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[robbob100s]

After I took off the shocks and pressure off the swing arm, all the splines lined up in the rear. Alls well. Anyway the interest in the frame, bent or not, came after I found that the rear tire was rubbing the swing arm. The tire is a Conti. TKV 12 18/65h 120/90 would this tire rub anyway? touching only slightly. I have to go to work soon and tomorrow is other day.
Robbob

[20774]

I think that a 120/90 is going to rub, depending on the tire maker. 110s are probably the bertter choice. You have a couple of options. 1) Adjust your swingarm bearinggs so that it is biased to one side. Probably not a good idea. 2) Find the spot(s) that it rubs and use a file to grind off the offending part. It's probably just the point where the sidewall meets the threads. Shouldn't be too big of a deal to do that. 3) There's a spacer that can be inserted in the stack up inside the hub. It's listed on the parts fiche. Moves the tire over about 1-2mm. For drum rear brakes, it slides the drum out so that it makes a slightly different contact with the brake shoes.

[jdmetzger]

A Conti 120-series is VERY wide for an Airhead. I imagine getting it off involved a lot of pulling and fighting with it. My R80 came with the same size tire and it was quite a fight getting it removed. I run a 110 Bridgestone that JUST fits without too much trouble, and the bike rides nicer than it did when the 120 was on.

[shire2000]

Best fix?
Put on the proper size tire. This is a time when bigger is definitely not better. Airheads work best with the same size and type of tire as what it came with.
This has been beaten to death in numerous threads. Some people swear by their latest radial tire on their 1979 R100T, but in reality, the bike was designed around the older bias ply tires of a certain size. Change it back to a stock size and you will be surprised at how well it will handle.

[cactuspat]

Kurt I would sand the the edge of the tire with 80 grit sand paper before filing my swing arm.

[robbob100s]

Yep, newtires are in the buget for the bike, the over sized tires came on the bike.
I used to ride Contintals allthe time, 60,000 miles in late 70's and 80's. I was 25 when I got my first 77' /7. Sold it for the down payment on our first house. My wife said I would have one someday. I was 55 when I got my 77' R100s. Life is good!
Robbob

[squeaky]

Kurt I would sand the the edge of the tire with 80 grit sand paper before filing my swing arm.

So would I...I just wondered who might think I was talking about the swingarm ... :stick ;)

Note: posted under my Dad's handle...Kurt

[sumran]

After I took off the shocks and pressure off the swing arm, all the splines lined up in the rear. Alls well. Anyway the interest in the frame, bent or not, came after I found that the rear tire was rubbing the swing arm. The tire is a Conti. TKV 12 18/65h 120/90 would this tire rub anyway? touching only slightly. I have to go to work soon and tomorrow is other day.
Robbob

I have a Conti Tour 120/90 on mine. It was on it when bought the bike. I have had some rubbing issues as well. At first, I thought it was the swingarm. Upon closer inspection it is the fender that rubs. Mine rubs at the lowest point of the fender toward the front of the bike. Increasing the preload on the rear shocks helps, but if I am riding two-up or carrying a load it will rub.

The next tire I buy will not be this wide.