ROAD tyres for a GS1200

THE DOCTOR · 18-02-07, 20:36

What 100% road biased tyres are available for the GS12?

..or more to the point what's recommended?

k12pfc · 18-02-07, 21:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by panzerphil

What 100% road biased tyres are available for the GS12?

..or more to the point what's recommended?

I got Dunlop trailmax, may just as well be road tyres. great on the road, crap on trails. Why do you want pure road tyres? There's no option of going off road then, if you fit Tourances then you have a superb road tyre and a more than adequate trail tyre.

Nate · 18-02-07, 22:17

I really like the michelin Anakee's

Great tyre, loads of feel and I can outride other people in the dry or the wet with them...

Excellent boots

18-02-07, 23:09

For the winter I put Michelin 'Pilot Roads' on mine. Can't give a report on them as shortly afterwards I had to lay the bike up after a simple operation like removing the exhaust went wrong....They are supposed to be good though.

Adie

Outtomunch · 18-02-07, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by k12pfc

I got Dunlop trailmax, may just as well be road tyres. great on the road, crap on trails. Why do you want pure road tyres? There's no option of going off road then, if you fit Tourances then you have a superb road tyre and a more than adequate trail tyre.

Fantastic road tyres (Dunlops). Have had three sets of these and love dthem, except for high (very ) speed stability. So......whent for Bridgestone 020's last time. Much better high speed stability and amazing in the wet but, TBH, still prefer the Dunlops on balance..........will be trying the new Bridgestone 'Deathwings' next as they seem to be getting good reports

Andres

JayGee · 18-02-07, 23:45

Mich road Pilots, great grip and mileage but only for road use.

THE DOCTOR · 19-02-07, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by k12pfc

Why do you want pure road tyres? There's no option of going off road then, if you fit Tourances then you have a superb road tyre and a more than adequate trail tyre.

Because I'm touring in May, first France then Scotland. I''l be fully loaded up & want grip. My Tourances are in need of replacement & I thought a road tyre would suit long distance touring.

Outtomunch, do the 020's come in 19 inch for the front?

BBB61 · 19-02-07, 19:21

Phil, the 020's are available for the 19 inch front on the GS.

19-02-07, 20:02

michelin pilot roads for me

excellent grip in the wet and dry,but only managed 5000 miles from the rear,thought the tourances lost grip to easily in the wet.

19-02-07, 20:29

Have you tried the Bridgestone BattleWings?

My 2005 R1200GS came originally with Michelin Anakee Tyres. I primerly ride on-road, and my ridingstyle is sporty.

After the Anakees I had a testride on a pair of Metzler Tourance, but I wanted to try the new Bridgestone BattleWing 501/501.

My impression after 2000 km ride is absolutly positive. Compaired with the other tires I have tried, they have a better grip and contact feeling with the road. The stifness of the tyres allows a more sporty driving style, and the tyres are stabile both on dry and wet asphalt.

Lars Mikkelsen

19-02-07, 21:13

Pilot roads get my vote; very impressed with them. Pilot road 2's should be available within the next few months, looking forward to trying them.

Brian ROSEN · 19-02-07, 21:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by buzz

michelin pilot roads for me

excellent grip in the wet and dry,but only managed 5000 miles from the rear,thought the tourances lost grip to easily in the wet.

If you are only getting 5000 miles from your rear tyres I suspect that it is not the tyres but your riding style; no offence - we all ride the way wa like, but most people seem to get 12,000 miles at least from the rear. I have used my bike through three winters and really have felt very little difference between the tyre performance (Tourances) in the wet or dry ( but then again, that is probably due to my more sedate form of riding.

19-02-07, 21:44

Ive had the battle wings fitted for approx 2500 miles, mostly ridden through our autumn & winter and simply cannot fault them on the road wet,greasy or dry tarmac.having come from a knee down racer mentality good rubber is paramount for pushing it on the gs, and these things certainly work for me!

JayGee · 20-02-07, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian ROSEN

...but most people seem to get 12,000 miles at least from the rear...

Don't think I believe this, I did once get nearly 9000 from a set of Mich road Pilots, but they were wellbelow 1mm tread when i got back from a long trip. Usually I get 4000-6000miles from a set, maybe less with Dunlops trailmax.

Now have the battleings, seem to be pretty good, not quite so good on a greasy road as the road pilots but still OK for me. I've only used them on road and whilst they look semi trailie I suspect they are pretty useless off road. Did use them on a track day and although they melted they maintained good grip.

I guess what tyre you like and how long they last is a very individual issue but I'm very surprised that anyone can get 12000 miles from a GS tyre.

Dellis · 20-02-07, 09:39

I'm getting 6,000 ish from a rear Tourance and am more than happy with the grip in both wet and dry conditions. I've only used Tourances on my 1200 but have tried Bridgestone BT020's and Tourances on my 1150. I much preferred the Tourances which gave better all round grip especially in the wet - I found this hard to believe considering that the BT020 is a pure road tyre and only lasted 4,500 miles - having said that the 020's come with half the tread depth of Tourances so maye the Tourances are a little softer???

HTH

Dave

Brian ROSEN · 20-02-07, 10:09

Quote:

"Don't think I believe this, I did once get nearly 9000 from a set of Mich road Pilots, but they were wellbelow 1mm tread when i got back from a long trip. Usually I get 4000-6000miles from a set, maybe less with Dunlops trailmax."

Sorry - I should have written 12,000 kms. (that is around 7,500 miles.) My rear is now on 12,500 and will manage another 2,000 I reckon, making a total of about 9,000 miles. The front was changed at 11,300 and I did some research before deciding to stick with the Touances - which of course meant that i could change just one tyre at a time.
To be honest I am surprised how little one notices these heavy treaded tyres (except when on slow hairpin bends) and the abilility to absorb the shocks and cope with rough roads convinced me to stay with them;