160 tires on gl1100: compatible parts for conversion

[morancharles]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site and new to motorcycles, just bought a 1983 GL1100 and would like to beef up the rear tire.

The bike currently has 140s on the rear, and I'd like to go 160, MAYBE 180. I know I'll have to upgrade the swing arm and Final Drive and was thinking maybe I could snag one off of a GL1500 or even 1800, but I have no idea what the compatibility would look like. Has anyone been down this route, and maybe could point me in the right direction?

Thanks
Charles

[ekvh]

Take a good look at the upper frame tubes. I gave a 160 on a 1500 rim, a 1200 swingarm and a 1000 frame. It will hit the frame on big bumps without modification. I had to grind off the inner fender mounts on the left side and it clears by very little. I think you'll need to modify the brake caliper stay- long arm from caliper to front of swingarm.

[ekvh]

I'm pretty sure no tire manufacturers recommend a 160 on a 3" rim.

[SnoBrdr]

Hey everyone, I'm new to the site and new to motorcycles, just bought a 1983 GL1100 and would like to beef up the rear tire.

The bike currently has 140s on the rear, and I'd like to go 160, MAYBE 180. I know I'll have to upgrade the swing arm and Final Drive and was thinking maybe I could snag one off of a GL1500 or even 1800, but I have no idea what the compatibility would look like. Has anyone been down this route, and maybe could point me in the right direction?

Thanks
Charles

You could go to the "darkside" and go with a car tire on the rear.

[Old Fogey]

I'm curious as to why someone new to motorcycles would immediately think that the rear tyre has to be huge. Massive numbers of these bikes have done huge mileages in perfect safely without doing that. Apart from that, a big rear tyre and a skinny front will give you more handling problems than you could want.
It might be an idea to find out just what these bikes are capable of first, before tearing it apart.