4.5-17 rear tires for 850g

[joe penoso]

Limited availability in limited sizes. Largest tire to fit 130/90/17. In terms of tread life and handling which tires last and perform best according to your own experiences. Are the TAIWAN OR CHINESE TIRES ANY GOOD (CHALLENGER, MAXXIS ETC.)
thanks

[Grimly]

Maxxis are excellent. I've fitted them for years.
However, that's assuming the Maxxis tread compounds and model types are the same where you are.
They make a range of types and I'm only talking about the touring ones.

[oldGSfan]

I've been checking out Kenda - see Dennis Kirk. I have used Kenda on bicycles for years and always pleased with them, not apples to apples but they are a big company.

130/90-17 for $61.88 is mighty attractive, and I like the tread pattern, reviews are positive on DK and YouTube.

[mrbill5491]

I've been checking out Kenda - see Dennis Kirk. I have used Kenda on bicycles for years and always pleased with them, not apples to apples but they are a big company.

130/90-17 for $61.88 is mighty attractive, and I like the tread pattern, reviews are positive on DK and YouTube.

The only reason you should mount a Kenda on your bike is to move it across the garage, then toss them. I'm not kidding.

[oldGSfan]

Thanks for the tip! My current roll around the garage tires are from 1982 take-offs with the nubs still on . I

The only reason you should mount a Kenda on your bike is to move it across the garage, then toss them. I'm not kidding.

[bwringer]

Ain't no such thing as 4.50X17 these days. 130/90-17 and 100/90-19 are that which you seek.

In Norte America, the standard "cheap and VERY good" tire recommendations are the Shinko 712 or Shinko 230. They are made in Korea and fantastic. I flog the absolute snot out of my 850 and burn up a set or two of these in all weather every year.

The 230 is "V" rated and kinda weird looking. The 712 looks a little more normal, costs about $5 a set less, and is rated for a bit less speed, still far above what any earthbound 850 can achieve. I can't tell the difference from the saddle, so take yer pick.



And yeah, Kendas are awful.

[Steve]

I am also in the camp of "Kendas are not worth the effort to mount, let alone roll across the garage floor."

I even caution anyone that arrives here on Kendas to change them as soon as possible. If they will buy them, I will mount and balance them.

I also agree about the Shinkos. I have used the 230 Tour Masters on all our bikes, until I mounted some high-mileage tires in preparation for a cross-country trip. We don't ride with the same "intensity" as Brian, so they tend to last a bit longer. We tend to get 8-10,000 miles on the set.

.

[LAB3]

The main issue I ran into with Kendas is that the grip on wet pavement is horrible. As to Shinko, I've run the 705 on back and got about 9k out of it and also the 777 both front and rear. The rear got me about 7k and the front 15k.

[TxGSrider]

I've been running Kendas for a few years. They work great. I will admit I don't ride in the rain often, but so far I haven't had any issues. I'd sure use them again.

[Steve]

I've been running Kendas for a few years. They work great. I will admit I don't ride in the rain often, but so far I haven't had any issues. I'd sure use them again.

You must have gotten some defective ones that fell off the line before the grease got added.

Although I don't (intentionally) create sparks by dragging motorcycle bits and pieces on the highway, I do have significant departures from vertical quite frequently. Even at that modest pace, I have induced some queasyness when on Kendas. Of course, most of us that are knocking them are discussing the K657 Challenger. Is there another model used on the street? If there is, maybe that one is "ok", but it's still not worth <my> time.

.