► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[Ferret55]

Nobody mentioned Metzeler Tourance yet?

For me, they're the best enduro tyre (see German report on previous page).

I have original fit Battlewings on at the moment and had a nasty slide in the wet the other day - just what it said in the tyre test.

 

[Dean]

getting tyred

Hi,

trip to the Alps next month and should see some fast twisty tarmac. Going to take off the TKCs and would welcome any suggestion on some grippy road tyres. Happy to sacrifice wear / durability for grip as will be swapping back to TKCs once back in blighty.

Thanks
Rod

Probably going Anarkee 2 with next rear & Anarkee 1 for the front.

I'd still say Battlewings are very nice on clean tarmac & grip like fk

Think the request made via this thread was for the best tyres to use ON ROAD, not off road, in the Alps on twisties in May.

Nobody mentioned Metzeler Tourance yet?

For me, they're the best enduro tyre (see German report on previous page).

I have original fit Battlewings on at the moment and had a nasty slide in the wet the other day - just what it said in the tyre test.

hi Rod,

stcking specific to your question and .......................................

yes sticking to the tarmac I would say the METZELER TOURANCE, MCN survey last yaer for adventure bikers out of 12000 was voted best (on tarmac equal to the Battlewing in the dry, but against same tyre on wet tarmac they quoted it as almost twice as much wet grip on tarmac.)

unless you think you wont get any rain


Im off to the Alps in August running my metzelers in nicely now, heading up one of europes highest roads so expecting to burst through a few clouds, whilst keeping my tyres firmly on the ground hopefully

good luck with your choice


Dean

 

[sijohnston]

i think i remember that article. from memory they tested it on a 1200. if they didn't, it's too generic to say that they were 'best for big bikes'. my experience of tourances are that they are utter tosh on the 800. they never felt planted in the wet, were terrible on over-banding, and didn't inspire any real confidence. however, i believe they work well on the 1200, which is a completely different animal. out of all the tyres i've run, the battlewings were far and away the stickiest in the dry, but the soft compound did not give longevity. TKC's were good, but 2750 out of a rear was hard to hold out to. The heidi's are a great tyre on the bike as they don't do anything brilliantly, but offer competency all round and give good wear. I'm planning a very long trip and hopefully leaving in June. Will be putting Conti trail-attacks on to get me through 1000's of miles of tarmac, and then running heidi's when i get there (posted out). the only tyre available for the 8 that i've not shod my bike with is the anakee. I've ridden everywherevirtually's f800 with anakees and they did seem like a good tyre even if i couldn't really test them as it was wet. because the metzeler tourance (non EXP) has been good for the 12, it's a myth that they will automatically work on the 800, as i'm pretty sure that if you ride the bike on, it'll disappoint. my humble verdict

hi Rod,

stcking specific to your question and .......................................

yes sticking to the tarmac I would say the METZELER TOURANCE, MCN survey last yaer for adventure bikers out of 12000 was voted best (on tarmac equal to the Battlewing in the dry, but against same tyre on wet tarmac they quoted it as almost twice as much wet grip on tarmac.)

unless you think you wont get any rain


Im off to the Alps in August running my metzelers in nicely now, heading up one of europes highest roads so expecting to burst through a few clouds, whilst keeping my tyres firmly on the ground hopefully

good luck with your choice


Dean

 

[everywherevirtually]

Conversely I've ridden siJohnstons 800 and I would say the Heidi's would be good for long distance trips. Colebatch rates them for his trips out to Siberia. They are good for doing the miles and covering the intermediate stuff. The potholes, rough roads, gravel, black top. When you get to the real hard stuff you'd need something again. I reckon the heidi's would be perfect for Mongolia

 

[Dean]

Conversely I've ridden siJohnstons 800 and I would say the Heidi's would be good for long distance trips.

I like the look of the heidi's that busy block pattern also, could possibly be my next tyre.

the anakee looks a bit like the tourance in looks similar large flat blocks.

the TKC ive heard to much about low speed rumbles and high speed weav so uncertain for my bike as im mainly interested in TARMAC BIASED, right now anyhow

the metzeler is new for me and early days to comment but it will stay there until they are worn, or I have a problem with them

my rear section is slightly wider than standard but the proof will be in the riding (I realy must get out more)

I also agree and think that just because its the bees knees on a heavier, 1150 or 1200 doesnt mean it will act the same on a 800





Dean

 

[John Armstrong]

Thanks for all the replies, I wonder why they didn't use the 1200 type spoked wheels on the 800?

Cost I'd guess.

 

[Dean]

Narower rims

 

[Micky]

Narower rims

Nope ... same size back tyre

Thanks for all the replies, I wonder why they didn't use the 1200 type spoked wheels on the 800?

According to Herbert Schwarz of Touratech, who did a few thousand pre production development miles in Africa....

1) That old egg ... to keep production costs down

2) A puncture is one thing, can be repaired easily whether tubed or tubeless, a bit easier on a tubeless of course! BUT if the tyre gets gashed/cut on an overland trip then on a tubeless tyre you are fecked. You can of course put a tube in IF you have a spare tube and IF you can break the tyre bead

With a tubed tyre you WOULD be carrying spare tubes AND you can break the bead much easier

Not talking about trips of course where you have a mobile phone, someone to ring and/or Mondial Recovery at your beck and call

But in the middle of absolutely nowhere then I'd rather have tubed tyres and spare tubes

Rather have chain drive too

 

[Dean]

Nope ... same size back tyre

Actuely Micky mine is not

went for a Tyre Deal with a friend who has an 1150GSA so my tyres are identical to the 1150 GSA in being front 110/80/19 and rear 150/70/17

its tubeless for me, for most simple punctures why on earth would you want to take off your wheel and tyre when you dont have too given the choice I bet 9 out of 10, 800 girlies would prefer tubeless given a choice

I take your point about being in the middle of no where but for the main most people do not do this, but if I did I would improvise, like this

but as you well know theres easier ways theres always one of thoes big hefty 11-1200 GS's roaming around and there side stand is a great tool



Dean

 

[Dean]

Given the choice I'd rather have cross spoked rims with tubeless

I agree they look great, I cant understand why the 1200GS has alloy wheels I look at them and think Road Biased ,
If i had a 12 I would want a choice unless they want you to buy the "A"

 

[Frankh]

If you buy a 1200GS you do get a choice, 300 quid and you can have the cross spokes ! BMW think of the customer, suits you sir?

 

[bullockbeamer]

I have just replaced a pair of Michelin Anakees after 11,000 miles and still £1000 or so miles left on them. Have tried Bridgestone Battle Wings this time so will see how they are. They seem more road biased!

 

[Ferret55]

you are insane

+1

 

[Big Bird]

To Slime or not to Slime....

Hi Guys

I'm off to the Alps in 2 weeks time on my 800. I have brand spanking new Anakee 2's on.

Knowing who I'm riding with I'm expecting to "make good progress" on the motorways and twisties when we get there.

I've never used slime before and if I'm honest I'm a bit worried that I'll notice it in the tyres, shaking or vibrating etc (particularly at speed).

Should I or shouldn't I?

Whats the verdict?

 

[Blobby]

From everything I have read Ultraseal (Puncture Safe) is superior to Slime, but nowhere near as well known. Search for Ultraseal on this forum and you will find several people who use it. I'm one of them and have put it in my tyres and many different bikes over the years. You may notice a slight wobble for the first mile after application, but then that's it, you won't notice it again at any speed that the F800GS is capable of. Ultraseal is designed to be put in your tubes from day one and just left there whereas, I think I am correct in saying, Slime is not supposed to be left in your tyres but applied when you have a puncture as a get you home solution, but many people just leave it in anyway. In years of using Ultraseal, I have never had a puncture. To me, the prospect of a front tyre blowout at speed in a tubed tyre is not something I wish to experience, hence I feel much more comfortable knowing Ultraseal is in there. It's a 30 min job to apply and then just forget it. Great stuff. Search for it on Google or this is one of the place I have bought it from before http://www.ultraseal-swiftlysorted.co.uk/home1.htm

 

[Slowdown]

The best advice I've learned is:

Tubed tyres - use slime/ultraseal. This is because if a puncture is really serious the innertube won't seal so you'll know there's a serious amount of damage to the interior of the tyre.

Tubeless tyres: Don't use slime/ultraseal. This is because while a hole may seal, there may have been quite a lot of damage to the interior of the tyre, causing problems later on - possibly on a motorway at speed! You'll not know this until it's too late!

I wasn't sure about this until I got a fair length of copper pipe embedded in a rear tyre - while it was a only a slow puncture, the guy at Guildford tyre showed me the mess of the internal tyre wall once he's taked the tyre off the rim.

 

[snowlife_9999]

slime for 3yrs, no issue. No wobble noticed. But believe that I have never actively used it, that it seal a tyre or prevented pressure loss.

 

[Balders1450]

Ride On

Always use this, and cheaper than ultraseal, as Seve once said "I won't leave home without it"


http://www.ride-on-uk.com/section.php?xSec=6

 

[Balders1450]

Balders, had a look at the website, but couldn`t see how much you need to get for the F800GS? john

You get instructions...how much to put in each tyre depending on tyre size...I always get 2 "bottles" and there is always a little left over...either save for next time or just bin!!

 

[Fanum]

To me, the prospect of a front tyre blowout at speed in a tubed tyre is not something I wish to experience, hence I feel much more comfortable knowing Ultraseal is in there.

1) Ultraseal will NOT prevent a fast blow-out, it will only prevent slow or medium speed punctures.

2) as mentioned above in this thread, Ultrasel can also mask a puncture that has caused significant damage in the structure of the tyre, by preventing it from going down....this in itself is MORE likely to cause a big, sudden failure, leading to your feared scenario.

3) Ultraseal is a pain in the arse for tyre fitters, its messy and unpleasant, and if you ever decide to save some pannies and learn how to do it yourself, you'll never fit it again for that reason, once you've changed one with ultraseal in.

Far better, IMO, to carry and know how to use a decent repair kit...then at least you'll KNOW what's going on with the tyre.