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2003 vegas rear tire/wheel options
I’ve been searching, and really can’t find any info do thought I’d ask see if anyone here knows. I have an 03 vegas. I bought it about 3.5 years ago with only 3400 miles on it. The p.o. had just installed new shinko tires, a 777 front in 80/90-21 and a 006 Podium rear in the original 170/60-18 size. They ride fine, but I’ve gone through the podium pretty quickly, and it needs replaced while the front looks practically brand new. I mean I’ve gotten less than 4000 miles out of this rear tire, so I’m hesitant to buy another. It appears that the podium is about the only tire made in that size any more though, and it’s radial sport bike tire not bias ply. I’ve got the original spoked rims, so the rear wheel is only 4.5″ wide, which that eliminates running any of the much more common 180/55-18 tires. This leaves me with three options as I see it.
Option 1 – Find a new wheel for the back from another vegas or kingpin. I don’t know if one exists that the pulley and brake will work on. Maybe a 2005 kingpin that had the 5″ wide mag wheel? Anyone know for sure if i can make this or some other wheel work?
Option 2 – use another podium tire and plan on replacing it quickly again, along with the whisper in my mind about the load rating and such being insufficient.
Option 3 – move to a different tire size. It doesn’t sound like a 180/55-18 will work on this wheel since it’s too narrow. I’m wondering if anyone has tried a 150/70-18. It’s slightly taller but narrower than the stock size. I would think it would be fine, and it’s available in more tires that are more appropriate to a heavy cruiser like this, such as the shinko 777 that’s on the front. I’d love to know if others have tried this size though before i order one.
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5 Replies
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I use a 180/55-18 on the 2003 Vegas no problem. I like the American Elite from Dunlop.
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Thanks for the response Rylan! You use a 180 even on the spoked wheel that’s only 4.5″ wide? Lots of people on other forums are in one of 2 camps on that, either no way it won’t be able to set a bead, or go for it, probably fine as long as you can spoon it on there.
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You do what you gotta do.
You may say “I want to try the size of tire they used on the rest of the Vegas’s over the years, and I know that it might be a tight fit on that rim”
Or you may say “Ain’t no way I’m going to put that tire on a 4.5″ rim!” and then you’re stuck with whatever tires you can find in that size.
Me, personally, I hate spokes in general – too many problems for a dated look. And I would just buy another set of rims and run the more available tire. But, then again, you may say “I LOVE spokes! No way I’m swapping!” and that is fine too.
There are just things that are going to come up that are matters of opinion. My job is to throw out ideas, food for thought, and then let YOU decide what is best for you, based on all the input you’ve collected.
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Appreciate the input, and I get it. We all make our own decisions. Trying to find a set of wheels that fit is almost as hard and way more expensive than tires from what I can find right now. I’d be limited to 2003 to 2005 wheels to keep the same pulley setup. I do agree that chrome spokes aren’t really the best choice, but I’m not in a place to drop a couple grand on new wheels and tires and pulley and overdrive front pulley for my bike right now. I ordered a Shinko SR999 in 150/70B18, and we’ll see how it goes. I didn’t want my local shop to have to pick up a 180/55 and tear my bike apart only to find it wouldn’t seat on the narrow rim. Also, being the older 5 speed I could use a little bit of extra height, as well as less cornering angle of the narrower tire I think. We’ll find out. There’s only less than .25″ difference in height between the stock 170/60 size and either of the two other options. Going with the 150/70 does give me nearly a half inch more diameter than switching to the 180/55, at the expense of less width though. Seeing that everything from the Goldwing to a bunch of Harley’s run a 150 rear tire, I don’t feel like it’s a huge jump from 170 to 150 though. I guess we’ll see. I should get the new tire this weekend, and hopefully get it installed next week, and I’ll try to report back after that for future people looking at the same options.
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Shinko’s aren’t actually tires. They just look like tires. Be careful, especially with spokes. It’s cheaper to buy the more expensive tire once, rather than the faux tire first, then realize it’s junk and then be back to having to buy the better tire.
The bolt pattern on the rear wheel is the same for all bikes from 2003-2017. They just used a thicker bolt after 2005. I would go to ebay, find any narrow-tire wheel from a steel-frame bike, then widen your bolt holes in your 03-05 pulley to accept the bigger hardware. I use a hand drill for this. Easy peasy. And there are a lot of options as you now have 14 model years to choose from.
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