlop K70)
3. Trials/ dual sport tires both front and rear?
4. Some other combo?

I'm interested in knowing the handling characteristics of any of these combos.  Again, I do lots of back road riding, but I want something that I can run down the highway with occasionally.
Any info would be much appreciated! 
1971 CB500K

Offline rustbucket

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #1 on: October 11, 2010, 04:42:42 PM »
I don't have anything useful to add, but I love the chunky look of the old universal trials tires, so I'll be following this thread with interest! Hopefully one of the gurus will come through for yah! ;)

Offline Stev-o

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #2 on: October 11, 2010, 05:10:42 PM »
We always called 'em Enduro tires, click here to see some Dunlops:

http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=&L2=&L3=&L4=&item=TUC_31-8201
'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........

Offline Alan F.

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #3 on: October 11, 2010, 06:25:03 PM »
Motorcycle-Superstore has a great 'tire finder' feature where you can choose categories like riding style, brand, width, aspect and rim size.
just change the search criteria to suit your needs, lots of pics and good prices. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/2/0/Motorcycle-Tire-Finder/Dirt-Bike-Tires.aspx?WT.ac=Dirt_Tires_Footer_SS10_TireFinder#&&Back=1-0-1-0-2-4-6-0

Your CL350 left the factory with a 3.50-18" rear tire (rim width may fit a up to a 110 maybe a 120) and a 3.0-19" front tire (rim width may fit a 100 maybe a 110)

Good hunting.
Alan

Offline JBMorse

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #4 on: October 11, 2010, 08:50:34 PM »
Thanks for the tips guys.  I am not sure whether I want what's now called "Trials" tires or "dual sport" tires.  Trials tires are like the IRCs I listed above, and the back tire on the BSA pictured above.  These have a distinct block pattern that is different from what they call "dual sport" tires.  Sorry for the semantics but I'm trying to figure out what I want and what they describe on the websites isn't always the same.  Are I've never used either tire so I don't know what to go with.  
Judging by pictures and what I've seen, it's okay to use "trials" tires on the back with either kind of front tire.  I'm wondering what the handling would be like on and off road.
The IRC TR-1 pictured in my last post is a "trials" tire, which is the pattern I'm looking for, but that's going by looks only.  Not sure what the handling would be like, or what kind of front I should use with it.
There's also the issue of size.  Most of the "trials" type I've found so far come in 4.00-18 which is a little wider than stock.  This wasn't a problem on my CB500/4 but I'd have to double check on the scrambler to make sure it would clear everything.  
I think I'll make up a list of options and post them here for some feedback.
Thanks!
1971 CB500K

Offline MaaseyRacer

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2010, 01:04:59 AM »
It sounds like you are looking for a Bridgestone TW39 and TW26, or at least that is what I think I am going to run on my CL350 K0.
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Offline Alan F.

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2010, 02:09:36 PM »
+1 on the TW39 front



And the TW26 rear


Offline Stev-o

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Re: Tires for Honda scramblers?
« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2010, 03:51:31 PM »
Here is what I run on my scrambler:




'74 "Big Bang" Honda 750K [836].....'76 Honda 550F.....K3 Park Racer!......and a Bomber!............plus plus plus.........