Posted: 6/27/2026 11:14:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: penrod72][Edited]
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I am the 2nd owner of this bike, and do not know much about bikes or tires. I believe it has the original tires on it. I am no expert in anything mechanical, but it it seems to me that 20+ year old tires, even with low miles, and showing no signs of rot, is not smart. Attached File Attached File Original front: Bridgestone Trail Wing 3.00 21 51R Original rear: Bridgestone Trail Wing 110-80-18 58P I might put 100 miles a summer on this bike, and 90% of my riding is on asphalt - putting a long at 35-45 mph on country roads. The others 10% is going even slower on dirt roads, maybe on a "trail" but nothing is hardcore dirt riding, and nothing really on highway. Should I try and improve on the tires I have and if so with what, or just repeat the originals? SOurce for original tires or others? Also, approximately how much is it going to cost me to have them taken off the bike, swapped, and put back on? (I am not doing that, no skill, not willing to practice with my life!) |
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Well that certainly makes it easier than shopping, buying, getting new ones delivered, etc. and then finding a shop and taking it to them. There is a local Yamaha factory shop nearby, I will check with them, and an independent shop near me some kids at school told me about. Don't think they are open on Monday. |
| Nothing wrong with going with a new set of Trail Wings TW301 / TW302s, that appears to be what you have now, with the type of riding you're planning on. Price is going to vary depending on the location and the shop, a lot of shops give you a break on installation if you buy the tires through them. Most motor sports dealers/shops are closed on Sundays and Mondays. |
USN Retired: APR 1988 - MAY 2008
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
"My center is giving way, my right is falling back, situation excellent, I attack." —Ferdinand Foch
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Nice bike, OP! Yamaha really needs to bring this back as a fuel injected mid-weight dual sport w/ 6-speed gearbox to provide a nice option that would bridge the gap between the lightweight KLX300 and more powerful DR-Z4s. But I digress... Is there any tackyness left in the tire tread? You can check pretty easily by running your finger nail across a tread block and seeing if your nail "grabs" the rubber at all. As long as they aren't hard as a rock or dry rotted, and if your riding is more casual, I don't see the need to spend good $ to put fresh tires on it. Now, if you're going to go through the rest of the bike anyhow and freshen it up for a lot of serious riding that you are anticipating, then by all means throw some good rubber on it because that's a different story. Did these older bikes use inner tubes like they do now? Maybe throw some fresh inner tubes in there for additional safety margin but keep the tires to save $... |
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Kenda K761’s front and rear. Decent tire for not much money. You’ll aren’t going nuts in street or off road and not very many miles, no point in spending g big bucks. You’ll need a 90/90-21 front (virtually the same as the 3.0-21) and a stock size rear. You can get them anywhere online for like $75-ish each. Get good tubes and new rim strips and you’ll be set. |
You should move to the right lane, where the rule of vehicle and traffic law still exists. You will not survive here. You are not a wolf, and the left lane is the land of wolves now.
USAF C-141B Instructor Flight Engineer (Retired)
Joined:
Sep 2008
Posts:
5368
EE: 100% (56)
WA, USA
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Wow, that takes me back... When I was active duty our equipment office was in good with the DRMO guys. I was over there one day and saw a dirt bike leaning against the dumpster. I asked the DRMO guy about it, he said it was left there by the Combat Controllers, but since there was no paperwork it couldn't go down the DRMO path, so it was getting tossed in the dumpster as soon as someone would help him. We tossed it in the back of my pickup. Got it running after a little work (first time I'd ever worked on a bike) and learned to ride on that bike. I had it about two or three months before the magneto went out and I ended up selling for $100. The beginning and end of my motorcycle experience until... Fast forward about 15 years, I retired active duty, and I out of the blue decide maybe it's time to pick it back up. Found one down in Oregon for sale, and the owner just happened to be headed up to WA for some other business so he brought it to me. Took the motorcycle safety course on base on this bike. I was the only one in the class that could turn it in the box. Attached File |
2Peter3:9
