Can I put a 120/17 70 on an R6?

[Rider]

Originally Posted by smileyman

It will never feel right. You could measure from the axle to the ground with the 70 series and then try and lower the forks in the tripple clamps to restore ride height but it would screw with your rake and trail numbers enough that it would feel like crap. My ZX6R came stocke with a 65 series front and I had to adjust the other way to install a 70 series...

Would it also lessen your max lean angle? Seems to me it would but I don't know for sure.

[Homeslice]

You'll run out of tire sooner

[Kaneman]

My bro-in-law is just a poor college kid and can't ride worth a shit anyway, the tire won't affect his performance.

I just want to make sure it won't come off going down the highway or something.

[smileyman]

Well the key with newbies is to make sure the machines limits are high enough they aren't likely to exceed them. I would think the lower profile would make it less stable regardless how you adjust the suspension.

A newbie that doesnt know how to address a tankslapper could end up on his arse...

[Particle Man]

Originally Posted by smileyman

A newbie that doesnt know how to address a tankslapper could end up on his arse...

He's riding an R6 as a new rider - a tankslapper would be the least of his worries....

[Kaneman]

Originally Posted by smileyman

Well the key with newbies is to make sure the machines limits are high enough they aren't likely to exceed them. I would think the lower profile would make it less stable regardless how you adjust the suspension.

A newbie that doesnt know how to address a tankslapper could end up on his arse...

He can't even turn, a tankslapper is the least of his worries.

[The Awesome]

Bad tire info cracks me up. Contrary to popular belief, you won't spontaneously combust if you use a 120/60. In fact, some race tires even use <70 profile fronts. I rode on a 120/65 for a long time.

[smileyman]

Different profiles will work great as long as your bike is set up for them.

[Homeslice]

Nobody is saying he'll spontaneously combust. But the change in the bike's handling isn't worth the risk. This idea that he'll never notice the difference just because he's a new or crappy rider is ridiculous. It changes everything.

An experienced rider would be mature enough to ride carefully while adjusting to the new handling. Will your brother in law do the same? Being that he's just a college kid, I doubt it.

And even if you tried to compensate by dropping the fork tubes, would you even know how much to do so?

Can't this guy afford $100-120 for a new front tire? Jesus.

[OreoGaborio]

The change in handling would be minimal. You're not going to reduce the ability of the bike much, if at all. It may steer a little heavier, but that's about it.

If that's all you've got & you need something in a pinch, throw it on there and give it a try. If you don't like it, then swap it out when you can. It's not going to pose a safety hazard.

A smaller profile number just means it's a little "flatter" of a tire in the middle of the tread. It doesn't automatically mean the tire won't give as much lean angle or you'll run out of tire sooner. And contrary to popular belief, the profile ratio doesn't necessarily denote the size of the sidewall, but the overall profile or "pointiness" of the tire. A 70 series is a "peakier", more triangular tire than a 60 series, which typically means a larger rolling diameter and a SLIGHTLY bigger contact patch when leaned over.'

For street riders, the biggest effect of switching from one to another is just the handling FEEL of the bike, not handling performance.