► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[macpherson]

I swore by pirellli skorpions on my 1150's - has anyone used them on the lighter 800 ??

stuart

My 800GS came with Pirelli Scorpion Trails fitted from new. They've done 3500 miles since December, including through most of the snow and ice, and I'm pretty impressed with them. I've had a few back-end twitches on icy roads, but it would probably have been the same with any other tyre. In heavy rain they've been great and I've had no problems whatsoever with grip. They're fairly smooth-running too.

I've only done a few miles off road with them so far as I don't have a bash plate fitted yet, but they were fine for the wet gravel tracks I tried. The cold weather has stopped me from really pushing the tyres on the road though, and having done a few motorway miles recently, the rear has just started to square off slightly. Its also got quite a few small bits of flint embedded in it, so I don't know how long it will last. I'll probably throw some TKCs on for the summer, but would happily put Scorpion Trails on again afterwards ready for the winter. I'll make up my mind come the autumn.

 

[bmwgsrocks]

Metzeler Tourance EXP Tire Size

Hi everybody! I finally paid the fee and registered. I was thinking of getting a set of metzeler tourance exp tires. I am buying them privately, not at a dealership. The front tire is the exact same size: 110/80 - 19, but the rear is a little different: 150/70 - 17. My battlewing rear is 140/80 - 17. I am thinking it will fit but the metz will be wider??? I have about 1000 kms left on my rear now and was going to get a new battlewing because my front still has 70% remaining. But now came across this set of new tires which are much better. Thanks.

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

Many will come on an say the EXP is no where near as good as the standard tourance, but if you're buying it privately and it's coming cheap enough, why not.
I'm replacing mine today in fact at 16,500km - and thats only because of a slow leak. i have at least another 1500-2000km in the rear. ( i wouldn't consider myself gentle on the throttle either)

my 1100GS uses 150/70 - 17 on the rear. a quick google should find the correct size... or check your manual

 

[Dean]

Hi everybody! I finally paid the fee and registered. I was thinking of getting a set of metzeler tourance exp tires. I am buying them privately, not at a dealership. The front tire is the exact same size: 110/80 - 19, but the rear is a little different: 150/70 - 17. My battlewing rear is 140/80 - 17. I am thinking it will fit but the metz will be wider??? I have about 1000 kms left on my rear now and was going to get a new battlewing because my front still has 70% remaining. But now came across this set of new tires which are much better. Thanks.

Hi there, and well done for registering

I have same bike and year also fitted Tourance and my rear section is now 150 so yes it does fit, tyre dealers wont recomend it (because its stepping outside the recomended in Manual, so they cant) but they will tell you lots of people go up that little bit in size.

I got a tyre deal from busters with a friend who has the 1150GSA same identical size tyres size,

got 9,500 miles out of my from new standard tombstone-deathwings


Dean

 

[bmwgsrocks]

Thanks guys for your help! I was thinking the same thing Dean. It will fit but maybe not recomended by the dealer. They are brand new and will get them for $320.

 

[Dean]

What's the best that will fit a 650GS? Struggling to find any other than Avon.

Really liked having the BT020s on my 1200.

The manual quotes michelin anakee and metzeler tourance, other than the standard Bridgestone.

Talking more on road than off -
I went for the Tourance more because i noticed a lot of adventure riders using them also MCN survey rated at N0:1 on road with twice as much wet grip as the standard bridgestone.

but theres always someone who does not like a particular tyre for a particular reason

Dean

 

[argee]

I swore by pirellli skorpions on my 1150's - has anyone used them on the lighter 800 ??

stuart

Got a pair in my garage that the bike came on. They were the primary reason for my first off in 60k miles, two weeks after i picked up my brand new f800gs.

They're awsome in the hot n dry, crap off-road and bloody lethal in the merest hint of damp.

Avoid.

 

[snowlife_9999]

Finally...

got some decent tyres on my bike finally. NO more battle wings. Front Hied K60, Rear Anakee.

Note: The k60 is ok on the road except that it does create vibration at Hwy speeds that makes my hands numb in about 25min

 

[twisticles]

I put some Conti Trail Attacks on my bike last weekend, before a 1200km trip to the mountain roads of Malaysia.

INCREDIBLE tyres. Ride like a very good road tyre, which is what I wanted. I don't think they'll be much cop on the dirt, especially in mud, worse than the tourance judging by the pattern.

But on road...excellent. Certainly brings out the best in me

Lots of those miles were in torrential rain also, and to be honest I didn't ride any differently. Some insane 50/60mph sweepers, didn't matter if it was wet or dry. Definitely more fussy on gravel patches on the road than the TKC80s, but much less vibration and no tingly hands.

I used dynabeads for balancing this time around, coz its easy to do yourself. Very smooth ride.

not heard from anyone else running these on an 800GS, but I decided to give them a go after watching a mate on a 990SMT.

 

[Dean]

got some decent tyres on my bike finally. NO more battle wings. Front Hied K60, Rear Anakee.

Note: The k60 is ok on the road except that it does create vibration at Hwy speeds that makes my hands numb in about 25min

watch out for white knuckle

I put some Conti Trail Attacks on my bike last weekend, before a 1200km trip to the mountain roads of Malaysia.

INCREDIBLE tyres. Ride like a very good road tyre, which is what I wanted. I don't think they'll be much cop on the dirt, especially in mud, worse than the tourance judging by the pattern.

But on road...excellent. Certainly brings out the best in me

Lots of those miles were in torrential rain also, and to be honest I didn't ride any differently. Some insane 50/60mph sweepers, didn't matter if it was wet or dry. Definitely more fussy on gravel patches on the road than the TKC80s, but much less vibration and no tingly hands.

I used dynabeads for balancing this time around, coz its easy to do yourself. Very smooth ride.

not heard from anyone else running these on an 800GS, but I decided to give them a go after watching a mate on a 990SMT.

Its strange I got a mate who has a 1150GSA and could not wait to swap the trail attacks for the tourance, says the bike feels more flickable with the tourances

It just goes to show you have got to have confidence in your Rubber to be able to relax and enjoy the ride

 

[Blobby]

I put some Conti Trail Attacks on my bike...

+1 I'm with you on this. Trail Attacks really suit this bike, outstanding grip in dry, have not had any moments with them in the wet and very confidence inspiring, ok on gravel, useless in mud and wear really well. A top tyre if you are a mainly road rider.

 

[gareth041]

Good evening all

I am about to take the 800GS for it's first Service + Tyres.
I have Battle Wings fitted and they have been great, 5k+ Miles.
I have read this thread to death but still want opinions on Battle Wings against Michelin Anakee 2's, Pirelli Scorpions and any other opinions most welcome, private or otherwise!

Thanks all in advance and ride safe!

Gareth.

 

[chad]

i would say the Annekees and the scorps will knock the battlewings into a cocked hat

Good evening all

I am about to take the 800GS for it's first Service + Tyres.
I have Battle Wings fitted and they have been great, 5k+ Miles.
I have read this thread to death but still want opinions on Battle Wings against Michelin Anakee 2's, Pirelli Scorpions and any other opinions most welcome, private or otherwise!

Thanks all in advance and ride safe!

Gareth.

 

[divelandy]

I replaced the Battlewings for Anakee /2's after the front started to feel 'vague' - especially over white lines. I replaced the front at 6k and the rear at 8.5k. I'm at ~10k and have a lot of confidence in them.

 

[Tengiz99]

Went from the battlewax to Anakee 2s recently. Not done a whole pile on the new tyres yet, but I've found a marked improvement with them. The battlewaxes used to shimmy something awful on tar banding/white lines, these just don't, so I'm a lot more confident with them.
Not having a squared off back tyre also means they turn into corners very nicely...

 

[Balders1450]

I had Battlewings for 6k miles and thought they were brilliant in the dry but twitched a little bit in the wet (nothing terrible, just a bit unsettled when pushed), hence changed to the Conti Trail Attacks as had read good reviews. Very little between the two tyres but I think Trail Attacks just have the edge as don't twitch in the wet, are the same on dry winter days but better (more glued to the road) when it's warm outside. Now fitted a original equipment on the 1200GS.

In total agreement ref Batwings, fantastic in dry, iffy in wet, changed every 6000 miles, had 3 sets.
Just had new 2010 gSA and hoped they would come with Conti's...but B/wings again, but will get Conti's at 6000

 

[Malcolm Leick]

I get about 6,000 miles out of my rear TKC80 and 12,000 from the front. Both still legal when I swapped but no longer chunky enough for off road mud.

In the dry they are bloody good but you have to be more careful in the wet. I was on an IAM (institute of Advanced Motorcycle) ride out on Sunday and had a dodgy moment on a wet and greasy tight bend when the rear wheel slid out for a second. Once we were on the dry I was flying or 'making good progress' as we say.

I ride off road with the Trail Riders Fellowship and the tyres are great on the rough stuff, although thick mud is a pain for any tyre unless it's a dedicated dirt model. Dropping the tyre pressure gives a longer footprint in mud, but when you move onto rocks you really need to keep the pressures up to normal to guard against rim damage.

Riding to Morroco will be no problem on virtually anything. It depends on what you want to do when you get there. There are plenty of well surfaced roads everywhere and rougher trails if you want them. Chris Scott's book 'Overland Morocco' is a good guide to the options from the High Atlas downwards. Some of the trails will have improved since it was published but others may have suffered from adverse weather as they had a lot of landslides recently after heavy rain. Potholes and sharp road surface edges can be a problem, but more so in a car when you have to pull over suddenly to avoid oncoming trucks and coaches on narrow passes. (we burst two tyres in one day on a recent hire car trip - wouldn't have happened on a bike).

I did 4500 miles round Spain Morocco and Portugal on a 500cc scooter and have just done another 10 days there in a small car with my gf. If you head down there, definitely check out Tim Cullis's thread here. Loads of useful tips and information. Like me, Tim rides with TKC80s on a F650GS twin. The big advantage with the 650 twin is that the tyres are tubeless. Less prone to dramatic blow outs and easier to plug on the go.

Good luck with whatever you go for. Hope you make it to Morocco. It really has the most stunning landscapes from beautiful forests and lakes in the Middle Atlas, snow capped mountains and huge gorges in the High Atlas, and barren deserts in the south. Its possible to see all of the above in a single day as you ride south!

 

[argee]

Just noticed you are going to Morocco in July. Prepare to be boiled! It could be 40-50C. I was climbing in the Todra Gorge two weeks ago and we had to retreat to the cooler Middle Atlas as it was already over 30C.

Good answer! thanks for the input and advice, you sir, are a scholar and a gentleman.

 

[Captain Calamity]

Never had anything other than TKCs on my 800.

No problems at speed - slightly squirrely "when making progress" on motorways bit not much more vibration than from the engine.

Great off road.

Agreed that you need to watch them in the wet, especially slippery twisty B roads - they don't give much warning when they break contact (although every time they restuck without causing a mishap, and I was "making progress" at the time - they are fine if sensible speeds are kept to.

Andy

 

[nedkelly]

TKCs

I agree with the theme - they are great on road, although you need to be ready for the transition from the central tread block to the next one when you lean - feels weird at first, like you are going to go, but it then grips again.

Have used them offroad and good until you hit heavy soil, the tread is not man enough and fills up giving zero traction. Answer - stay away from KTM 450s - I was trying to keep up and shouldn't have been there.