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Re: Rear tyre too wide for SV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEXINGTONONE (Post 1495238)

I know it,s a little off topic (but isn,t everyone else anyway!) but as for the why try and lighten the sv, although it,s not the heaviest (especially in feel) bike in the world, lightening any bike is about the best thing you can do to it, it helps in every department, on that subject one thing (and this is nearly back on topic!) that I have given some thought to is that huge rear disc and caliper, why so enormous ! anyone ever fitted a smaller disc and caliper (something off a moped or the like would do as we dont use the back much do we ?) also I am surprised to hear the comment that gixer forks are lighter than the sv ones, I have been told by more than one reasonably well informed expert (?) that the gixer ones are quite a bit heavier as are most usd forks in comparison with rwu,s,

I think the actual forks are heavier, as are the discs, but the yokes and other parts are lighter so the total weight is less. I'm swapping rear wheels and it needs a different brake caliper hanger anyway, so I'll be fitting something different then... Got a couple of options. Most rear calipers are pretty weighty though, strange that considering how much effort they put into saving weight elsewhere. But then reducing unsprung rear weight is less dramatic than front because of the larger total unsprung parts.

Re: Rear tyre too wide for SV?

I was wondering more about what disc could be used, dont think finding an alternative smaller caliper and mounting it would be difficult but it would be a thankless task trying to find a smaller disc to bolt on standard wheel (ok for those of us with fancy lighter non standard wheels !) I agree about the unsprung weight not being as big an issue on rear but every little bit helps ?

Re: Rear tyre too wide for SV?

Quote:

Originally Posted by zunkus (Post 1495360)

Sorry for not participating lately on this thread but been having some monitor problems at home and sort of had to sneak in here during work (quick looksee if boss is around, no ok).

I have a very light Supermoto for daily commute, it's around 130kg fully loaded (without me of course, you'll have to add an extra 75-80kg then).
I've noticed how much easier to live with it is on a lighter bike and how much more fun it can be. I'd just love to lighten it just for that cause.
but mostly I'm just another guy who likes to thinker, Hi Northwind! :notworthy:)

I honestly think that for 70ish bhp the rear tire on the SV is simply unnecessary but nice to look at being a 160 and could have benefited (other than lack of supply) by being a 140. The rim would have been thinner and lighter and so would the tire.

I'm into marketing and think that some things are done mostly for marketing or for using stock parts bins and not always because the bike/rider benefits from it. I think the rear tire is a case in point. (just to prove this, a 4 cylinder 600 would benefit from having more midrange torque but the manufacturers keep competing in the top bhp figures; why because that shows up on the magazine specs page and when Joe Public's deciding that's what he looks at).

Like the idea of using a light weight supermotard for commuting, would suit me if shortened to normal street bike height. I'm only 60.5kg, I find the SV just a tad heavy for the commute.

I did have some old bike mags some time ago and remember one had an article on tyre sizes.
It said that rear tires sizes went big when the power of the GP bikes had increased to the point that the skinny rear tires could no longer cope with the power. It also showed a photo of the late B Sheenes's bike with an almost shredded rear. So the SV should be OK with a smaller size.

It does appear as though everything is designed to look good 'the trend', I wonder what a bike would look like if it was strictly functional, including fully enclosed chain, full length mudguards for the moist weather we have in the UK.