Yet another tire thread

[CC2099]

Hey CC2099, I've got an idea for you: how about starting a thread about the best oil for a GS! That topic is always fun.

No, I was thinking about starting a thread on Premium vs Regular because that's probably more fun.

[Brendan W]

Taking a look at the manual the majority of these bikes came with 3.50H19 and 4.50H17.
Exceptions were later L models, GLZ and GLD which had 100/90/19 and 130/90/16.
I'm not sure how to compare width measurement in the different systems but I find this in the article linked below
Am I the only one who finds it interesting that a 100-series tire can really be anything from 3.9" to 4.2"? And a 110-series can end up being the same width as a 100? http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-tires/sizes.htm

[CC2099]

Taking a look at the manual the majority of these bikes came with 3.50H19 and 4.50H17.
Exceptions were later L models, GLZ and GLD which had 100/90/19 and 130/90/16.
I'm not sure how to compare width measurement in the different systems but I find this in the article linked below
Am I the only one who finds it interesting that a 100-series tire can really be anything from 3.9" to 4.2"? And a 110-series can end up being the same width as a 100? http://www.webbikeworld.com/Motorcycle-tires/sizes.htm

I hadn't considered the possibility that tire widths could be so variable. Thanks for sharing this article.

[Wingsconsin]

Michelin Commander II - Longevity - Decent Stick - Not cheap -
Left off this list for some reason - but I run them on my GS850GL and like them..
Dual compound and the rear is a little 'flat' in profile as they are made for the HD Heavy Cruisers
But I nearly always ride 2 up (due to my larger than average size & weight) even when I am alone so a heavy duty tire appeals to me.

[salty_monk]

< klrmode="on" >



Lately I've been buying all my tires (sorry, "tyres") from Rocky Mountain/Jake Wilson (they're the same company). Their prices are under or within a dollar or two of the prices at American Moto Tire ("American" is right there in the name, so I guess they have to spell it "tire"). But the main reason is that they have a 5% rewards program, so I at least get some benefit from the vast sums I spend on rubber.

Anyhoooo... I've been through two sets of Metzeler Karoo 3 on my KLR, and they've been fantastic. Very aggressive tread that seems to work well off-road, and they stick wonderfully well on pavement, even in the wet. Reasonably priced (currently $158) a set, and pretty good life for a tire this aggressive (although not nearly as long as the Heidenaus). They even handle quite well when they're nearly worn out, which is unusual for knobby tires. They're noisy (some people care; I don't) and like any knobby there's a noticeable bit of rolling resistance.

The Heidenau K60 lasts a long time and works well off pavement, but from what I've observed and heard, they're a bit slippery on pavement and scary in the wet; the rubber is a bit too hard.

It's just about new tire time for my KLR as well, and I've been thinking about trying a set of the Shinko 804/805 knobbies in the name of Science. The online feedback is very good, and pricing is similar, perhaps a bit less. ($156/set right now, although the rear is backordered.)

The Shinko 244 works quite well and at $94 a set, they're the undisputed bargain leader for the KLR.

Michelin stopped making my favorite "pure" knobby, the T63. These were phenomenal, but wore out quickly. They're trying to get people to use the new Anakee Wild which just happens to cost about $70 more a set.

</ klrmode="off">

OK, hijack over -- back to your regularly scheduled GS programming...

Thanks Brian - I've not had a bad experience with the K60's although I obviously don't get much of the wet stuff round here... I can drag pegs with them on the street easy enough. I wonder if some of the comments relate to the continuous centre strip on the larger sizes...

Maybe I'll give the Karoo's a go or failing that the Shinko's. I probably could even go back to an 80-20 or 90-10 tyre but I like to kid myself that I'll get back offroad again soon...!

[salty_monk]

I hadn't considered the possibility that tire widths could be so variable. Thanks for sharing this article.

I've measured a few different tyres as I've fitted them out of interest. They are rarely "as quoted" but the width also depends on the rim that they're fitted on.

The profiles are usually quite different between them too which also affects the steering.

The modern KLR is a 2.5" rim rear and comes with a 130 stock if that helps at all.

I've ridden a 110/90/19 on a GS1000 but I used a wider rim from an 82 GS650G (2.15") to do so. It handled fine (with a matching 130 rear). There wasn't massive difference between those & the Roadriders I took off as far as the feel, steering etc. I could scrape pegs with either. These were Shinko 705's. I did a 2500 mile trip (mostly onroad with a handful of dirt trails) down through Baja with them.

(Oh and I'm yet to meet someone who's done more varied tyre testing than Bwringer - he's a big guy & rides hard plus he rides A LOT. His tyre life to mine tends to be way shorter like 60% or so of what I get on the same tyre, similar bike)

[GSJim]

The ME99 is long gone, and Metzeler does not currently make a rear tire in 120/90-17.

Although in the case of your 650G, the original rear tire was 4.25-17 (not the 4.5-17 found on the larger shafties) so there's less gray area -- 120/90-17 would be more correct than 130/90-17, and some charts suggest 110/90-17 would be the closest match, although this is not a size that exists anywhere.

That was my understanding also. I think I bought the only 120/90-17 in Toronto at the time (1988?). Even then it wasn't a common size.

Jim

[Rijko]

very interesting thread, i never converted the sizes.
So i have been using wider tires all these years than the GS1000 came with from the factory (....)
I will try one size down next time.

120/90-17 and 110/90-17 are on the market, the BT45 for instance ?
This site offers a nice listing by size : https://www.oponeo.co.uk/moto-tyre-finder

[bwringer]

very interesting thread, i never converted the sizes.
So i have been using wider tires all these years than the GS1000 came with from the factory (....)
I will try one size down next time.

120/90-17 and 110/90-17 are on the market, the BT45 for instance ?
This site offers a nice listing by size : https://www.oponeo.co.uk/moto-tyre-finder

The only rear street tire on that site shown available in 110/90-17 is the BT45. I can't find it in the US, and it's not shown on Bridgestone's web site, although there is a front BT-45 in that size. I'm wondering how accurate that site is; they might have mixed up the front and rear.

http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/detail/pr014/

You'll also notice that Bridgestone lists the appropriate rim widths for a 130/90-17 as 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

There are quite a few 120/90-17 front tires available, but only a few choices in rear tires.


American Moto Tire has a nice "find by size" feature, although you have to filter out the dirtbike and front tires yourself:

http://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/

Tires Unlimited is a good source for oddball tires, although they don't have a size search.

http://tiresunlimited.com

So far, the only 4.50X17 tires I've found are vintage reproductions of tires from the '40s:

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styles/motorcycle-bike/firestone-cycle-ans.html

[Rijko]

The only rear street tire on that site shown available in 110/90-17 is the BT45. I can't find it in the US, and it's not shown on Bridgestone's web site, although there is a front BT-45 in that size. I'm wondering how accurate that site is; they might have mixed up the front and rear.
http://www.bridgestone.com/products/.../detail/pr014/

Can't find it on the Bridgestone site either, not even in the archive section.
Which states info will be available as long as the tires are, so i guess this tire is a goner.
Still for sale on some sites but i now wonder about the age of those tires.

You'll also notice that Bridgestone lists the appropriate rim widths for a 130/90-17 as 2.5 to 3.5 inches.

There are quite a few 120/90-17 front tires available, but only a few choices in rear tires.

So far, the only 4.50X17 tires I've found are vintage reproductions of tires from the '40s:
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/styl...cycle-ans.html

Point taken .. unfortunate for us GS fans.

[bwringer]

Point taken .. unfortunate for us GS fans.

There's nothing unfortunate for GS fans at all -- we have a wide variety of thoroughly modern tires available in 130/90-17 that work far better than anything available in the '70s and '80s.

I guess if your goal is to roll a pristine 100 point GS850G onto the grass at Pebble Beach (LOL), or preserve it in your living room under glass, then you might lament the loss of the "original" "correct" tires.

If you want to actually ride it anywhere, spoon on the good stuff from the 21st century.

[Rijko]

I had a blast some time ago on a GT550.
It had been a long time since i rode a smaller bike and enjoyed the light, quick steering.

The GS1000S with 120/90-18 rear handles a bit lighter than the GS1000 with 130/90-17 rear
and i do like that. Higher rear will be a factor, but tire width also.

The GS1000 (with 130/90-17 rear) needs a firm hand, and i like it - but i am curious what
it would feel like with a 4.50 (114 mm instead of 130 mm) like it came with from the factory.

Don't want oldfashioned rubber, don't think the 130 is lacking and like the look the wider 130 has, but wonder if anyone has experience with a 120 like the AM26 or BT45 you mentioned.

[GSJim]

I liked the 120/90-17 on my GS650G but i only had it for two weeks before it was destroyed. The 130 didn't feel as good but the difference was subtle and hard to explain. After a few days I got comfortable with it again.

Jim

[limeex2]

The wider the tire, the harder it will turn in. The narrower the tire the faster you will "run out" of rubber. What people are suggesting by going to a 130 rear is that it will not make that much difference. What condition are the shocks? When were the forks and steering head serviced? Its a 35 y/o bike. If you still feel it turns in slow with a 130, raise your fork tubes 10mm at a time until you are comfy with how it turns in. This will make it turn in quicker. If you can feel the difference between a 120 and 130 rear, you will be able to feel these adjustments. I use Avon and Pirelli. Many choices, stick great, with modern design/rubber compounds. Once again, if you can feel the size difference, you will notice the confidence a good tire will give you. If one uses a cheap, old design you will be rewarded with a cheap old fashioned ride.

[Rijko]

Both bikes have rebuilt front forks, nos rear shocks, new bearings on wheels, steering, swingarm.
Both on new BT45 tyres. Same front tires 100/90-19, rear 18"/120 on the S, 17"/130 on the GS1000.

i have a hard time telling where differences reside, but the GS1000 feels a bit more sluggish
going into a turn than the S. Also quick left-right changes are better on the S.
Both bikes behave solid in turns but i like the S better. Like Jim said, i feel the difference but hard to explain.
Have tried lowering the front 10mm in the past and can feel that difference well, it improves
cornering but on small roundabouts the genny cover hits the tarmac quicker so i went back to standard.

Its a 35 y/o bike, i am not a racer, don't run out of rubber on the rear 'cause i hang a bit next to the bike to keep it more upright What do you guys call the unused sides, we call them something like rims of shame :-)

Still if i can improve the bike a bit the combined result may improve lol.

In the distant past i enjoyed the Conti Blitz and Dunlop Arrowmax, those felt quicker than say a Metzeler or BT45.
Tried Shinko's, but after i almost lost the rear in the rain couple of times (fortunately no big slides and could correct it) did not buy those again.
Now i'm about to buy new tires for 2 of the GS1000 bikes (1 GS1000 17" rear, 1 GS1000S 18" rear) and this thread spiked my interest again.
And until this thread i had not considered a 120 rear for the GS1000, only a 130.
Up for an experiment so the new tires will be different ones from the BT45.

Been eyeballing the radial ClassicAttacks, they get great reviews.
So anything you guys can tell me helps me shorten the list to 2 sets of tires.
Price difference is not that big, and since i have a number of bikes so limited km's per bike longevity is not an issue.
Thanks.