Hybrid Bicycles - Widest tires on Motobecane Cafe Latte?

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mega
09-04-11, 04:00 PM
Does anyone own a Motobecane Cafe Latte that has wider (comes with 28 mm stock) tires put onto it? It seems like the brakes would accommodate wider tires, as would the (I know, crappy) Alex R-500 wheels, but I don't know about the fork/chain stays - anyone?

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/cafe_latte_x.htm

jsdavis
09-04-11, 07:04 PM
Everything I can find about that rim says it's 14mm wide. If that's the case, then Sheldon Brown's chart would seem to indicate that 28 or 32 would be largest tire you should put on there. He does indicate that the chart errs on the side of caution though. The chart is located near the bottom of this page: http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html
mega
09-04-11, 07:13 PM
Everything I can find about that rim says it's 14mm wide. If that's the case, then Sheldon Brown's chart would seem to indicate that 28 or 32 would be largest tire you should put on there. He does indicate that the chart errs on the side of caution though. The chart is located near the bottom of this page: http://sheldonbrown.com/tire-sizing.html

32 might be enough - but I'm wondering what the frame itself could handle if I were to swap out the wheels for slightly wider wheels.

jsdavis
09-04-11, 07:26 PM
http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/cafe_latte_x_wht/images/IMG_4586.jpg

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/cafe_latte_x_wht/images/IMG_4583.jpg

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/cafe_latte_x_wht/images/IMG_4585.jpg

http://www.bikesdirect.com/products/motobecane/images/cafe_latte_x_wht/images/IMG_4581.jpg

These photos would suggest 32 should be ok
mega
09-04-11, 07:28 PM
Ah, I didn't look at those detailed pictures well enough. Looks like there's more than enough room for 32 mm tires...
MrMandinga
09-10-11, 11:49 AM
There is more than enough room. I just fitted some bontrager race lite hard cases in 700x32 and they fit perfect.
mega
09-10-11, 11:58 AM
Good to know. I did end up buying the bike - got it put together last night. We'll probably ride around on the stock tires to see how they work, but I'll probably end up getting some 700x32 tires for the trail.
wantone
03-04-12, 10:33 AM
I know this is old, but for anyone finding it in a search, my cafe latte is a disc brake model, and I have a Continental Country Plus 37 on the rear.