I've never ridden the Paso with 17" wheels. I wonder if the handling is much better or just a little bit better.

I can feel a great riding difference between the "red smooth" and the "yel dukess" with 17" wheels! First time on the red I belived I could just "surplace" (stand at 0 kms/hr) while turning a bend, with my right knee very close to the ground!!!
The yel, anyway is able to be handled in twisty roads like newer and lighter ducs can!

I thing that the solution will come from scooters... Today "Piaggio Beverly Tourer 250" uses a 140/70/16 rear tire. Perhaps an other scooter with a 160/60/16 soon?

I have fitted a 130/70 Avon Vipersport to the front and a 150/80 Avon Azaro to the rear this weekend. My bike has a modded swingarm though but I am very pleased to have high performance tyres on my 16" wheel Paso.

So to add another post to this topic, I don't see why 16" wheel Paso owners are so desperate to stay with the 160/60 Michelin rear. This is a very old design of tyre, if not the first radial to be applied to a motorcycle. It is outclassed by modern rubber and "Pompone" has shown that a Bridgestone BT45 will go onto a standard 750 Paso rear. I have measured the fitment of the Avon and the tyre spreads to an ideal 160mm width with the oversize rim, this reduces the height of the tyre to give a corrected size/aspect of 160/68 - going very well with a 130/70 front. I cannot recommend fitting a 150/80 to a standard 'arm because if there were any tyre growth at speed it would certainly be close to touching the swingarm mid brace. If it did that you would have a very big accident. But whats the bother about getting your local frame builder to fit 90mm sliding adjusters to run a 106 link chain? wait of about 1 month and US$400, then your tyre troubles are over. The swingarm is a square section too making it a straight forward job - think that doesn't matter? then have a look at a 999 swingarm. If the owner had the same trouble we are having they would need a new swingarm! and thats at least £1200 (US$2400) here in England today.

Justin, the pictures on Lycos are down, do you still have some to look at ?
Btw. the recommended rim for a 150/80 is a 3.50" (alternatively 3.50-4.25") according to the website of Avon. Do you happen to have a pic from behind to see the profile of the tire on the rim ? I wonder if it`s round as before or more square leaving less thread on the side.

Gerhard

OOPS - I forgot. I have a 35 tooth rear sprocket on my Paso so the chain is 106 links. I can't remember the standard chain length so add 2 links to yours and you will be where I am now.

Hello, I don't know if you guys realize, but according to ducati.com in their heritage section, they clain that the paso oroginally came with a 160-70-16 in the rear. Which also happens to be a size tire that harley is now using on a lot of their new bikes. They are having their tires made by metzler. But, if you type in michelin m59x in your search engine, you will find many distributors that carry 160-60-16 rear tires. They have them for as little as $135 usd and also have free shipping for the most part.

They made an error, if you see the same page in Italian you'll find the right size of the wheel out .

Ciao