► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[curiousexplorer]

Look at this site: http://www.motorradundreisen.de/reifencheck/

Readers of this magazine were asked to give their own rating of tyres, and this was the result. Interesting!

 

[v8legend]

One reader review is hardly conclusive!

 

[Buz]

OK, need a tyre for the rear of my 650, started reading posts on hear but not sure what is road biased, whats offroad and whats in between

Basically, i do all road miles and it would seem more straight lines than corners as the middle is virtually on the bar but edges have plenty of tread left. So my question is, whats the best value for money, mainly commuting but some bursts of speed, no offroading other than across the field to my tent!

 

[Smythson]

OK, need a tyre for the rear of my 650, started reading posts on hear but not sure what is road biased, whats offroad and whats in between

Basically, i do all road miles and it would seem more straight lines than corners as the middle is virtually on the bar but edges have plenty of tread left. So my question is, whats the best value for money, mainly commuting but some bursts of speed, no offroading other than across the field to my tent!

Hi Buz,

As you're looking for a new rear i'm assuming you've already changed the front?What did you go for? I'm still on the supplied Batwings and am looking at a new front - don't want to take it down to anywhere near legal when the winter weather starts closing in....

S

 

[Oggie]

Tyres

Ran out of rubber on OE Bridgestone front.Rear still has plenty of life. Changed front to Dunlop 91. Wow ! Knew Bridgestones were white lining - but the change highlighted how much. The Dunlop is much more compliant - I feel you get so much more feel/feedback. Can't wait to change rear to a 91.! Maybe another 1000 miles.The improvement so far has been considerable.This is based on road use only mind.

 

[curiousexplorer]

hi, Oggie, my experience totally, have TR91's on for a year now, transformed my bike (f650GS), I found, after experimenting a lot, that 30/35psi work best for them. Don't wear excessively either, 6k now, hardly showing any wear. Go get your rear tyre !!

 

[colint]

Metzeler Tourance all day ... every day

"From der Nürburgring to the Karakorum Highway...

From greasy leafy backroads to pot holed off roads'n no roads...

... they do it My Way"

And at 63,000 miles plus I can't fault 'em

+1 for Tourance

 

[Buz]

Hi Buz,

As you're looking for a new rear i'm assuming you've already changed the front?What did you go for? I'm still on the supplied Batwings and am looking at a new front - don't want to take it down to anywhere near legal when the winter weather starts closing in....

S

Front is still the original, done 8.5K and still plenty of tread, rear has only done about 6K (had a puncture in original) and was replaced witha Battlewing (or whatever its called)

 

[old-man-andy]

Recently replaced my 650's rear Continental Trail Attack after 15,000 miles with another Trail Attack .

After 15k miles the tyre was well squared-off (mostly motorway commute) and just down to the wear-indicator. The degree of squared-off-ness didn't affect the handling unlike the original deathwings.....

The front is still going strong after 16k miles.

I am well impressed with the Trail Attacks.

Probably best not to mix 'n' match front and rear tyres from different manfacturers (although, expect someone'll be along soon saying "I've ridden on mixed radial/cross-ply for hundreds of years with no problems......").

 

[Dean]

best tire I have had on my 650 for confidence wet and dry, was

Metzeler Tourances, 2,300 miles trip in the pyrenees, by brother inlaw was on his bike a new ish tiger 8 (ex demo) he could not get his head around why I was faster through the twisties with confidence. reason I say was my tires plus the ohlin and front fork spring upgrade corners like its on rails .

I will return to tourances again, at the moment with wires fitted wanted a more rugged tire hence Heidenhau K60 scout but there like well taking some getting used to still got as Mikemike says their cowards bobies (yep outward rubber needles) not had them in the wet yet just been lucky its Dry when I'm out

 

[MikeMike]

You've definitely got those little black tetas de cobarades shaking in fear and on the run!
Well done.
The Tourance is a good tire choice at least for the rear wheel in my opinion, much better than the BattleBridges in moist, damp, wet, flooded, etc... conditions, and on loose road surfaces.

 

[Buz]

Recently replaced my 650's rear Continental Trail Attack after 15,000 miles with another Trail Attack .

After 15k miles the tyre was well squared-off (mostly motorway commute) and just down to the wear-indicator. The degree of squared-off-ness didn't affect the handling unlike the original deathwings.....

The front is still going strong after 16k miles.

I am well impressed with the Trail Attacks.

Probably best not to mix 'n' match front and rear tyres from different manfacturers (although, expect someone'll be along soon saying "I've ridden on mixed radial/cross-ply for hundreds of years with no problems......").

Are you saying i shouldnt put trail attacks on the rear and keep the Deathwings on the front? I've still loads of tread left on the front

 

[old-man-andy]

Are you saying i shouldnt put trail attacks on the rear and keep the Deathwings on the front? I've still loads of tread left on the front

I'm amazed your front has loads of tread left - you a wheelie merchant? - my deathwing front was as squared-off as the rear. Got 9k from them. Others on here also got around 9k and fronts and rears wore at a similar rate.

I'm no tyre expert but I personally wouldn't mix tyres on a road bike. Tyres have different characteristics and bike and tyre manufacturers don't test all tyre combinations on all different bikes so wouldn't guarantee the compatibility of mixed tyres. Possibly your insurance company would consider it a contributing factor in an accident . I even asked the tech dept at Bridgestone about mixing a BT010 (sport) front and BT020 (sports touring) rear a few years ago on a sports bike and they didn't recommend it.

Look at it this way - if you stick another Battlewing on the rear, it'll probably last as long as the remaining tread on the front and then you can replace both with a matching pair. Simples

 

[Greggers]

Panick over, thanks

Sorted


Ding Dong,

Any one know the best way to sand - file down the fine rubber needles

I've just seen this pic - the tread pattern on the 'new' K60 is quite different to the old one - continual centre tread instead of block pattern on the rear and the front block seems to have extra grooves cut into it ..?

G

 

[v8legend]

Are you saying i shouldnt put trail attacks on the rear and keep the Deathwings on the front? I've still loads of tread left on the front

Hi Buz. My rear Bridgestone wore out before the front. I switched to the Conti Trail Attack on the rear mixed with the Bridgestone front. No handling issues at all.

 

[MikeMike]

I've got a Conti Trail Attack on the front and a Tourance on the rear.
Still handles better than the BridgeBats.

 

[chas820]

I`m currently running an Avon Distancia on the front and a Deathwing on the rear.Front Deathwing died at 6000 but the rear is still going (9000)I will replace with a Distancia when it goes.

 

[Dean]

I've just seen this pic - the tread pattern on the 'new' K60 is quite different to the old one - continual centre tread instead of block pattern on the rear and the front block seems to have extra grooves cut into it ..?

G

Hi Greggers,

the continual tread on my Heidi's K60 scouts is the change that produce's the high milage being reported on them compared to a TKC 80 some getting almost double the tire life (now theres miles for value) whilst still maintaining the self cleaning trates for off the beaten track

I have as Mike mike says been trying to wear down those little black tetas de cobarades, I can feel a trip to salisbury Plains coming on tetas de cobarades your days are numbered

 

[keithquad]

Recomendation tyres GS650 80 road 20 offroad

Hi

Now I appreciate that there is a whole load on here about tyres - having spent circa 40 mins looking through it all this morning I still carnt see a clear view of what people would recommend for:-
GS650 twin 80% on road 20% off road. Motorway sometimes at circa 80 > 90.
Desire to use the bike offroad (tracks) - Alps in the summer next year. Living in the Lake District, on occasions would want to take it off road small amount.

My research to date has me looking at:-
- Metzeller Tourance - seemingly voted 3rd in a test (which was covered on here)
- Trelleborg E-08 (suggested to be 80/20) however I havent seen anyone who has used them much to get a sense of how good they are for what I'm looking for - anyone got any experience?
- Dunlop TR91 - however, what I've heard they are predominantly road - dry tracks ok but muddy not so good.

I've had Battlewings on & like many people on here have found them to follow the white lines too much & not good off road.

So, sorry for adding yet another thread on tyres, however I have tried (honest) hope you can assist.

Keith

 

[bansk65]

The MEFO tyres at ZEN overland get a good write up, a couple of guys i know have them on ther KToom 990's, and rate them. Also the Heidenau scouts are a good tyre. I personally have the TKC's fitted and never had a problem with them.