in need of some new tyres on gs850g/t

[Guest]

After a 2200 mile ride around Wales Ireland Scotland and England I am in need of some new tyres. I fancy some Michelins activ pilot front and rear tyres The bike is a gs850g/t and the manual stated sizes are 4.5x17 for the rear and 3.5x19 for the front ...Michelins sizes are 130/90/17 for the rear and 100/90 for the front .
Can I ask people what they think of my first choice of tyres and will Michelin tyres fit the suzuki gs850g/t shaft drive .
And can anyone suggest a good wet rated high mileage tyre.
Thanks Derk

[Dogma]

Avon Roadriders are a popular choice over here with the "performance" crowd. Steve probably has some opinions on high mileage.

100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear are the sizes you need.

[Chris G]

I have Metzeler Lasertec on my 850 very good tyre.

[suzukizone]

GS 850G tire Blues

I have Metzeler Lasertec on my 850 very good tyre.

Just used up my last card on trying to get a S11 Bridgestone Spitfire 130/90-H17 for rear end of 'Ole Roadkill. Not being made anymore, none in the USA left.

Can anyone recommend a rear that would not be too bad of a match to the front S11 which has a lot left on it. I hate to mix but can't spring for the bucks on a new full matched set.

I ex'd out the Avon Roadrider based on the negatives regarding cracking I saw here.

The Metzler Lazertec & Dunlop D 404 seem to be my only realistic choices in that size. I would rather not go w/the Dunlop. I don't like the way they look at me.

Anyone ever use the Lazertec rear with an S11 front on a GS850G with full Vetter fairing, trunk & asst'd bags?

Riding style is markedly geezerly, I avoid the interstate method & primarily toodle on the secondary roads or around town.

Any input appreciated, if you all insist I go with matched set, please include cash contribution with your reply.

Thanks, both I & Roadkill are getting too bald for comfort.

DH

[suzukizone]

I just found the Michelin Pilot Activ has a set that fits my bike as well (81 GS 850G) Really not familiar with these. They seem cheaper dollar-wise than the Metzler Lasertec.

So I add this to the soup.

No matter how good the reviews, there are always a number of really negative reviews, none ever for my bike that I can ID so hard to do the math.

I await your learned comments.,

Thanks as always,

DH

[Steve]

Avon Roadriders are a popular choice over here with the "performance" crowd. Steve probably has some opinions on high mileage.

100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear are the sizes you need.

Yep, those are the correct sizes.

Steve's only opinions on "high mileage" will have to pertain to use on the Wing, as the only GS in the stable that has ridden enough miles to wear out a set of tyres is my wife's 850L. Loved the Cheng Shin Hi-Max tyres that we put on many years ago, but they are no longer available. All our GSes are currently wearing Shinko 230 Tour Masters, but none has gone far enough to even show a wear pattern, let alone display a longevity tendency.

A few here have tried the Michelin Commander II, but it is not available in a proper 17-inch rear size. Be careful with many of the modern tyres, as they are radials, but the Pilot Activ is a bias-ply tyre, so you should be good to go.

My 'high-mileage' choice on the Wing is Dunlop E3. Had three sets of them, did between 20 and 23 thousand miles on each set.
Alas, they are not available in a 17-inch rear for your 850. I have a 16-inch rim waiting for me for my next tyre change.
I might just mount a set of E3s.

.

[Grimly]

. Loved the Cheng Shin Hi-Max tyres that we put on many years ago, but they are no longer available.

Aha; but the OP is in the UK, and he can get Maxxis Hi-Max from MandP (same tyre).
Front: http://www.mandp.co.uk/index.php/def...-max-2349.html
Rear: http://www.mandp.co.uk/index.php/def...-max-2358.html

To the OP: If you're touring or even doing a bit of energetic scratching around (well, as much as you reasonably can with a lardy old tourer), I seriously recommend these tyres. I've been using them for a while now and will gladly buy more.

[derkiow]

Thank,s for all of your replies.I am going to try the Michelin pilot activ ,I will let the forum know on how I get on with these tyres. From the reviews I've read they far better than the Macadams that came with the bike. .....Derk

[derkiow]

Change to last post , went to buy pilots activ tyres, price went up from £129 to £149 so I'll be going for some maxis as reco by grimly ....Derk