Hey guys, new to forum and Kawasaki. Have done a lot of lurking the past few weeks as I decided on what bike I was going to buy. Finally ended up with a leftover 06 dk green BF650SRA 4x4 on the cheap. Loving it so far, except for the world's worst stock tires. I had read how bad they were but didn't fully appreciate it until I took it out on the trails in the woods this weekend. Feels like I am going to roll it every time I take a turn above 5 MPH, and both fronts are leaking already with 30 miles on it!

Anyways, I have done a little reseach, but wanted some answers from those of you who have upgraded your tires.

I am looking for something to improve the stability, mud ability, and looks of this machine without giving up too much ride comfort on hardpack/road. I would kind of like to go 25x12x12 on the rear and 25x10x12 on the front and get rid of the pizza cutters this thing came with. Most of my riding is in rough pasture ground, timber, trail, creek crossings, fields, etc. No rocks. I do NOT want to get different rims if at all possible. I do get into some real sticky mud.

--Will these wider tires cause rubbing issues?
--Is there any good reason not to go to 26's? (make it tippier, lose acceleration, hard on belt, etc.?)

Cost IS a consideration! (Wife let me get this, I had to get wife a new ZTR Deere mower!)

Thanks for the help!

 

I just bought a 07 650i and put on new 26" Dirt Devil II's. they are on my stock rims until I can afford aftermarket rims. I love them so far!. If I had to do it again I think I would have went w/ 25" especially if I would leave them on stock rims. putting aftermarket tires on stock rims seems to me to sqeeze the tire up because the stock rims are little narrower. So If you are going to keep the stock rims I would stick w/ 25". This is my second set of DD's but first set of DD II's and they are great. I will tell you if you havent messed w/ your shocks make sure you stiffen them up! I was like you and couldnt turn a corner without feeling tippy, they were set on the softest setting...so I turned them up 2 notches in the rear and 3 in the front and it really helped the tippy feeling. Good luck w/ whatever you go with and I hope I helped you a little.

 

Thanks for the reply NoMoGrizz.

I have the Dirt Devil ATs on my Honda Fourtrax 300 4x4, and they have been good tires--never a flat. I wanted to get the Dirt Devil X/Ts for the BF but they don't make them in 25x12x12. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif[/img]

I opted for the Solid Rear Axle on my BF, I see you have the Independent Rear Suspension. They are especially known for tippiness until adjusted properly. I like to go riding trails in the woods and do powerslides, etc. and in my experience it is just a little harder to do and a little less fun on an IRS machine. If I was doing rock climbing it would be a different story. That's how I ended up getting the SRA on mine. All my problems are coming from the front end really wanting to roll in the corners. These stockers have no sidewall strength and just roll onto the rim in the turns.

I will keep the DD's on my list for now!

 

I have a 650 SRA and had 26s Maxxis Bighorns installed on the stock rims. They are great tires. I've had them on for over a year and they show very minimal wear, and no cuts or slices in the case or lugs anywhere.
There are lots of rocks where we ride and these have held up well.

 

I'll throw in my vote for goodyear mudrunners.

I've been running 26" on my P-650 for the last 3 years and just ordered 27"ers.

The 25" or 26" would do you fine.

A great all around tire that can mud IMHO.

 

i'll throw in a vote for the mudlites. I have stock size on stock wheels and i love them....great tire been through hell

 

I have the 26" Mudlite XL's
They throw it like a congressman during re-election...
greatly improved the handling too...

 

Guys,

Ended up with Mudlite XLs, got them mounted today. Nice! Tried to get stuck but couldn't. Only thing is they sure don't slide as well as the stockers, I tried to whip a 'nut on some dirt today, no big thing right, but it threw me off, I rolled roughly 15 feet. When I got up and looked back I expected it to be on it's side or upside down but it somehow righted itself. Brother was watching--he said it basically sat on two wheels for maybe 2-3 seconds then decided to drop back on all 4s. Phew!