Cheng Shin tires?

[Dan Ruddock]

I have the high max up front but but the marquis in back because CS does not make a hi max 120/90/17 which fits best on my rims. I am thinking about converting my rear wheel to 18's like the GS1000s has. Does anybody know which wheel would make an easy swap. Then I can run 120/90/18 hi max in the rear. Dan

[snark]

Skip the CS and buy a name brand. Generics are good for potato chips but not much else. In my expierience they're good if you want to put them on a bike you're selling so that you can say it has new tires, but if you want a safe ride, spend the extra $20. With tires you definately get what you pay for.

[8trackmind]

Does anybody know which wheel would make an easy swap. Then I can run 120/90/18 hi max in the rear. Dan

A 18" mag off of a GS750 will work fine. It's 18 x 2.15 and uses the same bearings and spacers.
It's the same part # as the one used on the 79/80 GS1000S.

You can also use a rear rim from a GS550 with rear disk brake. (again, same size, same part #) You'll need the spacers from a GS1000C (spoke rims) as well as wheel bearings if you use a 550 rim. (20X47X14) You'll also have to space the the caliper inboard about 3mm or so at the mount.
Finding the wheel spacers for a GS1000S would be ideal but alas, they are discontinued.
Here's what it looks like on the bike. (this is a 550 wheel with an 1100 swingarm on a 1978 GS1000)
If you need any help with the swap just PM me.

(note Cheng Shin tire)

[walt]

Tires and oil are like religion. Get as much info as you can. Buy what you feel the most comfortable with. I like either Metzler or Continental. When I got the GS this summer I was surprised at the low pressure that Suzuki calls for. On my KZ750 the pressure called for is higher and both bikes are close to the same weight. Low air pressure will kill any brand of tire. I check my tires before each ride. Last summer my son's SV650 developed a front end wobble that was caused by NOT checking his air pressure often. The cupping wasn't very deep but the SV didn't like it. I now run the tire pressure on the GS at the same as the KZ, 28F and 32R. The GS now feels more nimble cornering.
Oh, I want to add that I am going to try 27F and 30R psi as the ride feels a little harsh. I only weigh 155lbs.

[Ninja_Lancer]

You're right -- the sales guy does not know jack.

You people are idiots if you think that throwing more money automatically means a safer tire. Bwringer and I both ride aggressively and for long distances, and we regard the Cheng Shin HiMax as an excellent tire, and a good value for the money.

You "feel", eh? Stop feeling and go for hard evidence. Cheng Shin HiMax is more than an adequate tire for our GS bikes.

Flaming and name dropping doesn't make a third world production facility make better products. Care to let us idiots in on your "hard evidence". I'm very interested in it. Thanks for sharing in advance.

[Nessism]

Flaming and name dropping doesn't make a third world production facility make better products. Care to let us idiots in on your "hard evidence". I'm very interested in it. Thanks for sharing in advance.

Hey Ninja_Lancer,
You cast the first stone on this discussion by sarcastically drawing comparisons between Chinese motorcycle tires and the recent problems with lead in paint on toys and chemical contamination in dog food. Basically you have condemned all Chinese products with your comment.

Cheng Shin Himax tires have a good reputation at GSR based on actual usage by some experienced users. I'm going to get some after my current Bridgestones wear out. You don't have to use them if you don't want to but please don't cast dispersions at the whole country based on the actions of a couple of companies.

[Bizcocho]

I replaced the tires that came on my used GS550E with CS, and they seemed fine. Now I put on Bridgestone BT-45s and it's a wonderful new bike. They're so sticky I need help to get it up on the center stand. :-D

[Pharkmeh]

Hey Ninja_Lancer,
You cast the first stone on this discussion by sarcastically drawing comparisons between Chinese motorcycle tires and the recent problems with lead in paint on toys and chemical contamination in dog food. Basically you have condemned all Chinese products with your comment.

Cheng Shin Himax tires have a good reputation at GSR based on actual usage by some experienced users. I'm going to get some after my current Bridgestones wear out. You don't have to use them if you don't want to but please don't cast dispersions at the whole country based on the actions of a couple of companies.

dude - dont even go there....:shock:

while your argument on their tyre production/quality may be valid....

Their politics, industry, quality control, censorship & human rights history certainly attract "dispersions" upon the country.... ahh but thats another thread altogether....:?

I too found the reference by Grandpa "that you idiots....blah blah" was a lil harsh and unwarranted generalisation..... and accordingly not surprised it provoked a barbed response/s...

..but then Im happy with my Bridgestone Battlax...idiot or not... I keep flogging them & they keep stickin...cant ask for more at a fair price...

cheers

Phark

[Grandpa]

Flaming and name dropping doesn't make a third world production facility make better products. Care to let us idiots in on your "hard evidence". I'm very interested in it. Thanks for sharing in advance.

My hard evidence is based on thousands of miles of using Cheng Shin HiMax tires. I've done the math, and find that the front HiMax, in particular, has yielded the highest ratio of miles per dollar.

And I make no apologies for calling you an idiot, for condemning all Chinese products as inadequate, when this particular tire has proved its worth time and again.

I'm out of this thread.

[Ninja_Lancer]

Hey Ninja_Lancer,
You cast the first stone on this discussion by sarcastically drawing comparisons between Chinese motorcycle tires and the recent problems with lead in paint on toys and chemical contamination in dog food. Basically you have condemned all Chinese products with your comment.

Cheng Shin Himax tires have a good reputation at GSR based on actual usage by some experienced users. I'm going to get some after my current Bridgestones wear out. You don't have to use them if you don't want to but please don't cast dispersions at the whole country based on the actions of a couple of companies.

No I didn't throw rocks but that's your opinion. China is a cool country with a great record on human rights, ecology and production standards, Happy? I still won't buy Chinese tires.

[Ninja_Lancer]

My hard evidence is based on thousands of miles of using Cheng Shin HiMax tires. I've done the math, and find that the front HiMax, in particular, has yielded the highest ratio of miles per dollar.

And I make no apologies for calling you an idiot, for condemning all Chinese products as inadequate, when this particular tire has proved its worth time and again.

I'm out of this thread.

So that's your "evidence"? Cheap and you can ride them a long time.... Ok, I'm glad I'm the idiot then.

[Mysuzyq]

Flaming and name dropping doesn't make a third world production facility make better products. Care to let us idiots in on your "hard evidence". I'm very interested in it. Thanks for sharing in advance.

Not trying to be quarrelsome here, but I did a bit of digging before deciding to try a Himax front tire on my bike (based on positive reviews here and from a riding friend)...Cheng Shin's plant has received all the current international QS/ISO certification that one would expect from a company manufacturing quality product. As such, I have less than 500 miles on the Himax, but so far have no complaints at all (even though it replaced a Metzeler)....the riding buddy I mentioned earlier, runs CS tires almost exclusively on a modded street/track GS1100E (big bore kit, Webb cams, Gixxer carbs, and nitrous)...he rides in an extremely aggressive fashion and has probably been through around 10 sets of these tires without any problems at all, so I figured I could reasonably expect them to serve my needs on my 'mild' 1100 .
Having said all that, one needs to have confidence in the rubber you run, so if it makes you uneasy spending too little, its probably better to buy another more expensive brand, if simply to keep from wondering if the tire is gonna stick , when faced with a 'pucker moment' out on the street.

Tony.

[wrench]

Flaming and name dropping doesn't make a third world production facility make better products. Care to let us idiots in on your "hard evidence". I'm very interested in it. Thanks for sharing in advance.

Ninja don't be to hard on Grandpa/Nick... he may be a frugal bastage ..
but he knows what he's talking about. :-D

[8trackmind]

So that's your "evidence"? Cheap and you can ride them a long time.... Ok, I'm glad I'm the idiot then.

I'm glad you are too. :-D

[Griffin]

Rob at Cycle Recycle sells Hi-Maxes and runs them on his CB 9-11F (CB900F frame and bodywork with a bored out CB1100 engine stuffed in). He sold me a pair for my new '81 GS750E. I was a bit nervous about them as well, having used mostly Pirelli, Avon, and Metzeler in the past. I haven't mounted them yet, so can't tell you firsthand what they are like.

However...

He told me he sells a ton of them to guys who come in on 'Busas, Gixxers, R1s, Ninjas, CBRs, etc... I haven't seen a rash of motorcycle slide offs reported on the local tv news or in the newspaper, so I guess they work for those guys.