Tires for spoked GS 1000 wheels...

[tkent02]

Wheels are 2.15 x 18 and 1.85 x 19. They are the spoked alloy wheels from the early GS1000, will go on my '79 750/1100 projectile.
I'm thinking 120-90/18 and 100-90/19. Avon Roadriders, of course.
Don't care what it looks like or anything else, just want it to handle as well as possible.
These sizes sound about right?

[salty_monk]

Yes, should be fine. 120 is the biggest you can go on the rear of those.

Dan

[Dave8338]

The 120/90 18 should do a good job of filling out the rear (shouldn't be too beefy for the 2.15). No problem at all on the front, that I can see.

[tkent02]

Would smaller be likely to handle better, turn in quicker?
And would a 90-90/19 work better with the 120-90/18?
Nessism or someone?

[Dan Ruddock]

The 90-90/18 would be lighter than the 100-90/18 because it's a dedicated front and the 100-90 is a front/rear tire. Dan

[Nessism]

I'd go with the 100/120 combo. A 90 front seems needlessly skinny to my way of thinking.

[sharpy]

Try the 90/90 for lighter steering, BUT personally i would go the 100/90 130/80 route as that is what we ran on our proddie bikes way back when bla bla bla and put those sizes on 90% of the customers bikes. Should be no issues with clearance as i run a 140 with a 4.25 rim no hassles. If ure not set on doing a Avon tyre what about the Pirelli SPORT DEMON set? .........http://www.pirellityre.com/web/catal...TDEMON_STR.xml

Just a option but try the 100/90 front 130/80 rear setup.

[salty_monk]

That's interesting Sharpy... i have a set of spoked wheels but have so far avoided them due to the need to move to a 120 rear. I like the fatter look. I understand that coming down in profile to 80 would be better - should also compensate a little for the added height of the 18" wheel over the 17".....

The 750 I just picked up uses a 120 80 & a 140 80 in place of the 100/110 & the 130. They are actually listed as alternatives in the owners manual so it must be a somewhat reasonable option....

Dan

[tkent02]

The 750 I just picked up uses a 120 80 & a 140 80 in place of the 100/110 & the 130. They are actually listed as alternatives in the owners manual so it must be a somewhat reasonable option....

Dan

What is the wheel width on this 750?
Is it a GS?

[lurch12_2000]

Dennis Kirk has good prices on both Roadrider tires ($68 for the 100 front and $88 for the 120 rear) w/free shipping.
I just mounted the 120/90-17 from them ($68 in that size) on my GS1100E REAR and have put 100 miles on it. They had a manuf date of late '08 and I am happier with this size rather than what we all seem to go for (the 130 rear). FYI-The 120 Roadrider can be used for front or back, just mount it in the opposite direction! ...assuming the correct rim and clearances for your model.
I don't know about the 750 models but other than looks why go for the fatter tire?

[sharpy]

That's interesting Sharpy... i have a set of spoked wheels but have so far avoided them due to the need to move to a 120 rear. I like the fatter look. I understand that coming down in profile to 80 would be better - should also compensate a little for the added height of the 18" wheel over the 17".....

The 750 I just picked up uses a 120 80 & a 140 80 in place of the 100/110 & the 130. They are actually listed as alternatives in the owners manual so it must be a somewhat reasonable option....

Dan

If those wheels are the alloy ones you can get the rear laced onto the front and buy a good size rear rim. 4.25x18 would be nice (17's are like 530 chains, just dont look right) Rear steel rims "should" be able to be laced onto the front aswell. That 120 on the front if you stated it correctly is SO WRONG lol. Steel rims seem to be 1.85x19,2.15x18 but the alloy have a 2.50x18 rear. (im sure) Well mine was. Here is a pic of my 750 proddie with 1100 wheels fitted. Pirelli phantoms fitted




And the standard wheels with Metzelers ME77 fitted. (i think) Trust me to have a red Kat lol

[salty_monk]

I *think* mine are the alloy ones... (at least that's what I was told) I'll have to have a look.

never thought of having the rear one laced as an 18" front - that's a pretty sweet idea!

The 120F is on a 83GS750 so it's a 2.15 - Mettzler ME33 Laser. It's a 120 80v 16. On the rear is a 140 80v B17 Mettzler Messa Metronic. Rim is a 2.5.

Dan

[tkent02]

I *think* mine are the alloy ones... (at least that's what I was told) I'll have to have a look.

never thought of having the rear one laced as an 18" front - that's a pretty sweet idea!

The 120F is on a 83GS750 so it's a 2.15 - Mettzler ME33 Laser. It's a 120 80v 16. On the rear is a 140 80v B17 Mettzler Messa Metronic. Rim is a 2.5.

Dan

If I'm lacing up new rims I might as well go as wide as will fit on both ends... pondering more expense, time, effort... Need to come up with a different front fender...
Great idea though, I have some measuring to do.

[salty_monk]

I priced it up at Buchanan's here in Socal. About $900 plus postage for 2 new rims, laced etc on your own hubs....

With a 2.5 front I think you might be able to run a 120 radial..... have to look at the Avon website to see the recommended sizes again.

Dan

[tkent02]

I priced it up at Buchanan's here in Socal. About $900 plus postage for 2 new rims, laced etc on your own hubs....

With a 2.5 front I think you might be able to run a 120 radial..... have to look at the Avon website to see the recommended sizes again.

Dan

That would be sweet, I just put an Avon Storm radial on the front of the BMW, WOW!!! Nice tires! It is way easy to go fast in the corners, amazing difference. Doing the back tire tomorrow or the next day, expect more improvement. Another really cool thing is how easy the radials pop off and back on the rim by hand with no tools. I would love to have rims wide enough to put them on the GS...
You really have me thinking hard now. I know there are stickier tires out there as these Storms are listed as Sport Touring, so a full sportbike radial tire would be way better.

I wonder how much of that $900 is labor for the lacing and how much is parts cost...