Topica Loopframe_Guzzi Archive


Subject: Re: Wheels and Tires

Author: Hunter Jones

Date: Mar 4, 2001, 7:55 PM

Post ID: 1705719754



Hey Tom

I used Guzzi spokes & nipples when I last had to relace a wheel. As I
recall the whole sha-bang was about 110 USD. That was about six years ago
though. If your not hung up on having every nut and bolt a Genuine Guzzi
Part then do what your wallet says. Buchanan spokes may be a better deal.
I run a 110 front and 120 rear Pirelli (seems only right to use Italian
tires) on my Eldo and am very pleased with the performance.
I also have an Ambassador that has a 100 on the front and a 120 on the
back. The narrower tire definitly handles quicker and makes the bike feel
lighter. The Eldo, with the wider tire, needs a little more elbow grease to
get it keeled over but it has a more stable feel. Take your pick.
BTW the eldo front is an old Pirelli Phantom (MT 59 I think) with a newer
MT 68 on the back. The Ambassador has a Metzler ME33 Laser on the front
with a Pirelli MT 68 on the back there as well.


Hunter


At 07:24 PM 3/4/2001 -0800, you wrote:
 
I got around to removing the old tires off of the rims for the Ambo
yesterday in preparation for cleanup and polishing of the wheels. The
front tire was a 4.00x18, but the rear was a whopper, 5.40x18. Don't
know what the previous owner was thinking as the tire obviously rubbed
on darn near everything around the front of the swing arm. It was
probably the reason the guy blew out the clutch on the bike since the
tire was doubling as a brake.

Anyway, much to my chagrin, both wheels have plated, not stainless,
spokes. (Must have been old V7 stock that got used up on the early
Ambos.) Unfortunately, a fair number of the spokes are very corroded and
will need replacing. I am thinking about replacing all of the spokes
with stainless ones and would like any opinions as to whether I am
better off to go with Buchanan's or with Guzzi OEM's.

The rear rim is kinda' spread apart in a couple of places, but is not
cracked. What do you think, time to get out the plastic mallet and do
some fine tuning, or is it time to go shopping for a new (and possibly
wider) rim?

I take it that most folks are running 110/90-18's these days, as the old
4.00x18 size is hard to find. Any thoughts as to front and rear tire
combinations that will give good performance in the long distance
touring mode? I was pondering going with a 100/90-18 on the front in
order to help the braking and handling a bit.

Tom

'70 Ambassador
'82 V50-III
Shelby Township, Michigan

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