Lifan X-Pect Front tire

[Standg]

I've spent many hours looking for replacement tires for the
Lifan X-Pect. I'm sure many of you have done the same. My questions

1.) What is the largest width-size tire that will replace the X-Pect front 90/90-19 stock tire and fit / run on the bike? Will a 100/90-19 fit? How about a 110/90-19 How about a 70/100-19 for a thinner width tire?

2.) What is the largest width-size tire that will replace the X-Pect rear 110/90-17 stock tire and fit and run on the bike?

I've searched this forum and others, and some have recommended tire brands, but I haven't found a mention of tire dimensions. Maybe it's buried deep, or I'm just not putting in the correct keyword combo.

Any help is appreciated - New Lifan X-Pect owner.

[TominMO]

My completely meaningless guess is that you could safely go up or down one tire width. So the rear 110 width could be a 100 or a 120. Taller doesn't really matter. If the sidewall is too short, it makes it harder to get it on the rim, at least with hand tools.

[Standg]

Thanks for your reply. I'm thinking so too. Hopefully, I'm not the first one that tried to figure this out. I hope to hear from other members about this subject.

When I joined I was told to ask away. lol

[KSSK]

Tire enthusiast here with an X-Pect. Info below that I posted in this thread:


The challenge with the X-pect is not only the odd rim diameters, but how narrow they are. If you look, many of the 19" and 17" tires you might guess would fit are really too wide for the rims.

I did a bunch of research and settled on Bridgestone AX41. 90/100-19 front and 4.60-17 rear.

AX41 are very good both on and off road. The downside is that to get good performance on both, the treadlife is not super long.

I've done some pretty serious off roading. They're not like a full knobby. They can struggle in mud, but they handle both on and off road well.

They aren't cheap, but they work well.

If memory serves, the IRC GP-1, Shinko 244 and Kenda K270 all come in sizes appropriate for the X-Pect, as well.

[Thumper]

KSSK is right about those recommendations. Good choices. You can get the Tusk DSport for the rear tire on the Expect. Don't rule it out. It is surprisingly good at both off-road and pavement. I think it is the block spacing and a flat area in the center of the tread that helps on the road.

[TominMO]

Rear
Dunlop D606: https://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-D606-D...s%2C144&sr=8-8
Tusk Dsport: https://www.amazon.com/Dsport%C2%AE-...ps%2C80&sr=8-6

Front
Bridgestone Battleax AX41: https://www.amazon.com/Bridgestone-B...ps%2C89&sr=8-1
Shinko 244: https://www.amazon.com/Shinko-244-Re...ps%2C99&sr=8-2
Both of these also have appropriate sized rear tires. The AX41 looks to me to be street and dirt road only. Anything more than that and it's not gonna perform, IMO. I'd either go with two Shinko 244s, or the 244 on front and the Dunlop or Tusk on the rear.

[TominMO]

My thread on more or less the same subject.
http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=29609

[Standg]

TominMO, I wanted to buy the Dunlop 606, but thought the 130 widths are too wide? This is based upon some stuff I read on other forums. Will the 130 width fit the rear Lifan Rim and rear swing arm spacing?

[Standg]

So I ordered the Dunlop Tires D605 Rear Dual Sport Tire 4.60x17 (62P) Tube Type. The Size is 115/100x17. Not that much wider than the 110 width that's currently on the bike. I'm hoping the 100 ratio is ok, and the tire fits. I'm feeling I settled for "safe". The 605 doesn't look to much better than the stock tire on the Lifan. I read somewhere that the current stock X-Pect Tires are Perilli clones. MT60s

Does anyone have any experience with the D605?

[Standg]

KSSK, I looked at those tire brands that you posted in the reply. All good recommendations. I was seriously considering the 244's and if I can find a front 244 that fits it just might be my next new front tire.

[Standg]

Thumper, The Tusk I looked at has a 130mm width. Will the Xpect rear rim fit 130mm? Is there room enough room for a 130mm width tire inside the X-Pect rear swing arm?

I really don't know. I think there is about an inch on either side of the stock tires before hitting the sides of the rear swing arm. I think a 130mm rear tire would look cool on the X-pect

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Standg

TominMO, I wanted to buy the Dunlop 606, but thought the 130 widths are too wide? This is based upon some stuff I read on other forums. Will the 130 width fit the rear Lifan Rim and rear swing arm spacing?

My bad, I thought the X-pect had a 120mm width stock. Yeah, 130mm might not cut it. But going from 110 to 130 is only 10mm on each side, about .4", so maybe it would work. Check it out.

As far as the sidewall height (100), that should not matter. Just makes the whole bike slightly taller and gives a very minor gearing change. Might need to adjust your shock stiffer to prevent the tire rubbing the fender area on compression. Also check that the front of the swingarm has sufficient room to accept the taller tire.

There were three factors that made me trade my X-pect up to the KPX. I decided I wanted better highway performance; I found the seat too cramped for me with that lower front part designed for shorter riders (which admittedly is fixable); and the difficulty of getting tires that fit for such a narrow and odd-diameter rim setup, front and rear.

If you really wanted to keep the X-pect and the only real issue for you is tire selection, I would recommend getting some house rims from Buchanan in 21" and 18", and lacing and truing them up. There are YT videos on how to do this. Assuming the rear can fit a 130mm inside the swingarm. If 130 won't fit, then just resign yourself to whatever tires you can find or do as I did--get a more suitable bike for your needs. Lacing up some new rims is far cheaper than selling the X-pect at a loss and dropping $3200 on a KPX.

The X-pect is an excellent little bike for what it is, but it's Achilles heel is tire selection.

Buchanan wheels: http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/index.asp

[TominMO]

Originally Posted by Standg

So I ordered the Dunlop Tires D605 Rear Dual Sport Tire 4.60x17 (62P) Tube Type. The Size is 115/100x17. Not that much wider than the 110 width that's currently on the bike. I'm hoping the 100 ratio is ok, and the tire fits. I'm feeling I settled for "safe". The 605 doesn't look to much better than the stock tire on the Lifan. I read somewhere that the current stock X-Pect Tires are Perilli clones. MT60s

Does anyone have any experience with the D605?

https://www.denniskirk.com/dunlop/d6...pfp644238.prdf

Just looking at the tread, I'd say the D605 is a bit more aggressive for dirt than the stock tire, but should still be fine for the street. Might be a little noisier. I suspect it will fit fine.

What does the stock tire say for sidewall height? If it's a 90 for example, then the height is 90% of the 110mm width, or 99mm. The 115/100 is 100% of the width, or 115mm. So the height difference is 16mm, or 2/3".

And yes, the stock tires are the Pirelli clones. Royal Enfield uses an Indian Pirelli clone on their Himalayan. Nothing wrong with them.

[Thumper]

Originally Posted by Standg

Thumper, The Tusk I looked at has a 130mm width. Will the Xpect rear rim fit 130mm? Is there room enough room for a 130mm width tire inside the X-Pect rear swing arm?

I really don't know. I think there is about an inch on either side of the stock tires before hitting the sides of the rear swing arm. I think a 130mm rear tire would look cool on the X-pect

I was worried about chain clearance on my Bashan Storm. No problem. I can measure distance between the arms of the shock tonight, and verify tire size. There are two for 17" I think. Ask another Expect owner to measure distance between the arms of the swingarm there at the front of the tire. I will tonight. Also take a pic. Maybe there is an expect owner that has the DSport mounted.

[Standg]

Originally Posted by TominMO

My bad, I thought the X-pect had a 120mm width stock. Yeah, 130mm might not cut it. But going from 110 to 130 is only 10mm on each side, about .4", so maybe it would work. Check it out.

As far as the sidewall height (100), that should not matter. Just makes the whole bike slightly taller and gives a very minor gearing change. Might need to adjust your shock stiffer to prevent the tire rubbing the fender area on compression. Also check that the front of the swingarm has sufficient room to accept the taller tire.

There were three factors that made me trade my X-pect up to the KPX. I decided I wanted better highway performance; I found the seat too cramped for me with that lower front part designed for shorter riders (which admittedly is fixable); and the difficulty of getting tires that fit for such a narrow and odd-diameter rim setup, front and rear.

If you really wanted to keep the X-pect and the only real issue for you is tire selection, I would recommend getting some house rims from Buchanan in 21" and 18", and lacing and truing them up. There are YT videos on how to do this. Assuming the rear can fit a 130mm inside the swingarm. If 130 won't fit, then just resign yourself to whatever tires you can find or do as I did--get a more suitable bike for your needs. Lacing up some new rims is far cheaper than selling the X-pect at a loss and dropping $3200 on a KPX.

The X-pect is an excellent little bike for what it is, but it's Achilles heel is tire selection.

Buchanan wheels: http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/index.asp

TominMO The Lifan X-Pect is an inexpensive re-entry motorcycle for me, Many years of absence. Rode mid-range street bikes. Many-Many Years ago I went through similar motorcycle tire selection/availability issues and had to install what I could get to set and fit. Anyways On paper, the D605 tire looks like it'll work for the rear. It will be delivered in a few days to the door. Luckily for me, Michigan country dirt roads are available outside my front door and I plan to stick to them as much as possible. I appreciate your well-thought-out input.