Will a 180 tire fit an Indian Scout Bobber?

We talk about the big question, the one that plagues the Bobber facebook group and forums. Will a 180 Tire fit an Indian Scout Bobber? Yes, but should you? You decide!
Jay Fast: Putting on a 180 Tire: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4nIpmWCodx8a5Y
Jay Fast: Swinging to Octane Rims: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nWjKhGSgo8Spjpo
Tire fitment chart: ridewrightwheels.com/pages/motorcycle-tire-wheel-fitment-chart
The Bike...
- 2019 Indian Scout Bobber
- Tier 1 Tuner
- Trask Performance Intake
- Vance & Hines 3" Slashcuts
- Dean Speed Drag Bar
- Dean Speed License Plate Mount
- Saddlemen Renegade LS Solo
- Cheap Bar-end Mirrors
- Indian Scout Bobber Fender Rack
The Gear...
- Helmet #1: Icon Alliance GT Rubitone
- Helmet #2: Atlas 2.0 Ronin (Inbound...)
- Jacket (Spring / Summer): REAX Alta Mesh Jacket
- Jacket (Fall / Winter): Viking Unshackled Black
- Boots: Just some solid Bilt boots
- Gloves: Bilt (for now) [Swapping to Scorpion Skrub)
- Jeans: Scorpion Covert Ultra Jeans
- Socks: Yes!
- Underwear: Clean!
Motovlog Setup...
- El-cheep-o GoPro Session 5
- Irritating mic adapter for GoPro
- Purple Panda Microphone
- Sena 20s Evo

[@spartan8185]

I always find great content and ides on your channel. Thanks and keep 'em coming!

[@dadwithabike]

Awesome, thanks for supporting the channel

[@nickfarrell4265]

Love the look of your mirrors. Could you possibly put a link up or tell me which ones you have please...... Great vids by the way.

[@Supermankev2001]

Found you from the bearded Bobber I post motorcycle content as well. I have subscribed to your channel. like the name of your channel. Like your bike. Your channel will grow you have a very good presentation. like those mirrors' s on the bars. I think it is always a good idea to leave the proper size tire . to keep the proper geometry of your bike getting the best performance as designed.

[@dadwithabike]

Thanks man.....

[@riel6502]

How far will a 3.5 gal tank get you?

[@dadwithabike]

@@riel6502 Depends on throttle use. Usually 130 miles til light comes on.

[@OlyMar83]

hell yeh! good vid!

[@dadwithabike]

Thanks man!

[@travisking1223]

This video should be labeled 180 to OEM (16 x 3.5) fitment. Of course you can put a 180 tire on the back so long as you upgrade to a slightly wider wheel as well. But the question of whether it can be done is mute. To his credit though, it probably isn’t advisable to put a 180 tire on the rear OEM wheel. Not sure how much that compromises the integrity of the tire AND cornering but to his point, riding a motorcycle is enough of a risk w/ increasing that risk unnecessarily. In addition, why pay the money to “upgrade” a part merely to install it in a way that lessens its performance... ego maybe. I am going to a 180 but you bet I am also upgrading the wheels as well (RC Components). As a matter of fact RC won’t even sell an installed 180 tire on a wheel that has OEM specs.

[@dadwithabike]

All good points. I also like those wheels from RC. I just haven't decided yet if I want to spend the money.

[@jay_fast]

I wonder if I got lucky? I literally just looked them up on eBay and found a front and a rear. I think I paid like $150 for the front and $200 ish for the rear as it came with a 170 commander.

[@dadwithabike]

Yeah I actually found some on ebay that I'm probably going to secure

[@travisking1223]

I, like you, threw a 180 tire on the back (Dunlop 180/65 16B). I’ve also upgraded the rear suspension to the K-Tech Suspension Razor IV Rear Shocks. When I tested it out, I disappointingly discovered some damage to my tire’s whitewall (on both sides) because the white walls come into contact w/ the sides of the fender in the inner area where the light brackets are mounted. I am wondering if you ran into the same problem w/ the wheel coming into contact w/ the fender. I noticed you stuck w/ the OEM wheel which would seem to make the tire slightly more narrow than it might otherwise be. I upgraded to an RC Component wheel that’s slightly wider (16 x 5.5) which in turn would seem to allow the tire to spread very slightly. Any thoughts on how to remedy this? I am thinking that I could try to adjust the shocks to reduce the sage distance but the concern then is if I ride 2 up it’ll still cause that tire to come into contact w/ the rear fender.

[@dadwithabike]

So I don't have the problem. I suspect it is the wheel itself doing what it should by spreading the tire out properly. I would try to stiffen up the rear suspension first bit the real solution would be a wider rear fender. I think most the people upgrading to the RC rears are either doing that or complete removal. Wish I could be more help on this ... sorry and good luck.

[@travisking1223]

@@dadwithabike So what I found out today actually aligns w/ my intuition. A 180 tire properly mounted will not fit on an Indian Scout Bobber. Repeat… WILL NOT FIT ON AN INDIAN SCOUT BOBBER. The proper wheel for a 180 tire is not 3.5 as in 16 x 3.5 (OEM) or even 17 x 3.5. For a 180 tire, proper fitment is a 5.5 wide wheel. When you install a 180 onto a 3.5 wide wheel you distort/increase the aspect ratio of the tire making it taller and more narrow which is why people are claiming that you can run a 180 on a Bobber. Improper fitment actually makes the tire a smidge narrower. Installing a a 180 onto a 3.5 wide wheel can be done BUT you significant degrade the balance on the tire causing it to naturally dip into turns more aggressively… poor performance. The ONLY way you can run a 180 wheel on a Scout Bobber is if you delete the rear fender which will allow you to run up to a 240. If I come off some kind of way it is because I just ruined the white wall on a brand new 180 thinking that it could be done based on vids like this and others. BTW, I can’t even find a local shop who would agree to put a 180 onto a 3.5 wide wheel for liability reasons. Nonetheless, word to the wise, go with a 170 tire on the rear which is significantly wider than the stock 150 but still will require a wider wheel (16 x 5.5).

[@bierlichen1]

@@travisking1223 My friend you can only use these videos as a reference. You'll still have to do your own research at the tire shop.

[@SOSchangedme]

@@travisking1223 well said! Thank you! My mechanic said the same... 170 looks like the answer. 👍🏻

[@etishbite456]

​@@SOSchangedme170 on a 3.5?

[@blubase06]

Lmao that BMW at 5:40 just took off

[@dadwithabike]

Haha, I guess that minivan pissed him off :-)

[@christianiscool94]

What’s the Facebook group called?

[@dadwithabike]

Indian Scout Bobber on Facebook

[@_Mailman]

It's not an opinion at all, you are scientifilly correct. Putting a 180 tire on an undersized wheel can be MADE to fit, however handling and traction are scientifically reduced. It's dumb and factually....dangerous. it's the old adage, just because you CAN, doesn't mean you SHOULD. Upgrade to a 5.5 inch wheel or do as you said and grab a 160 Avon Cobra.

[@dadwithabike]

True words ....

[@liljfunk21]

What’s a 240 kit?

[@dadwithabike]

Tire, wheel, hub and axel to fit a 240 width tire.

[@liljfunk21]

@@dadwithabike as you say in your videos it’s not safe so I changed my mind on getting the rear tire even tho it sure does look really sick

[@dadwithabike]

@@liljfunk21 yeah, lots of people run with a 180 on stock but it kinda freaks me out :-)

[@liljfunk21]

@@dadwithabike and why does it freaks you out?

[@dadwithabike]

@@liljfunk21 I worry about the bead seating properly. I ride aggressively and the last I need is a bead popping in a turn. That can happen on an improperly fit tire.

[@VodKaSlam]

Biggest tire you can fit is a 240

[@dadwithabike]

But on a bigger rim

[@tomedwards159]

$245 on ebay right now

[@dadwithabike]

Yeah, I haven't pulled the trigger yet but want to

[@tomedwards159]

it's not only safety for you I'm sure your wife appreciates it as well

[@dadwithabike]

So true..

[@rollingchopsticks]

why not 170

[@dadwithabike]

When you put a wider tire on than your rim is spec'd for you are only doing it for looks and it will actually make handling worse. Many people will tell you their bike handles great when they went from a 150 to a 180 (or 170) but it's a lie they tell themselves to justify the move. If they said "it looks better" then I'd agree ... but it doesn't actually help, it hinders.

[@marcmiller2218]

Great vids! What about a 160 Metzler Cruisetech (or Avon Cobra)?