I have been trying to decide where to take a trip this year. Going to get a month off from work ( if I beg, a lot) I am seriously looking at Mexico as there is less advanced planning involved. I may be buying a house sometime this spring, summer, fall and until I buy/don't buy it I can't make too many detailed plans. My next question is what bike to take.

I have 4 bikes. A Buell that's out. A 2000 Harley Tour bike, only 45,000 miles so it's the newest, and most expensive if damaged/stolen. A 1991 Harley Tour bike with 245,000 miles on it. I would not trust the engine without an overhaul though. But I planned on doing that anyway. And last but not least, a 1986 Harley Sportster with 103,000 miles on it, recently overhauled.

Most likely I will choose between the Sportster and the Old Tour Bike. The tour bike is better for rough roads, the Sportster is better for soft/muddy roads.

I plan on going in the Nov/Dec time frame. When it's not too damned hot and after the wet season?

HERE"S the Question, finally.

No one makes Dual sport tires for the Sportster (surprise surprise) I can get spoked rims for the bike and I can then put any kind of rim on it. What tire size is most popular, as in available? Remember, the bike weighs in at 440 pounds dry. I will be putting 20mm ammo cans on it for luggage so with everything I can expect it to be around 480 pounds dry, so I can't run 22" dirt bike tires. From what I can tell, the most popular size for a heavy bike is 19" front, 17" rear. The stock tire diameters are Front=25.85, rear 25.40. The stock width is Front=3.65 rear = 5.18. There is no room for anything much larger.

Yes, I realize that the proper answer is to get a KLR650 or some other "suitable" bike, but that's not likely right now.

CT_bob@juno.com

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Bob L.