'85 GS550L Tire Question

[GSJim69]

One of the things my bike needs is a new front tire. It will last the rest of the riding season. So, I plan on replacing it this winter.
It currently has a 100/90-16 tire on it. I have searched around on the web for tires this size. There are not too many in this size.
Does this bike take a tube or tubeless tire?
Are there any particularly good tires at a reasonable price?
Two that I have seen are the Kenda K671 and Barracuda V C6000. Are either one of these any good?

Thanks

[Nessism]

Cheng Shin Hi Max is the value leader in cheap tires according to many around here that report positive experiences.

[Steve]

I am one of those "positive experience" reporters.

We had a set of Hi-Max tires on my wife's 850L. They gave absolutely no problems and lasted about 14,000 miles. Granted, she is not a habitual peg-scraper in the corners, but there was always enough traction, even during an all-day downpour while on the last 1000 miles or so.

I just looked at the Tires Unlimited site, they have your size available for $43.25 plus shipping. Seems reasonable to me.

How is your back tire? They have one to match.

.

[GSJim69]

Back tire is almost new.
Hi Max it will be. Now to find a local shop to mount it.
Thanks for the help.

[Steve]

Mounting it is no problem, you should be able to do it yourself.

.

[GSJim69]

I am sure that I can mount it. How about balancing it?
Should I mount it and then take it to a shop for balancing?
What's the best to do here?

[Nessism]

You can do a realistic balance job by supporting the wheel across a pair of jackstands using the axle and spinning slowly. The heavy spot will go to the bottom.

In terms of changing the tire on your own, the hard part is typically breaking the bead loose - your tires are tubeless. I've done it before using the technique shown below but ymmv.

[Steve]

My method for breaking the bead is a little more compact. I have a barrel for a trash container (25-30 gallon?). I place a towel over the metal edges of the barrel and place the wheel on the towel. I then use a 6" c-clamp to clamp the tire together just above the edge of the rim. Once you get the first bit broken loose, the rest goes easily. I also use some lube to enhance the process.

To balance the tire, I use the stock axle between a couple of jack stands for the car. By using the stock axle, you are assured that all clearances are as they will be when the bike is on the road, and the wheel is turning on its own bearings, not a smaller rod being used as an axle. I have kept the weights from the last several wheels I have taken to the shop for tire replacement, so I have a modest collection of different weights, all of them designed to straddle the center ridge of the wheel.

You don't have to spin the wheel very hard. In fact, the more you spin it, the longer it takes to wait for it to stop. Spin it just hard enough to rotate three or four revolutions and note where the valve stem is when it stops. Also note whether the wheel stops, then goes the other direction before it stops again. Rotate the wheel 90 degrees and let it go. If there is a heavy spot, it will be consistent where it stops. Place a weight at the top of the rim and try again. You will have it balanced when the wheel stops at random points whenever it is rotated.

.

[chef1366]

I use a C-clamp. The threaded part under a table and the top on a two by four on the inside near the rim. Once you break the bead it is a piece of cake.
Get the good long tire irons. Don't waste your time on the short ones or the short spoons. I do use one spoon to hold the tire bead outside the rim while I work the tire off with the irons.

[snark]

To save time and headaches...call a couple of shops and see if they'll price match. The $15 to $20 you'll pay for proper mounting and balancing will be worth it. I did that when I bought my Pirreli's and am glad I did.

BTW I did not have a good expierience with the Chen Sheng. After talking to a few people that have ridden for years on different types of bikes they all recommended either Dunlop or Pirreli for a mid range tire. I bought my Pirreli MT66's and after a few thousand miles I can say that they are the best tires I've had yet. Better than Chen Sheng and even better than the Bridgestone I had.

[hikermikem]

One of the things my bike needs is a new front tire. It will last the rest of the riding season. So, I plan on replacing it this winter.
It currently has a 100/90-16 tire on it. I have searched around on the web for tires this size. There are not too many in this size.
Does this bike take a tube or tubeless tire?
Are there any particularly good tires at a reasonable price?
Two that I have seen are the Kenda K671 and Barracuda V C6000. Are either one of these any good?

Thanks

You sure that's a 16" tire on the front??

[snark]

You sure that's a 16" tire on the front??

He's right. Your probably looking at a 19" tire.

[GSJim69]

Yep, I'm sure that it is 16". The size on the tire and the label under the seat is 100/90-16.

[hikermikem]

Seems odd, I know the rears are 16".

I have an '85 550L, but I'm on the road at the moment so I can't check the front tire size - I didn't remember the front wheel being that small. Most of the GS bikes carry a 19" front tire, with the "L" models having a 16" rear.

Mike

[bwringer]

Seems odd, I know the rears are 16".

I have an '85 550L, but I'm on the road at the moment so I can't check the front tire size - I didn't remember the front wheel being that small. Most of the GS bikes carry a 19" front tire, with the "L" models having a 16" rear.

Mike

The later models did indeed have the smaller front rims, which became fashionable in the mid-'80s. Something about quicker steering or something like that.

A few years later, 17" front rims became nearly universal, as they are to this day.