1979 gs1000 tire recommendations

[garyS-NJ]

I have this '79 gs1000e and need a set of skins and I'm too tired to shop to find the 3 or four options. I'm sure there are only a few tire mfr/models that will fit my stock rims. My current tires are 3.5X19 and a 120/90V17 (I read somewhere the stock rear is 4.5X17). I like to buy from revzilla and I'm sure I can get the shinko 230's but I had a pair on another old sport bike and wasn't too confident in the rain (I'm never too confident in the rain). Lets just say wet performance is my most important consideration and I will trade that for tire life.


recommendations?? and please give me the low end up to mid price as I have a bunch of motorcycles and so lots to maintain (but limited budget).

[Nessism]

Avon Roadriders are the forum favorite. This I've learned by reading about 150 different threads here on the subject. 100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear for your bike.

Lots of different sources for tires. My favorite is American Motorcycle Tire because they have good prices and free shipping.

[alke46]

I don't think the shinko 230's are so bad in the rain. In fact, they seem to be quite sticky for me. I just spooned on a new set of them last week but now I can't get spark to the plugs. Was that the fault of the Shinkos? Seems like there is a conspiracy going on here at least with my bike ...

[Steve]

The Shinkos are a good tire. Some here have tested them and found them very acceptable, especially considering their low cost, but for longer-term use when ridden hard, some of those same testers have found that the Avon RoadRiders have a lower cost per mile because they last longer. That also translates to fewer tire changes, so less time in the garage, more time on the road.

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[mmattockx]

I've been more than happy with the 230's on my 1100E. I don't ride in the wet much but the few showers I have been through certainly haven't shown them to be bad in the wet. I have had tires that were sketchy in cool, wet conditions, but these aren't them. I currently have 3150km on the set and the rear is just starting to show a very slight flat spot, so they aren't wearing too bad at all by my personal standards.


Mark

[Kiwi Canuck]

Avon Roadriders are the forum favorite. This I've learned by reading about 150 different threads here on the subject. 100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear for your bike.

Lots of different sources for tires. My favorite is American Motorcycle Tire because they have good prices and free shipping.

I agree, awesome tires.

[bobgroger]

Continental has released modern radials for classic bikes, I would like to see how they do as the bias ply tires are the biggest drawback of the GS IMO.

http://www.continental-tires.com/motorcycle/tires/motorcycle-tires/classic-classic-racing/conticlassicattack

[garyS-NJ]

Thanks all, you guys rock./ Exactly what I wanted. For whatever reason, I haven't been able to find a tire seller with a search tool where you enter your bike and then it returns a list of tires which cover the front and back.. So you have to go enter your front or rear tire size, select a tire, then see if the same company has a rear tire for you... and then do the same to find the other options, and then look at the construction if it's new or you don't remember, and then competitvely price them on other sites.. And I figure there are always new tire models coming out...

So last night after a sweaty work day, looking to ride and hungry, instead I was sitting at my laptop hot and frustrated tire shopping. So late last night I bought the AM26's on Amazon. I haven't ridden them yet so I figured listen to my GS brothers.. But I didn't find a 120/90-17 for the rear and bought the 130/90-17.. (couldn't find the 130/90-17 at American Motorcycle tire but found it there today... BTW, which tire size is specified for the rear, I read 4.5x17 but searching that limits options and a conversion I did said that is 120/90.??) Oh crap, I just googled the AM-26 120/90-17 and found it on JP cycles and they also have a motorcycle search tool like I described above.. and the tool says the am-26 120/90-17 doesn't fit my '79gs1000e/ WTF? Double crap, I found Chapparel Motorsports has the AM-26 also.. as does Jake Wilson who has the BT45V at good prices.. See, all I needed was a rest.

I had liked the bridgestone battleax BT45 as a reasonably priced tire but seems they just went up and looks like the T-30 might be replacing the BT45 but then I had trouble finding the T-30 in my sizes.//. The Pirelli Sport Demons were in there with a 100/90-19 for the front but only a 130/80-17 for the rear. I thought the best riding came from the OEM size tire which might not look the coolest. Hey that AM-26 is a universal front/rear tire so does that mean it doesn't have a dual compound and will wear fast..

Sheesh, I'm getting tired ot tires again. Glad I just bought them last night. That America Motorcycle Tire company has good selection and price.

[garyS-NJ]

interesting tire and I would like to see how radials could work on old bikes designed for bias ply tires but this Conti does not come in a 17" for my rear.

Continental has released modern radials for classic bikes, I would like to see how they do as the bias ply tires are the biggest drawback of the GS IMO.
http://www.continental-tires.com/mot...iclassicattack

[garyS-NJ]

Hey that AM-26 being a universal Front rear tire does that mean I should refrain from smoking the tire??

[bwringer]

As you gain experience in vintage motorcycle ownership, you'll learn that the application data on the various web sites is completely wrong more often than not. It's better ignored than trusted.

To answer your question, one should always refrain from smoking tires. It's very difficult to get rolling papers big enough and they're hard to light.

To answer the question behind the question, Avon's "front/rear" designation for some sizes doesn't mean that it will wear faster than normal when used on the rear. Basically, it'll wear normally on the rear, and if used on the front will actually last a good bit longer than usual.

[limeex2]

Most new tires are good in the rain. Imo, if they are a bad in the rain, they are wore out or your going to fast. Dont ask how I know....

[garyS-NJ]

??experience with vintage motorcycle ownership? practically every bike I have or ever owned is/was vintage (check my signature). I sold the '83 xj550 this year and just bought a 1990 GSX1100F. and also bought a no title 2000 Kaw ZX600 (not vintage, newest bike I own, but still old). I'm going to sell the '78 cb750F as is needing top end and the '77 GS750 is going as soon as I get it running again..

Interesting point on the universal front/rear, but I didn't read anything on the AM-26 130/90-17 indicating it had dual compound. But if it does have have dual compound or a hard compound, I would think that would be dumb on the front, yes it would last longer, but fronts already last longer and I'm sure we want sticky up front. In this respect, I bet it is a sticky soft tire and would likely wear fast ??

And is that recommended above AM-26 130/90-17 a fat/tall tire for my stock rear rim and so would the 120/90-17 be more stock? I might still be able to change my amazon order/

thanks again!

As you gain experience in vintage motorcycle ownership, you'll learn that the application data on the various web sites is completely wrong more often than not. It's better ignored than trusted.

To answer your question, one should always refrain from smoking tires. It's very difficult to get rolling papers big enough and they're hard to light.

To answer the question behind the question, Avon's "front/rear" designation for some sizes doesn't mean that it will wear faster than normal when used on the rear. Basically, it'll wear normally on the rear, and if used on the front will actually last a good bit longer than usual.

[Steve]

Keep the 130.

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