Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

1: I just picked up a 96 zx7r I want to know what size rear tyre I should run , It has a 190 on it now and it feels fat and slow I think I should be running a 180 but just wanna see what the people saybefore I go and chuck so new rubber on it

2: What size are the rims I have read/ be told 2 different things are the rear 5.5 or 6 and will the zxr600 rims fit as I am looking at a set to put soem slicks on

3: Metzeler M1 tyres anybody used them are they any good I have ran powers ande diablo's for the last forever but these are going cheap at the moment and I have not heard any horror stories yet

The zx7r has 6.0 inch rear rims. They take a 190 rear tyre standard but as you have stated, a 180 does it make it handle a little sharper.
But so does raising the rear ride height by about 10mm and or dropping the front by about 5mm.. both are easy to do..
I ran a 180 on mine as well as adjusting the ride heights as above.
It did feel sharper but that was more to do with the suspension mods.

My suggestion, stick with the 190 and set up the suspension, especially if you want to run slicks.

ZX6 rear rims don't fit the zx7r... they are 5.5 and yours is a 6..

And if you're in Vic then there's a great deal on a set of BT014's to be had, if you're nt then hunt aaround I guess.

G'day Yella

I ran M1's on my 7R, they were great with fast warm up, good grip
& the milage was not too bad. I was also runing a 190 & had the rear raised about 10mm. Now I run Diablo Corsa front & standard rear
& they are just as good but I am not sure about the kays.

MadKaw wrote:The zx7r has 6.0 inch rear rims. They take a 190 rear tyre standard but as you have stated, a 180 does it make it handle a little sharper.
But so does raising the rear ride height by about 10mm and or dropping the front by about 5mm.. both are easy to do..
I ran a 180 on mine as well as adjusting the ride heights as above.
It did feel sharper but that was more to do with the suspension mods.

My suggestion, stick with the 190 and set up the suspension, especially if you want to run slicks.

ZX6 rear rims don't fit the zx7r... they are 5.5 and yours is a 6..

dave maybe u should explain that ur a pyscho rider and u were basicly riding the 7r with ur arse 10 inches higher than ur head.

Mate, i suggest u keep the 190 and try playing around with the back first, see how that goes, then play with the front and see how that goes and if ur still unhappy change the tyre.

I used to sell these things when new, and helped a few guys set them up over the years. I would encourage you to go to a 180 rear tyre. I run 180's on the back of my 9 (6" rim) and feel it is a far better bike with a 180 than a 190. I find that it doesn't really change anything, except the way the bike turns in on the lst 1/4 of lean. In other words, it steers easier onto the very edge of the tyre and stays there. Whereas, I find the 190's want to make it stand up and resist the last little bit of turn!
Just my thoughts, in reality it's what you are comfy with!

Strika wrote:..... except the way the bike turns in on the lst 1/4 of lean. In other words, it steers easier onto the very edge of the tyre and stays there. .....

in this example, but using a 'ZX12R' not a ZX9R, use '200' instead of '190', and '190' instead of '180', and *exactly* the same principles apply.

Hope that is not too confusing ?

Strika wrote:I used to sell these things when new, and helped a few guys set them up over the years. I would encourage you to go to a 180 rear tyre. I run 180's on the back of my 9 (6" rim) and feel it is a far better bike with a 180 than a 190. I find that it doesn't really change anything, except the way the bike turns in on the lst 1/4 of lean. In other words, it steers easier onto the very edge of the tyre and stays there. Whereas, I find the 190's want to make it stand up and resist the last little bit of turn!
Just my thoughts, in reality it's what you are comfy with!

I allways thought the 180 gave less grip with the lower sidewall, less contact patch when on it's side

its a personal thing, but i wont be running a 180 on the back of the Z again.

it has a 6in rim, i just dont like the feel of it.

on a side not, i have got about 1000ks out of
this BT014 and its on the wear indicators on the left hand side...

Bloody eastern creek... 300ks of it were on the track.

it just didnt feel planted on its side like it used to. and slid the front a bit, which i dont like either.

mind you, this is riding a stock Z at 11/10ths and havent even got any suspension sorted...

What Gos said 180 for the 7 and 190 for the 12.

Why can't he use a ZX6 rim (5.5") on his zx7 ? Surely if its smaller width at the axle, spacers can be machined. Anything is possible. If you go bigger you run the risk of hitting the chain or swingarm.

Sure its a 6" rim ? Mine actually measures a little over 6.5". How do they take the measurement ? These are the same width as my 16.5" Marchesini's which are close to 6.75".

Greenblood wrote:

Strika wrote:I used to sell these things when new, and helped a few guys set them up over the years. I would encourage you to go to a 180 rear tyre. I run 180's on the back of my 9 (6" rim) and feel it is a far better bike with a 180 than a 190. I find that it doesn't really change anything, except the way the bike turns in on the lst 1/4 of lean. In other words, it steers easier onto the very edge of the tyre and stays there. Whereas, I find the 190's want to make it stand up and resist the last little bit of turn!
Just my thoughts, in reality it's what you are comfy with!

I allways thought the 180 gave less grip with the lower sidewall, less contact patch when on it's side

I have never had an issue with it!

Wattie wrote:its a personal thing, but i wont be running a 180 on the back of the Z again.

it has a 6in rim, i just dont like the feel of it.

on a side not, i have got about 1000ks out of
this BT014 and its on the wear indicators on the left hand side...

Bloody eastern creek... 300ks of it were on the track.

it just didnt feel planted on its side like it used to. and slid the front a bit, which i dont like either.

mind you, this is riding a stock Z at 11/10ths and havent even got any suspension sorted...

Yeah mate, suspension may well be part of it! Mind games may be the other part! Let's see, you do 1'50" around the creek with the 014's yeah? and the lap record for a 600 around the creek is what? 1'36"?? Maybe less I can't member zachary, but it'll do here. That means you are running around 10% off the lap record.
I ran 64's let's say consistently at broadford the other weekend without a slide. The 600's buzz around in 59's there which is a 65 if you add 10%. SO I would guess at suspension more than blaming the tyres just yet. Plus your bike and you weigh a touch more than mine, and the steering geometry is a tad....err lazier on yours. Nothing we couldn't sort Wattie!

Strika wrote:

Wattie wrote:its a personal thing, but i wont be running a 180 on the back of the Z again.

it has a 6in rim, i just dont like the feel of it.

on a side not, i have got about 1000ks out of
this BT014 and its on the wear indicators on the left hand side...

Bloody eastern creek... 300ks of it were on the track.

it just didnt feel planted on its side like it used to. and slid the front a bit, which i dont like either.

mind you, this is riding a stock Z at 11/10ths and havent even got any suspension sorted...

Yeah mate, suspension may well be part of it! Mind games may be the other part! Let's see, you do 1'50" around the creek with the 014's yeah? and the lap record for a 600 around the creek is what? 1'36"?? Maybe less I can't member zachary, but it'll do here. That means you are running around 10% off the lap record.
I ran 64's let's say consistently at broadford the other weekend without a slide. The 600's buzz around in 59's there which is a 65 if you add 10%. SO I would guess at suspension more than blaming the tyres just yet. Plus your bike and you weigh a touch more than mine, and the steering geometry is a tad....err lazier on yours. Nothing we couldn't sort Wattie!

I forsee some Snowy Mountains Suspension Workshops in your future young Wattie

Mick C wrote:

Strika wrote:

Wattie wrote:its a personal thing, but i wont be running a 180 on the back of the Z again.

it has a 6in rim, i just dont like the feel of it.

on a side not, i have got about 1000ks out of
this BT014 and its on the wear indicators on the left hand side...

Bloody eastern creek... 300ks of it were on the track.

it just didnt feel planted on its side like it used to. and slid the front a bit, which i dont like either.

mind you, this is riding a stock Z at 11/10ths and havent even got any suspension sorted...

Yeah mate, suspension may well be part of it! Mind games may be the other part! Let's see, you do 1'50" around the creek with the 014's yeah? and the lap record for a 600 around the creek is what? 1'36"?? Maybe less I can't member zachary, but it'll do here. That means you are running around 10% off the lap record.
I ran 64's let's say consistently at broadford the other weekend without a slide. The 600's buzz around in 59's there which is a 65 if you add 10%. SO I would guess at suspension more than blaming the tyres just yet. Plus your bike and you weigh a touch more than mine, and the steering geometry is a tad....err lazier on yours. Nothing we couldn't sort Wattie!

I forsee some Snowy Mountains Suspension Workshops in your future young Wattie

They are *Highly Recommended* !!