New member. Bill

Bill higgins

Bill higgins

Hi Guys.
Any advice on the best rear tyre for my 1981 kat 1100? The swing arm is so narrow compared to today's bikes. Looking to go as wide as possible.
Cheers.
Bill.
 
Hi Bill, depends on what you want the tyre to do. For the Kat it isn't the swinger that limits tyre size its the narrow wheel rim. Stock Kat swinger will take big rubber if you have 4.0" to 6.0" rim and off-set the front and rear sprocket and depending on actual width of the tyre you may have to also look at a 530 or 520 chain set-up to clear the tyre shoulder. If you are running stock 2.5" rear wheel then anything wider than 130 starts to over-tyre the 2.5" rim. Yes, owners do fit wider tyres on the stock rim, their bike, their rules. A popular tyre for stock 2.5" Kat rear wheel is the Sport Demon in a 130. Going with a wider rim like a GSXR or custom built Excel wire wheel allows for a greater range of tyres to select from however, sprockets will still require off-set and the chain size may have to be swapped as well. If you want to run big rubber just keep in mind in the wet you may have some interesting handling to deal with. Going sideways can be fun sometimes but not everytime.

Cheers.
 
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Hi Shin Ken.
Thanks for those great tips, I am actually having my front and rear wheels restored as I write. Maybe I should get a little extra width on the rear. Not keen on making any other mods with sprockets or chain. Maybe 3.5 inch instead of 2.5 inch?
Cheers.
Bill
 
A 3.5" works well with a 140 tyre. That is the OEM wheel and tyre set up on the 1985 GSXR750 Slabbie and that worked pretty well. If you are set on bigger rubber maybe look at which tyre you want and then have the wheel made to take the tyre?

Cheers.
 
I guess you are talking spokes?

If so - then also consider rim dia. Personally I like 18's - 2.5 front and 3.5 rear. Nice balanced look. Oh, and stainless spokes, so go I wire gauge thicker.
 
Hi Drillit.
Yeah, I am going with new alloy rims with stainless spokes, silver 2 pak painted hubs, factory spec front, just looking to put a bit more meet on the rear. Found a wire wheel specialist in Penshurst nsw with 40 years experience. Only 40 minutes from where I live. Gold.
Probably doesn't help my Kat is parked next to my ducati that has a huge rear tyre. FYI, the Kat is my favourite by a country mile. I'm leaning towards the 3.5 rear with a 140 tyre as Shin Ken suggested, hopefully no sprocket or chain changes required.
Cheers.
Bill.
 
Hi.
Just spoke to the wheel guy, he has already actioned the order so it will be the factory wheel/tyre set up. At this stage factory spec with sprocket and chain set up. I know nothing about options with this. FYI, the motor is not original. It actually has an 1135 cc motor, that is how I bought it a few months ago.
Always ready to take advise from my fellow Kat owners.
Thanks.
Bill.
 
Just spoke to the wheel guy,.......very good!

For the chain etc just be interesting to see if its 630 or 530 for eg?
 
G'day fellas
Here is something different, the 1981 kat I bought a few months ago does not have the original 1100 motor in it. It has been replaced with GS1150 motor (1135cc block ect) only realised after checking the motor and noticing that the cam covers are different. Checked out a thousand other kats but have not seen this before. The bike did have race tyres on it when purchased, has a front fork brace and the rear caliper is on the bottom of the disc, usually on the top.
Anyone come across this before?
Cheers.
Bill
 
There are a few Kats with EF engines. I also have one.

Often times the underslung caliper is a GSXR Slabbie item - sometimes also fitted with Slabbie 18" rims and/or forks. Common upgrade back in the day.
 
Hey guys. Thanks for the responses, I've tried to get a few photos up but I'm obviously not ipad savvy enough to get it done, I will keep trying,
Cheers.
 
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