83' GS750ES tire choices..

[grcamna2]

I'm not sure of the model, it may have been the GS1150, but that also came with a 16" rim, but the rim was wider, front and rear. I have seen pictures of these conversions, but they never say if they changed the swing arm and front end, from which I understand bolt right up to the GS750ES. I'm happy enough with my bike that I don't want to change it, and my ZZR1200 satisfied the need for a bigger bore bike.

You have a ZZR1200 ? it must be an awesome machine

[zuluwiz]

Personally, I prefer rubber tires. The old school wooden tires tended to wear out very quickly, and the solid steel tires, while never wearing out are rather heavy.

[trevor]

did anyone say Sport Demons yet? It's what I have on my 83 750ed

[Rob S.]

Out of his range. ($)

[Suzukian]

did anyone say Sport Demons yet? It's what I have on my 83 750ed

That bike is freakin' beautiful!!

[Rob S.]

None of his others are dogs.

[Suzukian]

I have almost all the parts for a full GS1150 front end swap, and a pair of Katana 3 spoke rims, going 17" in the front, TOKICO calipers, changing the discs to fit for my '83 GS750ES . This is a Spring/Summer project.

[Suzukian]

My 16" Avon, 2 years old, went flat over the Winter. 1st time that has happened. No signs of dry rot, and there is plenty of tread left on it. I reflated. I hope it holds air long enough to go for rides. I plan to do the 1150 front end and rim swap in the Fall to the 17" set up. Just got all the parts in.

[grcamna2]

My 16" Avon, 2 years old, went flat over the Winter. 1st time that has happened. No signs of dry rot, and there is plenty of tread left on it. I reflated. I hope it holds air long enough to go for rides. I plan to do the 1150 front end and rim swap in the Fall to the 17" set up. Just got all the parts in.

Replace the rubber valve stem,should solve that leak.

[Suzukian]

I checked that with soap and bubbles. The tire was 4 years old, and just wasn't holding air. The labor to replace the valve stem is the same a mounting a new tire. I purchased a 16" Bridgestone Battle Axe, which is the same type tire on I have on the rear, for $115 bucks on sale from "Dennis Kirk". I have had it mounted, with a new stem and balanced. I should be ready to ride by the end of today. Thanks for the input. The new tire was just two years old, but was stored properly, it looked like it was just popped out of the mold.

Having a new front tire means I can push off the front end swap to the GS1150 front end with 17" Katana 3 spoke rims, and Tokico calipers. I can assemble that off the bike, and work on any bugs, and still have my bike roadworthy. I'll be mounting the same rear Katana 3 spoke rim on the back of the bike also. It's supposed to be a pretty straightforward swap, maybe some lathe work on some bushings. I have a lathe, so that's no big deal to match any offset. If I have to modify the sprocket carrier, I have a milling machine and indexing rotary table, so again, no big deal. Thanks for your input!

[rphillips]

Wondering if you ever found the leak in the tire, "The tire was 4 yr. old, and just wasn't holding air" seems pretty odd. I can't imagine how a tire being 4 yr. old would have anything to do with it not holding air... I'd haf'ta know what the problem was, tire, wheel, valve.

[Suzukian]

I soaped up the air valve stem, and no air was coming out of there. There was no leak on the bead either that would make any bubbles. It took around 4 days for the bike to start loosing pressure. It finally held pressure for over a week, but then over night, it was flat. I had enough and got a good deal a "Dennis Kirk" for Bridgestone Battleaxe 16"" for $115 with free shipping. The tire came in, in looked like it just was popped out of the mold. According to the manufacture date, it was 2 years old. Even the guy a the local bike shop commented on how "fresh" the tire felt. So that is mounted on. a couple of other tweaks. and I should be back on the road. The weather in Connecticut has been more rainy than I can ever remember. It has rained so hard, the streets are noticeably clean, I mean really really clean, except where they flooded over, but that's very few spots.

[rphillips]

My 16" Avon, 2 (or 4) yr. old, no sign of dry rot, plenty of tread left on it. I thought I didn't like the Avon, but it really has grown on me, and does everything I want it to. Hard to imagine it's gone just cause you didn't see where the air was going.... Hope not a valve stem, valve core, crud or crack on rim problem. Tire would be thrown out for no reason... Just me, but I'd of had to found the problem.

[Suzukian]

I had the guy at the shop run it through his trough to see if he could find the leak. I think the tire was leaking through the sidewalls, and just lost the ability to hold air. I did not like that tire at first, but it kind of grew on me. The Bridgestone feels a lot more robust as tires go, and I've had good luck with them. I am incredibly frugal, believe me, if I though I could have gotten away with doing something less expensive, I would have. Time equals money, and I spent enough time with trying to figure out why that tire wasn't holding air. Besides, $115 for the new Bridgestone Battle Axe with fee shipping is a great deal. Dennis Kirk is where I got it from. A few months ago, they did not have that tire listed, when I looked again, it was listed "On Sale"..

[Rob S.]

I've never been able to find the source of slow leaks with bubbles...(or any other way).