Honda CB-1 (CB400F, 89-90)

(updated September 99)

Rim Stock Size
Front 3.00x17 110/70H17
Rear 4.00x17 140/70H17

Manufacturers' Recommendations

Manufacturer Front size Rear size
Avon AV27 110/70R17 AV281 140/70VR17
Bridgestone BT35 110/70H17 BT35 140/70H17
BT45 110/70H17 BT45 140/70H17
BT90 110/70HR17 BT90 140/70HR17
Dunlop K505F (OE) 110/70H17 K505 (OE) 140/70H17
K591 Elite SP 110/80V17 K591 Elite SP 140/70VB17
Metzeler ME-33 Laser CompK 110/80V17 ME-55A Metronic 140/80VB17 
Michelin Macadam 50 110/70H17 Macadam 50 140/70H17
Pirelli MT 09 110/80V17 MT 08 140/80VB17

Martyn's Opinion

The Best Selection

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17 $92

Without question, the best combination for the vast majority of riding is the BT45 pair from Bridgestone.  Improving on the very good BT35's, these too perform extremely well on lightweight sporting bikes like the CB-1.  The price should even be reasonable, giving no real reason to look elsewhere.

Full-out ultra-sports riders who stick the bike in the back of a truck to take to the twisties in good weather will no doubt rejoice that there's a Michelin Hi-Sport combination that can be squeezed onto the bike, and radial bigots can try the Metzeler ME-Z1/ME-Z2 in non-stock sizes, but the BT45's are such an obvious superb match to this bike.
 

An interesting choice might be the Avon radials, AV27 front and AV281 rear.  I am not yet recommending them, partly because the AV281 is not readily available in the USA.  Also, the BT45's are a very good tire, and it's not yet clear to me that these radials offer enough of an advantage.

A Tight Budget

Brand Model Size MAW
Front IRC Carapace RS-320 110/70H-17 $69
Rear IRC Carapace RS-320 140/70H-17 $84

Unfortunately the mail-order prices for the older Bridgestone BT35's have recently increased, which prices them out of the budget market for this bike.  A second strike is that the Michelin Macadam 50, which conversely has lowered in price, isn't available for the rear as their fitment guide suggests.  That leaves the IRC Carapace RS-320, a budget sport-touring tyre that will work well enough if you're strapped for cash.  If you're a bit nervous about traction, you can use the IRC rear with a BT35 front, but that would cost more.

Martyn's Choice

Brand Model Size MAW
Front Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81
Rear Bridgestone BT45 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17 $92

I'd definitely go for the Bridgestones.


The Full List

(from MAW and manufacturer web pages)

Exact matched pairs

Brand Front size MAW Rear size MAW
Avon AV27 110/70ZR17 AV281 140/70-R17
Bridgestone BT35 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 BT35 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17
BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81 BT45 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17 $92
IRC Carapace RS-320 110/70H-17 $69 Carapace RS-320 140/70H-17 $84
Pirelli MT75 110/70H-17 MT75 140/70H-17

Listing by Manufacturer

Avon

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
AV27 110/70ZR17 exact AV281 140/70-R17 exact
Azaro AV35 110/70ZR17 $133 exact Azaro AV36 150/70ZR17 $148 wide

Bridgestone

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
BT35 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 exact BT35 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17 exact
BT45 Sports Mileage 110/70H-17 $81 exact BT45 Sports Mileage 140/70H-17 $92 exact
BT50 Sports Perform. 110/70ZR17 exact
BT54 Sports Touring 120/70ZR17 $102 wide BT54 Sports Touring 150/70ZR17 $109 wide
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf 120/60ZR17 wide
BT56 Ultra Sports Perf 120/70ZR17 wide
BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf 110/70ZR17 $109 exact
BT57 Sports Perform 110/70ZR17 exact
BT92 Sports Mileage 110/70HR17 exact BT92 Sports Mileage 150/60HR17 wide

Continental

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Sport 2000 110/80V-17 $72 tall
Sport 2000 120/70V-17 $76 wide
Sport 2000 Radial 120/60ZR17 $132 wide
Sport 2000 Radial 120/70ZR17 wide

Dunlop

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
D204 Sportmax II ZR 120/60ZR17 $92 wide D204 Sportmax II ZR 150/60ZR17 $114 wide
D204 Sportmax II ZR 120/70ZR17 wide
D205 Sport/Touring 110/80ZR17 $88 tall
D205 Sport/Touring 120/60ZR17 $90 wide D205 Sport/Touring 150/70ZR17 $138 Wide
D205 Sport/Touring 120/70ZR17 $93 wide
D207 Sportmax 120/60ZR17 $107 wide
D207 Sportmax 120/70ZR17 $111 wide
K455 Radial 120/70VR17 wide
K505 110/80V-17 $92 tall K505 140/70H-17 exact
K510 110/70HR17 $85 exact
K591 Sport Touring 110/80V-17 tall K591 Sport Touring 140/70VB17 exact

IRC

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Carapace RS-320 110/70H-17 $69 exact Carapace RS-320 140/70H-17 $84 exact
Durotour RS-310 110/70H-17 exact

Metzeler

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
ME-1 110/70H-17 exact
ME-33 Laser 110/80H-17 tall
ME-33 Laser 110/80V-17 $86 tall ME-55A Metronic 150/70H-17 wide
ME-33 Laser 120/70V-17 $90 wide ME-55A Metronic 150/70HB17 wide
ME-55A Metronic 150/70V-17 wide
ME-55A Metronic 150/70VB17 $138 wide
ME-880 Marathon 120/70VR17 $103 wide
ME-Z1 110/70ZR17 exact ME-Z1 150/60ZR17 wide
ME-Z2 110/80ZR17 $107 tall ME-Z2 150/70ZR17 $112 wide
ME-Z3 110/70ZR17 $110 exact ME-Z3 150/60ZR17 $145 wide
ME-Z4 120/60ZR17 wide ME-Z4 150/70ZR17 $139 wide
ME-Z4 120/70ZR17 $115 wide

Michelin

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Hi-Sport TX15 110/70ZR17 $145 exact Hi-Sport TX25 150/60ZR17 $174 wide
Macadam 50 110/70H-17 $88 exact
Macadam 50 150/70H-17 $118 wide
Macadam 50 150/70V-17 $127 wide
Macadam 90X 110/70ZR17 $84 exact Macadam 90X 150/70ZR17 $107 wide

Pirelli

Front size MAW match Rear size MAW match
Dragon GT MTR03 110/80ZR17 $98 tall
Dragon GT MTR03 120/60ZR17 $100 wide
Dragon GT MTR03 120/70ZR17 $101 wide Dragon GT MTR04 150/70ZR17 $127 wide
Dragon GTS MTR23 120/60ZR17 $106 wide Dragon GTS MTR24 150/70ZR17 $131 wide
Dragon GTS MTR23 120/70ZR17 $106 wide
Dragon MTR01 110/70ZR17 $108 exact Dragon MTR02 150/60ZR17 $137 wide
MT75 110/70H-17 exact MT75 140/70H-17 exact
Match MT09 110/80V-17 $90 tall
Match MT09 120/70VB17 $96 wide Match MT08 150/70VB17 $127 wide

Key:

Exact Precisely matches original spec
Excellent Precisely matches a recommended alternate
Good An exact or alternate in a different sizing system
Short Exact or excellent width, lower profile.  Consider these both ends to lower the bike
Soft Similar diameter by using a taller profile and narrower width; used on the rear only
Tall Taller profile, stock width; similar in effect to "soft", but for the front only
Wide Same profile, wider tyre.  This MAY NOT FIT your rim.  BE CAREFUL!!!