Wheels / Tires
Front and rear wheel removal and installation, the BT020 tire fitment and cold pressures, tread and runout limits, wheel balancing and hub-bearing service — with the axle torques and the safety callouts the manual stresses.
Chapters· Wheels / Tires
Source: Service Manual — pp. 10-1 … 10-19src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Tires
| Item | Standard | Service limit |
|---|---|---|
| Front tire | BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX BT020F 150/80R16 M/C 71V | — |
| Rear tire | BRIDGESTONE BATTLAX BT020R 200/60R16 M/C 79V | — |
| Front pressure (cold) Up to 186 kg load. | 250 kPa (2.5 bar) | — |
| Rear pressure (cold) Up to 186 kg load. | 290 kPa (2.9 bar) | — |
| Front tread depth | 4.3 mm | 1 mm (1.6 mm DE/AT/CH) |
| Rear tread depth | 7.0 mm | 3 mm |
| Tread limit over 130 km/h | front 2 mm / rear 3 mm | — |
Wheels & balance
| Item | Standard | Service limit |
|---|---|---|
| Rim runout — axial | — | 0.5 mm (TIR) |
| Rim runout — radial | — | 0.8 mm (TIR) |
| Axle runout / 100 mm | ≤ 0.05 mm (TIR) | 0.2 mm (TIR) |
| Wheel balance | ≤ 10 g | — |
| Balance weights | ≤ 4 pieces, ≤ 90 g total | — |
Use the same manufacturer’s tires on both front and rear wheels. Never repair a damaged wheel — if there is any damage beyond the wheel bearings the wheel must be replaced for safe operation.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Wheel and tire fastener torques. AL = tighten the two clamp bolts alternately, twice.
Wheel / tire fasteners
| Fastener | Torque | Remarks |
|---|---|---|
| Front axle nut | 127 N·m | — |
| Front axle clamp bolts | 25 N·m | AL |
| Rear axle nut | 108 N·m | — |
| Rear caliper mounting bolts | 34 N·m | — |
| Tire air-valve nuts | 1.5 N·m | — |
| Tire air-valve caps | 0.15 N·m | — |
Caliper off, jack the front with the rear wheel on the ground, then axle out.
Removal
Jack 57001-1238 · Jack attachment 57001-1571
- 1
Unbolt both front brake calipers and hang them aside with the hoses still attached.
- 2
Loosen the right-side front axle clamp bolts and the axle.
- 3
With the special-tool jack under the frame pipe and a jack under the engine, lift the front wheel just off the ground until the rear wheel touches down.
WarningKeep the rear wheel ON the ground when removing the front wheel or the motorcycle can fall over — risking damage and injury.
- 4
Unscrew the axle out to the right and drop the wheel from the fork.
CautionDo not lay the wheel disc-down on the ground — it can warp the disc. Set it on blocks so the disc is clear.
Installation
- 1
Grease the seal lips and fit the (identical) collars on both sides of the hub.
- 2
Insert the axle from the right and torque the axle nut.
Torque127 N·m - 3
Before tightening the clamp bolts, pump the forks down/up 4–5 times so the right fork leg finds its neutral position on the axle (block the wheel rather than using the brake).
- 4
Torque the front axle clamp bolts, tightening the two alternately, twice.
Torque25 N·m
Slide the wheel forward to clear the belt; new cotter pin and a brake pump-up on reassembly.
Key steps
- 1
Pull the axle, move the wheel forward to disengage it from the drive belt, then back and out.
CautionDo not lay the wheel disc-down — set it on blocks so the disc is clear.
- 2
On refitting, grease the seal, fit the collars, set the caliper bracket on the swingarm stop and engage the drive belt with the wheel coupling.
- 3
Insert the axle from the left and torque the rear axle nut and the rear caliper mounting bolts.
Torqueaxle 108 N·m · caliper 34 N·mWarningIf the axle nut is not securely tightened, an unsafe riding condition can result.
- 4
Fit a NEW cotter pin (turn the nut up to the next slot, within 30°, to align) and bend it over the nut.
- 5
Before riding, pump the brake pedal until the pads are against the disc and a firm pedal is obtained.
WarningThe brake will not work on the first pedal application until the pads are pumped back to the disc — do not ride until a full pedal is restored.
- Final Drive (belt) →Belt deflection and the rear-wheel coupling the wheel engages.
- Brakes →Caliper R&I and the pad pump-up before riding.
Runout, axle straightness and hub-bearing condition.
Raise the wheel and spin it lightly: roughness or binding, or play when you push/pull the wheel, means worn hub bearings — replace them. Inspect the wheel for cracks, dents, bending or warp and replace it if damaged. Off the bike, support the wheel by the axle and measure rim runout with a dial gauge (axial limit 0.5 mm, radial 0.8 mm) — if it exceeds the limit and the bearings are good, replace the wheel. Check axle straightness by spinning it in V-blocks 100 mm apart with a dial gauge at mid-span; replace an axle bent beyond 0.2 mm/100 mm.src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
Spin the hub bearings by hand and check for roughness, binding or play; bearings cannot be cleaned and reused once removed — fit new ones, driving them in squarely to the bottom of the housing, and pack the recommended grease. Balance the wheel after tire work to ≤10 g using no more than 4 weights (≤90 g total).src: Kawasaki VN2000-A1 Service Manual — Periodic Maintenance (Torque & Locking Agent / Specifications tables, pp. 2-7…2-13)
- Periodic Maintenance →Tire-pressure, tread, wheel-bearing and tire-damage inspection intervals.
- Owner's manual: Maintenance →Owner-level tread limits and tire-pressure checks.
- Specifications →Full bike specs incl. tires and wheels.