Honda Magna (VF750C/CD, 94-)
(updated September 99)
|
Rim |
Stock Size |
Original Tyre |
| Front |
3.00 x 17 |
120/80-17 |
Dunlop K555F |
| Rear |
3.50 x 15 |
150/80-15 |
Dunlop K555 |
Manufacturers' Recommendations
| Manufacturer |
Front |
size |
Rear |
size |
| Avon |
(no data)
|
| Bridgestone |
(no data)
|
| Dunlop |
K555F (OE) |
120/80-17 |
K555 (OE) |
150/80-15 |
|
K555F (OE) |
120/80-17 |
K491 Elite II |
MV85HB15 |
| Metzeler |
Marathon ML2 |
120/80H17 |
Marathon ML2 Plus |
140/80HB15 |
| Michelin |
(no data)
|
| Pirelli |
No Fitment
|
Martyn's Opinion
General Comments
This used to be one of the hardest bikes to find a satisfactory tyre combination.
The choice of 80-series tyres with 17" and 15" rims makes it almost impossible
to find an aftermarket combination in the correct sizes. This is
rather strange, since the Magna is a modern bike that sells well, but so
it goes. Some playing about with sizes and mixing manufacturers does,
however, has in the past enabled some quite decent combinations.
The Best Selection
|
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
| Front |
Metzeler |
ME-880 Marathon |
120/80H-17 |
$114 |
| Rear |
Metzeler |
ME-880 Marathon |
150/80HB15 |
$136 |
Fortunately, now Metzeler has just come out with the ME-880 Marathons,
and moreover made them available in the right size. This tyre might
just be as big an advance over the ME-88's as the ME-Z4's are over the
ME-Z1/Z2 combination. Anyway, there's no doubt that this is the right
selection for this bike. It should last well, perform well, and it
has the typical Metzeler neutral profile that inspires confidence.
A Tight Budget
|
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
| Front |
IRC |
Wildflare WF-920 |
120/80H-17 |
$73 |
| Rear |
IRC |
Wildflare WF-920 |
150/80H-15 |
$88 |
There's no question that the Kenda rear is the way to save money and
have a decent set of tyres. The trick then is to find an inexpensive
tyre for the front, and that's a difficult matter because of availability.
Now you'll probably be able to slide the rear around, but the Kenda is
fun and predictable in those circumstances, and it's excellent value for
money. Combine that with a better front, like the inexpensive IRC
Wildflare, and you have a really cheap set of rubber.
Still, that's not the selection I've put here. Admittedly, fitting
the Wildflares front and rear costs an extra $30 over putting the Kenda
on the back, but I think it's worth it if you can afford it. The
benefits of a stock-sized tyre at both ends to me would outweigh the extra
dollars -- although $30 is a lot.
The Wildflare WF-920 is a new tyre. Originally designed just for
the Suzuki Marauder, the line has been expanded to include other modern
power cruisers, like the Magna. IRC produces pretty decent tyres,
good value for the money, and this pair looks very promising for the Magna.
Martyn's Choice
|
Brand |
Model |
Size |
MAW |
| Front |
Metzeler |
ME-880 Marathon |
120/80H-17 |
$114 |
| Rear |
Metzeler |
ME-880 Marathon |
150/80HB15 |
$136 |
This one's a no-brainer. Metzeler's new ME-880 Marathon is just
the right tyre for this bike.
The Full List
(from MAW and manufacturer
web pages)
Exact matched pairs
| Brand |
Front |
size |
MAW |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
| IRC |
Wildflare WF-920 |
120/80H-17 |
$73 |
Wildflare WF-920 |
150/80H-15 |
$88 |
| Metzeler |
ME-880 Marathon |
120/80H-17 |
$114 |
ME-880 Marathon |
150/80HB15 |
$136 |
Other Tolerable pairs
So having exhausted the two stock combinations, we can look further afield.
That basically means looking at short fronts, or a soft or tall rear, or
other odd matches. A 70-series on the front will quicken the steering
and reduce ground clearance slightly, but the Magna has a lazy enough geometry
not to become twitchy, and for a cruiser has surprisingly large ground
clearance anyway.
| Brand |
Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| Bridgestone |
BT35 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
|
short |
SE11 |
140/90H-15 |
$105 |
soft |
|
BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$84 |
short |
SE11 |
140/90H-15 |
$104 |
soft |
|
BT35 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
|
short |
SE27 |
MV85H-15 |
|
tall |
|
BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$106 |
short |
SE27 |
MV85H-15 |
|
tall |
| Continental |
Sport 2000 |
120/70V-17 |
$76 |
short |
TKH-24 |
140/90H-15 |
$61 |
soft |
| Dunlop |
K177 Touring |
120/80HB17 |
|
exact |
K627 |
140/90H-15 |
$91 |
soft |
|
K177 Touring |
120/80HB17 |
|
exact |
K491 Elite II Touring |
140/90HB15
MV85HB15 |
$81
$102 |
soft
tall |
| Metzeler |
ME-33 Laser |
120/70V-17 |
$90 |
short |
ME-88 Marathon |
150/80VB15 |
$121 |
exact |
|
ME-33 Laser |
120/70V-17 |
$90 |
short |
ME-77 |
140/90H-15 |
$98 |
soft |
|
ML2 |
120/80H-17 |
$97 |
exact |
ME-88 Marathon |
150/80VB15 |
$121 |
exact |
| Michelin |
Macadam 50 |
120/70V-17 |
$106 |
short |
Tarmac (old) |
140/90H-15 |
$85 |
soft |
| Pirelli |
Match MT09 |
120/70VB17 |
$96 |
short |
Route 66 MT66 |
140/90H-15 |
$102 |
soft |
Listing by Manufacturer
Avon
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| AV27 |
120/70ZR17 |
$131 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Azaro AV35 |
120/70ZR17 |
$107 |
short |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roadrunner AM21 |
140/90H-15 |
$130 |
soft |
Bridgestone
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| BT35 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT45 Sports Mileage |
120/70H-17 |
$84 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT50 Sports Perform. |
120/70ZR17 |
$89 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT54 Sports Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$102 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT56 Ultra Sports Perf |
120/70ZR17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT56SS Extreme Sp/Perf |
120/70ZR17 |
$94 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT57 Sports Perform. |
120/70ZR17 |
$113 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| BT92 Sports Mileage |
120/70HR17 |
$65 |
short |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SE11 |
140/90H-15 |
$104 |
soft |
|
|
|
|
SE27 |
MV85H-15 |
|
tall |
Continental
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
|
|
|
|
Blitz TKH-24 |
140/90H-15 |
$61 |
soft |
|
|
|
|
Milestone CM2 |
140/90H-15 |
$92 |
soft |
| Sport 2000 |
120/70V-17 |
$76 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Sport 2000 radial |
120/70ZR17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
Dunlop
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
|
|
|
|
Cruisemax |
140/90--15 |
$101 |
soft |
| D204 Sportmax II ZR |
120/70ZR17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
| D205 Sport/Touring |
120/70ZR17 |
$93 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| D207 Sportmax |
120/70ZR17 |
$111 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| K177 Touring |
120/80HB17 |
|
exact |
K627 |
140/90H-15 |
$91 |
soft |
| K455 Radial |
120/70VR17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K491 Elite II Touring |
140/90HB15 |
$81 |
soft |
|
|
|
|
K491 Elite II Touring |
MV85HB15 |
$102 |
tall |
| K510 |
120/70VR17 |
$98 |
short |
|
|
|
|
IRC
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
|
|
|
|
Durotour RS-310 |
140/90H-15 |
$59 |
soft |
|
|
|
|
Road Winner RW-010 |
140/90HX15 |
|
soft |
| Wildflare WF-920 |
120/80H-17 |
$73 |
exact |
Wildflare WF-920 |
150/80H-15 |
$88 |
exact |
Kenda
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
|
|
|
|
K657 Sport Challenger |
140/90H-15 |
$59 |
soft |
Metzeler
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| ME-33 Laser |
120/70V-17 |
$90 |
short |
ME-88 Marathon |
150/80VB15 |
$121 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
ME-77 |
140/90H-15 |
$98 |
soft |
|
|
|
|
ME-77 |
140/90S-15T |
|
soft |
| ME-880 Marathon |
120/80H-17 |
$114 |
exact |
ME-880 Marathon |
150/80HB15 |
$136 |
exact |
| ME-Z2 |
130/80-R17 |
|
wide |
|
|
|
|
| ME-Z3 |
120/70ZR17 |
$118 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| ME-Z4 |
120/70ZR17 |
$115 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| ML2 |
120/80H-17 |
$97 |
exact |
|
|
|
|
| ML2 |
120/80V-17 |
|
exact |
|
|
|
|
Michelin
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| Hi-Sport TX15 |
120/70ZR17 |
$150 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Macadam 50 |
120/70V-17 |
$106 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Macadam 90X |
120/70ZR17 |
$88 |
short |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tarmac (old) |
140/90H-15 |
$85 |
soft |
Pirelli
| Front |
size |
MAW |
match |
Rear |
size |
MAW |
match |
| Dragon GT MTR03 |
120/70ZR17 |
$101 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Dragon GTS MTR23 |
120/70ZR17 |
$106 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Dragon HR MTR01 |
120/70ZR17 |
|
short |
|
|
|
|
| Dragon MTR01 |
120/70ZR17 |
$112 |
short |
|
|
|
|
| Match MT09 |
120/70VB17 |
$96 |
short |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Route 66 MT66 |
140/90H-15 |
$102 |
soft |
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!!! |