Rear tire suggestions...

[Phaseman]

Looks like it's time for a new rear tire on my 78' GS1000E. I'm on a budget but I don't want bad tires. any suggestions?

Also does anyone know what the max size/width it will take with the stock swing arm?

[snark]

I love my Pirreli MT 66. Not a bad price either.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

This link should work. It's an advanced title search of the Tech Section for "tires". Just about everything you'd ever want to know.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/search.php?searchid=829825

Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Nessism]

Value leaders seem to be Cheng Shin HiMax the Kenda Challanger. Lots of positive word of mouth about the HiMax. My 850 used to have Kenda's and they seemed fine to me.

[Big T]

Don't go wider than 130. Your wheel is too narrow for anything wider.

[Phaseman]

Current Tires...

Right now the bikes got a Metzler 3.5 19" in the front and a Dunlop Elite SP 130/90 17" 62v in the rear.

As I recall, I had about a 1/4" clearance on each side of the rear tire toward the front narrow part of the swing arm. I'd like to go as wide as possible in the rear. I'd REALLY like to convert to one of the aluminum swings like I've seen done so often on here, but don't think I can handle the investment this year. I assume that the swing conversion gets you more width availability...

[Big T]

.

I'd like to go as wide as possible in the rear. I'd REALLY like to convert to one of the aluminum swings like I've seen done so often on here, but don't think I can handle the investment this year. I assume that the swing conversion gets you more width availability...

Nope, you have to convert to a wider wheel first. Your rear wheel is probably a WM 3 and you can't go wider than the 130 on that without distorting the tire and ruining your handling.

So, it's wider swingarm, wider wheel, wider tire -plus spacers, brake adapters, shimming out the front sprocket, etc.

[Phaseman]

Oh well...

Maybe next year.

[TheBigRed]

Value leaders seem to be Cheng Shin HiMax the Kenda Challanger. Lots of positive word of mouth about the HiMax. My 850 used to have Kenda's and they seemed fine to me.

It may be that the Challengers I had on the 550 were just really old, but once I got onto the 650 with different tires the Challengers felt like banana peels in comparison.

I am currently running the HiMax tires on the 650, and they seem to be better than the 3+ year rubber they replaced.

For the 550 I went with a suggestion of IRC DuoTours, which cost just a little more than the HiMax tires, but still came in at around $153 shipped (oh, yeah, that is for the pair..). Dunno personally how they ride yet (hopefully find out tomorrow.. though in the cold I'm sure I won't get a really good feel, esp as it will be a maiden voyage on the rubber as well)


Amos

[BassCliff]

Round things

Hi Mr. Phaseman,

Looks like the search link I posted earlier has timed out. Sorry.

But I wanted to let you know that I've been using the Bridgestone Spitfire S-11 tires on my bike and have been quite happy with them. I'm a fairly conservative rider, mostly commuting, but these tires also allow me to scrape things on the canyon roads when I want to. My front tire currently has 15K miles on it and still has tread. My rear tire has 9K miles and looks like it could go another 3K to 4K miles, but I had to plug it recently. The tire is still working great but I'll replace the set next week. I think the S-11 tires are pretty good "bang for your buck", not as much "bang for your buck" as the Cheng Shin HiMax, but I hear those are starting to get scarce since being discontinued.

I think the 130 is as wide as you should go with the stock swingarm/wheel.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[Zook]

IIRC Cheng Shin has ceased production of motorcycle tires. Anything you get now might be somewhat dated as the warehouses are cleared.

[bwringer]

My vote is for Avon AM26 RoadRiders.

[Steve]

IIRC Cheng Shin has ceased production of motorcycle tires. ...

Actually, what we heard about that is that they are discontinuing motorcycle street tires.

.

[Phaseman]

Bias or radial?

Probably a silly question if motorcycle tires are similar to car tires, but you don't see many bias plys advertised for cars anymore...

What's the scoop on Bias Ply vs Radials?

[tkent02]

Probably a silly question if motorcycle tires are similar to car tires, but you don't see many bias plys advertised for cars anymore...

What's the scoop on Bias Ply vs Radials?

Nobody makes radials skinny enough for our old wheels.