NOT FOR Iron or Nightster Owners
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
NOT FOR Iron or Nightster Owners
I've really been waiting to say that after reading all the Nightster or Iron ONLY threads around here lately. This thread is for you folks that have regular Sporties, the ones that aren't slammed or get a kick out of dragging your frames on the ground. This does require vertical fender clearance.
I posted a thread a little over a year ago about successfully mounting a Metzler 880 160/80-16 on my Sporty. Since then I have been through two of the 160 Metz tires on the rear and I've been extremely happy with their performance and mileage with both tires going between 15,000 and 16,000 miles on each one. That is far better than the first two stock Dunlops I ran which went between 10,500 and 11,000 miles, not to mention the Metz having much better handling characteristics.
In the past year, the bagger guys have been raving about the "fairly new" Dunlop Elite 3 tires, with many claiming to be getting 17,000 to 20,000 miles out of the rear. Not bad given the weight of a bagger, and I suspect the mileage should be even better on the lighter weight Sporty.
Well, I mounted my last Metz 880 the first of April and here it is 7 months and 14,000 miles later. I have a trip coming up next weekend and didn't feel like pushing the last 2K miles out of the current Metzler, so I decided to go ahead and replace it.
The short and sweet bottom line is that a Dunlop E3 160/80-16 does and will fit on your Sporty without modification. I installed it today without any problem. The E3 is cut slightly narrower the the stock 401/402 series Dunlop tires which is what allows the 160 to fit, and it is supposedly been designed to compete against the popular Avon and Metzler tires.
Note: The E3 does have a taller profile that the stock 401/402 Dunlop series, so if lowering the bike is your thing, this is not for you.
I'll try to post back in 6 months or so (that should be about 12,000 miles) and let you know how these things are performing and holding up.
I posted a thread a little over a year ago about successfully mounting a Metzler 880 160/80-16 on my Sporty. Since then I have been through two of the 160 Metz tires on the rear and I've been extremely happy with their performance and mileage with both tires going between 15,000 and 16,000 miles on each one. That is far better than the first two stock Dunlops I ran which went between 10,500 and 11,000 miles, not to mention the Metz having much better handling characteristics.
In the past year, the bagger guys have been raving about the "fairly new" Dunlop Elite 3 tires, with many claiming to be getting 17,000 to 20,000 miles out of the rear. Not bad given the weight of a bagger, and I suspect the mileage should be even better on the lighter weight Sporty.
Well, I mounted my last Metz 880 the first of April and here it is 7 months and 14,000 miles later. I have a trip coming up next weekend and didn't feel like pushing the last 2K miles out of the current Metzler, so I decided to go ahead and replace it.
The short and sweet bottom line is that a Dunlop E3 160/80-16 does and will fit on your Sporty without modification. I installed it today without any problem. The E3 is cut slightly narrower the the stock 401/402 series Dunlop tires which is what allows the 160 to fit, and it is supposedly been designed to compete against the popular Avon and Metzler tires.
Note: The E3 does have a taller profile that the stock 401/402 Dunlop series, so if lowering the bike is your thing, this is not for you.
I'll try to post back in 6 months or so (that should be about 12,000 miles) and let you know how these things are performing and holding up.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 372
Likes: 0
From: east of albany, ny
I'm one of the regular Sporty guys, and thanks for the info cHarley. Can't wait for the report. I was just ready to buy the 880s. Guess i'll finish out the old dumblaps while waiting. Ride safe.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,725
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
I'm a nightster guy, but this is still good info to have. I'm thinking about getting the Metz 880s as well, but I'll do my research on the E3's, even they might not make a size to fit the N.
Thanks C!
Thanks C!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 474
Likes: 1
Love to know if the E3 fits your nighty. I'm not all about slammed bikes. Just loved the black out part of the Iron. I'm just a sporty guy who likes to hang out in the sporty section and read threads about all sportsters. Keep em coming.
Thread Starter
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
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From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
Just to clarify, I did not move away from the Metzler 880 because I was dissatisfied. The mileage and performance of the 880's in my opinion, is great. Far superior to the stock Dunflops.
I decided to give the E3 a try because of the rave reviews they were getting over in the Touring section. That, and along with the continued cost increases lately on both Avon & Metzler tires. The best price I could get on a Metz 160/80-60 was $173.00 delivered. That's up from $150.00 a year ago.
The Dunlop 160 E3 was $151.00 delivered.
I decided to give the E3 a try because of the rave reviews they were getting over in the Touring section. That, and along with the continued cost increases lately on both Avon & Metzler tires. The best price I could get on a Metz 160/80-60 was $173.00 delivered. That's up from $150.00 a year ago.
The Dunlop 160 E3 was $151.00 delivered.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles
NOT FOR Iron or Nightster Owners
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 7,604
Likes: 38
From: Landrum, SC , elevation 986'
I'll be watching to see the mileage you get out of them. 
You could of just named it Sportster only thread. They never would of known the difference. lol
You could of just named it Sportster only thread. They never would of known the difference. lol
Last edited by xFreebirdx; Nov 6, 2009 at 09:59 PM.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,230
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From: Mount Holly, NC
dunlop has been working on their compounds... for the life of me i can't recall where i picked this bit of information up. after losing a metz to a drywall screw i had to take a dunlop... this one has been a lot stickier and has worn better than the last two dunlops.