Vintage Dirt Bike Q & A

i'am rebuilding a 79 cr125. this is going to be a rider and maybe vintage racer but want it to look nice. question is what brand of tires are most people using. most of my riding will be dry dirt. i would like somthing lite weight less rotational weight means better performance. also is anybody using the later style 19 in. rims on the rear with there better selection of tires. they allso seem to be a lower profile tire they are a little taller and would have to gear for them. my boy's 2000 cr125 rear is about 3/4 taller than the 79 thanks jd

First check that you don't have a 23" front rim. If you do, post again because you'll need some different advice....

Assuming you have the standard 21"/18" set-up, I would go either for Dunlop 756 intermediates or Maxxis IT. The former are the performance "gold standard", while the latter last at lot longer and are far more economical. IMHO you are over-thinking the tire selection thing particularly the weight issue and 19" approach. However if money is no object get a 19" Excel rim drilled and laced up and run a Dunlop 756RR like the factory guys.

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_category.asp?id=4
http://www.maxxis.com/products/motorcycle/find_your_tire.asp

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF

thanks for the reply, yes i changed the front to a 21. about the 19 in. wheel thing my boy is going to change the rims on his 03 cr 250 but they are the wrong spoke count dam. i need to replace the rear wheel and spokes the rim is all corroded and the spokes are rusty. anybody ever powder coat there rims jd

If it is the OEM DID rim I would replace it. Modern rims are simply stronger and better made. Excel does a silver rim that fits vintage applications - and one is destined for the rear to match the one I have on the front. You can get that rim anodized or powder-coated. I would go for stronger stainless steel spokes at the same time.

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Michael Stiles
1979 Honda CR250R Elsinore | 2006 Husqvarna SM510R | 2007 Service Honda CR500R-AF