Which tires to buy? (82 GS1100)

[BIG_brother]

So I am online and there are so many opinions and options out there

I am replacing my tires from 1989...

So I want GS opinions.

Im leaning towards Bridgestone form bikebandit

[Steve]

Bridgestones might be OK, but surely you can find a better source than Bike BANDIT.

I just got tires for my Wing from Chaparral Motorsports, via Amazon. They were sitting on my doorstep about 36 hours after I placed the order.
(Saved over $200 in the process, too. )

Many of us have gone to the Shinko 230 Tour Master for our GSes, with generally good results.
I have gotten them from Motorcycle Superstore, they are about $130 for the pair.
Get them, bring them over, we can get them mounted.

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[trevor]

So I am online and there are so many opinions and options out there

I am replacing my tires from 1989...

So I want GS opinions.

Im leaning towards Bridgestone form bikebandit

Don't do the Bridgestones if you ride in the rain. I had them on my 750 last year and was not impressed, not to mention they only lasted 5000miles! Went to Avon Roadriders...just put another one on the 750 and two avon roadriders on my gs1100e. They look great and perform even better!!

[evan132]

Go with the avons as Trevor said, they are awesome. The second I rode with them I noticed a difference.

[BIG_brother]

Go with the avons as Trevor said, they are awesome. The second I rode with them I noticed a difference.

Link for the Avons?

[bwringer]

Link for the Avons?

Motorcycle Superstore is my usual source:

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/14/72/961/12107/ITEM/Avon-AM26-Roadrider-Rear-Tire.aspx?WT.ac=SLIsearch

Please note that the 100/90-19 front is listed under rear tires -- it's actually built so that it will work on either end of the bike.

Since it appears that you're working on an 1100GL, I believe you'll want the MT90-16 rear.

[redstedman]

1st, finding a "deal" on line may not be a deal. retailers often sell tires w/ OLD date codes for an appearant "discount".but after shipping costs you save very little & own a 5+ year old tire. Then when you take the tire to the shop to mount, the shop will charge you top $ since you didn't buy the tire from them. I suggest looking @ the inventory of your local shops, look @ the date codes & maybe buy locally.

As for Bridgstones not wearing well?, WHICH tire was it? a BT17, 19, 21, 22 ???. Tires have different "hardness" values. Softer tires wear quicker, don't work in cool weather either as they need heat to make them stick.

Avon touring tires are a good selection. There are many good selections out there. Good luck

[trevor]

I bought my 3 Avon Roadriders (front and back for the 1100 and one rear for the 750) at Canada's motorcycle

http://www.canadasmotorcycle.ca/street-bike/motorcycle-tires.html?manufacturer=avon

Paid $349 for all three, taxes incl. and shipped to my door in one week. We have a guy here in Victoria that is a retired Harley mech. that does tires in his garage. I pulled the 1100 into his garage, went and had a coffee and 1 hour later tires done. 50 bucks! Eff the dealerships!! I have tried to give them my business but I am sick and tired of their BS!

[bwringer]

1st, finding a "deal" on line may not be a deal. retailers often sell tires w/ OLD date codes for an appearant "discount".but after shipping costs you save very little & own a 5+ year old tire.....

...I suggest looking @ the inventory of your local shops, look @ the date codes & maybe buy locally.

I've found the exact opposite to be true -- large online retailers move a LOT of tires, so their inventory is always quite fresh. Motorcycle Superstore is one of the largest, and they have a warehouse in Louisville, very close to the OP in Dayton, OH.

Local shops sometimes have some pretty ancient tires sitting on the shelves, so you do want to watch out for that.

There may be some disreputable online retailers selling old tires at a discount, but I've never actually seen one.

Then when you take the tire to the shop to mount, the shop will charge you top $ since you didn't buy the tire from them.

This is definitely a problem -- I sort of assumed, perhaps mistakenly, that the OP would be mounting tires himself, since that's what I do.

If you're not mounting your own tires, check with your local shop first. Many do indeed refuse to mount "internet tires", or charge ridiculous prices. Many will actually offer to order the tires for you and sometimes the total price is quite reasonable. Some shops are fine with mounting carry-in tires, some aren't. It's pretty variable, so check first. And as noted, buying locally is definitely worth a try.

[sedelen]

I don't know what all is out there, all I know is what I have.
I ended buying Avon Roadriders when I was looking for tires.
They turned out being a better tire than I expected. I have them
on both my bikes. It was well after I bought them that I found out
how popular they were on this site.

Oh, I almost forgot to post the link for Avon Roadriders.

http://www.avontyres.com/motorcycle/roadrider

[SqDancerLynn1]

You want something round and black...

[BIG_brother]

I settled for Dunlaps from Schmidt Auto In Springboro, OH

[Steve]

Then when you take the tire to the shop to mount, the shop will charge you top $ since you didn't buy the tire from them.

This is definitely a problem -- I sort of assumed, perhaps mistakenly, that the OP would be mounting tires himself, since that's what I do.

If you're not mounting your own tires, check with your local shop first. Many do indeed refuse to mount "internet tires", or charge ridiculous prices.

Evidently you guys missed an earlier post. Let's see if BIG_brother noticed it.

Get them, bring them over, we can get them mounted.

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[BIG_brother]

Evidently you guys missed an earlier post. Let's see if BIG_brother noticed it.


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I caught the post . only charged me 25 for mounting 250 grand total

[Steve]

I caught the post . only charged me 25 for mounting 250 grand total

250 grand???

I wish I could afford that.

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