Black Round Hoop Choice

[Moomin66]

Hi All,

Can anyone empart their knowledge and wisdom on tyre choice?

After a fantastic week enjoying Devon and Cornwall 'sur la 1200GSA' - I am feeling a bit uncertain about the front end now the temps are falling, the small lanes are staying damp under the tree canopy and the Tractors! - (I thought muck spreading was supposed to be contained in the field!)

Any way - I have an Anakee on the front and an Anakee 2 fitted to the rear which is only about a third worn but the front is up for a change - can anyone recommend a suitable tyre to complement the rear Anakee 2 that can give a bit more grip and feedback in the winter months taking into account that a lot of my riding is enjoying the blissful loneliness of country lanes and back roads with some muddy patches in-between to join the dots.

My local Beemer dealer has advised on a front Tourance to compliment the Anakee 2 rear end which should not give any compatability issues.

If my expectation of geting a bit more feed-back and grip from the front is a bit high - then please let me know - this is my first season on a 1200GSA going into the winter months - the spring and summer time has been a wonderful Honeymoon period but I would like to enter into domestic bliss feeling surefooted and confident

TTFN

 

[Schtum]

If my expectation of geting a bit more feed-back and grip from the front is a bit high - then please let me know -

Your expectation is a bit high......

....especially if you're trying to obtain it by changing tyres.

How old's the bike - does it have ESA?

 

[Moomin66]

Black Hoop stuff

Your expectation is a bit high......

....especially if you're trying to obtain it by changing tyres.

How old's the bike - does it have ESA?

Hi Schtum

'07 model, no ESA, rear preload highest with damping adjusted to suit - (with me being a chubby chap + 2up), front lowest to make the bike turn a bit sharper. The only thing I have not played with too much is the tyre pressures but I have experience that if the pressures are lower, it sems to feel (more) vague in high speed corners. My previose knowledge/experience would be to lower the tyre pressure to get the rubber working a bit harder to grip the road but that doesn't seem to get me anywhere - i.e less feedback/stability.

Cheers

 

[Mr K]

Tele-lever bikes are often criticised for lack of feedback, because of the reduced "dive" of the set-up.

 

[Schtum]

'07 model, no ESA, rear preload highest with damping adjusted to suit - (with me being a chubby chap + 2up), front lowest to make the bike turn a bit sharper.

You seem to have got that sorted with the possible exception of the front preload. On my pre ESA bikes I used the second notch from min. preload on the front and that was for me riding solo and c. 13 stone kitted up. If you're carrying more weight you might want to experiment with the second or third notch on the shock preload.

The only thing I have not played with too much is the tyre pressures but I have experience that if the pressures are lower, it sems to feel (more) vague in high speed corners. My previose knowledge/experience would be to lower the tyre pressure to get the rubber working a bit harder to grip the road but that doesn't seem to get me anywhere - i.e less feedback/stability.

I wouldn't deviate much from 36/42 F&R.

 

[t'other dave]

Put a Anakee 2 on the front, The front end on these things dont give much feedback anyway.