► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

[Dean]

Picking up my F8GS next week, and am not starting to think about tyres....

Have anyone actually tried the Mitas E-07's on the F8GS, I'm a bit worried about some of the few reviews I can find say that they are not that fun in the wet.....

Casper

waiting, tick folows tock follows tick but worth it great bike

I would imagine they are not that good in the wet on tarmac, as I thought they was off road big stiley biased and therefore a harder compound but its just an assumed stab in the Dark . assumption

All the best for next week with the F8 awesome bike

 

[SERVDAVE]

Picking up my F8GS next week, and am not starting to think about tyres....

Have anyone actually tried the Mitas E-07's on the F8GS, I'm a bit worried about some of the few reviews I can find say that they are not that fun in the wet.....

Casper

I have had ni problems with the E-07 in the wet. I wouldn't say they are as good as a road tyre but i don't struggle with it. I do have a 650GS twin rather than the 800 but I can't imagine that making much difference.

If you have any more questions let us know!

 

[casperghst42]

Question about tyres (TL/TT)

Hi,

Coming from always have been on tube less wheels, I now have a dilemma. I need tyres for my 800GS, but almost anywhere I look online I only see TL tyres forsales (except for 18 and 21").

I started trying to figure out what the difference is between TL and TT, and got as far as TT will work a TL, but not wise versa - is that correct ?


Casper

 

[colint]

According to the Metzeler customer inmformation you can fit tubeless tyres on a tubed type rim providing you use Metzeler tubes. I run my F800GS on
90/90 - 21 M/C 54V TL tubeless on the Front
150/70 R 17 M/C 69V TL tubeless on the back

with tubes fitted I use Continental HD tubes no problems in 50,000 miles around 5000 to 5500miles for the pair with lots of abuse. I believe the highest miler Micky runs the same.

 

[casperghst42]

Right, thanks for the confirmation.


Casper

 

[Baldrick]

Dohhh!

I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to this... I have just got my F800Gs and from what I have just read the tyres have inner tubes... is that correct?

I HAVE JUST BOUGHT A TUBELESS "PLUG N GO " TYRE REPAIR KIT... DOHHH!



I JUST ASSUMED IT WOULD HAVE TUBELESS TYRES LIKE MY LAST 2 G.S's

 

[Timpo]

TL= Tubeless, but can be used with tubes for highway use.
TT= Tubed Type, can only be used with tubes for highway use.

 

[tosh23]

If it has a tube inside the tyre then the tyre plug you have bought will be useless, If you ride with friends then they might need it one day..
You need a patch kit ( like what you used to have on push bikes) or carry a brand new tube, one for the front and one for the back...Alto' the front will work on the back if you are very very desperate...
Im looking at a new tube for the wife's 650 single, All the numbers on all the different tubes are bloody baffling....good luck Tosh

 

[Baldrick]

If it has a tube inside the tyre then the tyre plug you have bought will be useless, If you ride with friends then they might need it one day..
You need a patch kit ( like what you used to have on push bikes) or carry a brand new tube, one for the front and one for the back...Alto' the front will work on the back if you are very very desperate...
Im looking at a new tube for the wife's 650 single, All the numbers on all the different tubes are bloody baffling....good luck Tosh

I will get a tube repair kit & use the co2 from the Stop n Plug kit. anyone know of a nice set of small tyre levers then?

 

[lllBlll]

New tyres

I'm not a big fan of the Bridgestone OEM tyres on my F8, particular the front wheel tyre. For me the tread is to small and shallow in the gravel to feel comfortable/stable in the turns. On my old Africa Twin I had the "old" Metzler tourance, and I really liked them, but as I understand they've changed the pattern a bit - tourance EXP. They seem more road orientated. Are there better choices than the tourance EXP with a bit rougher pattern, more like the old tourance? Or are the new ones as good as the old ones? (Knobblies are not an option for me.)

 

[Malcolm Leick]

There are huge threads somewhere else here with everyone's theory on the best tyre, but just a quick note to say that when I had Tourances fitted last year you could still get the the non exp version for the F650 twin.

I have been really impressed with them. I"m thinking of going for Heidenau K60 tyres for Iceland later this year as there will be a lot more miles off road. I emailed Viking Biking in Iceland and they suggested they would be best for the interior trails and that TKC 80s would be overkill.

I had TKC 80s on before the Tourances, and the Tourances have been so much better in the wet on tarmac and a hell of a lot smoother for long trips. They are also way more stable at high speeds. I"m hoping the Heidenaus don't affect the handling too much as apart from regular communting in the rain, most of my long trips involve a lot of miles on the black stuff to get to the interesting places.

 

[steve hughes]

I fitted std tourances early last year and can only applaud them them compared to the battlewings that came off . At 6K the battlwings squared offvto the extent motorway lane changes were very twitchy. 6K on with the tourances and they are about half worn, still profiled, not flattened and highly recommended. Ps im on a 650 twin

 

[Stonker]

I used to run Tourances when I had a GS and thought they were awsome. I now have Michelin PR3s on my little Kawasaki Versys which are awsome but I don't know if they'll fit your bike

 

[steve hughes]

Just looked on the metzeler site 2012 product range lists both versions tourance and t xp

Good luck

I fitted std tourances early last year and can only applaud them them compared to the battlewings that came off . At 6K the battlwings squared offvto the extent motorway lane changes were very twitchy. 6K on with the tourances and they are about half worn, still profiled, not flattened and highly recommended. Ps im on a 650 twin

 

[bansk65]

Mefo Explorers, on E-Bay or from Zen Overland, get cracking reviews. Theres a thread of someone going half way around the world on them, on one set. There German origin so should be shit hot.

 

[casperghst42]

Mefo Explorers, on E-Bay or from Zen Overland, get cracking reviews. Theres a thread of someone going half way around the world on them, on one set. There German origin so should be shit hot.

The problem is that the MEFO's are only available in 130/80-17 no 140 or 150...



Casper

 

[lllBlll]

Yes it seems that they still produce the old tourance, but for some reason when one uses the search function on the Metzler home page to find tires to ones specific bike, only the EXP version comes up for the F8...

 

[Jonnie Boy]

Yes it seems that they still produce the old tourance, but for some reason when one uses the search function on the Metzler home page to find tires to ones specific bike, only the EXP version comes up for the F8...

You can get the origional tourances for the F8! they wont come up in the search because they're a lower speed rating than recomended.

This is not a problem, the off roady tyres like the Heidi, TKC's are lower rated. I belive its ok if there is a visable note on the bike noting the top speed as dictated by the tyres fitted.

In the case of the tourances I doubt it'd make alot of differance unless you really had to be doing 130mph everywhere!

Have run the Anakees mostly on mine not tried the Tourances on the F8 but used them on my 1200 had no probs.

 

[gordh]

F800GS tube blow out

Hi all,

would like to find out if anyone on the site has heard of or has experience with a front tube blow out on F800GS. It happened to me on Friday, travelling at 130kph, when 'pop' and the bike developed a mind of its own and started weaving across the road. Fortunately we were on a straight, deserted stretch at the time. No oncoming traffic. After some violent tank-slapping of bars I managed to keep her upright and balanced, pulled the clutch and let the bike loose momentum of her own accord. No brakes or changing down, just complete concentration on staying on two wheels. She was still in 6th when we loaded her onto the tow truck. I can honestly say it was the most frightening experience of my entire life, and that has spread over more than half a century I was using Heidenhau K60 Scouts which I've been informed have a very strong sidewall and standard BMW tubes. Tubes and tyres covered no more than 6,000km. The front rim has no marks on it at all, and the tyre is still in one piece. The reason for the blow out is a mystery, however the spoke heads on the inside of the rim are not covered in anyway and some are not seated correctly and protruding. BMW tell me they don't apply any sort of covering to the spoke heads.
Any thoughts or experiences you may wish to share would be highly welcome.
I'm fortunate and gratefull that someone was looking down on me on Friday 23/03.

 

[rce]

Bloody hell ....

New I had a good reason not to like tubed tyres.