Road Tyres 4 a R1150 GS ADV ????

[WaresR1150GS]

Hi, Ihave been running Metzeler Tourances on all my GS. since the T66 was withdrawn years ago...... however it has come to my attention that my only contact with off roading recently was when earthmovers had covered the road with so much mud i had a little off (feb 2008 - another story - solicitors in charge of that one!)....yes the off roading kinda became on road off riding!!
All my skills from the frequent BMW off road skills courses failed me!

Sorry waffle... the topic.
WHICH TYRES FOR ROAD USE ON THE BMW R1150GS Adventure SE 2005 ?


Use is:-
commuting 50 miles in and out of the smoke.
IAM Observing, Herts various,
weekends away, touring, one up
Track skills (novice instructor but still need to stick, I am not "that" slow and have been very very impressed with the tourance!)

Ride Mag tyre review Aug 2006 says:-
if you ride on the road look for a sports touring tyre.....
Avon Azaro ST
Bridgestone BT020
Continental attack
Dunlop D220ST
Metzeler Roadtec Z6
Michelin Pilot Road
Pirelli Scorpion Sync

Admittedly the article is from 2006.....so some of these may not be available or will defo have been replaced.

I have no idea....
Suggestions pretty please........
Thanks in adavance (and apols coz I am sure this will have been asked b4 but I couldnt find a thread)

 

[XboxSteve]

Start here...

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32096 This is our Tyre FAQ from the section called "The Font of All Wisdom".

After that, put the kettle on and hit the Search button and get reading

I used to have a standard 1150GS with Tourances on which I got used to and quite liked, but saying that, other tossers will like something else. I guess you can use what you find on this forum as a guide, but really, it's down to you and how you ride, etc.

Nowadays I have an 03 1150gs with 17" alloys on it and Roadtec Z6's.
This set-up is totally different to my previous bike so at the minute I'm not sure if I'll stick with these tyres or try the 020s r 021s next time i need to change them.

Good luck whatever you go with

 

[WaresR1150GS]

Thanks dude, the reading will commence... wheres Wares specs ?

 

[WaresR1150GS]

Had a v quick scan.... looks like tourances will stay...Have done Cadwell, Mallory, Rockingham and some place in deepest south Wales on them and it seems my opinion is upheld by the majority (ish)
This the quick view opinion!
Thanks again

 

[GhostCav]

Just stick some TKC's on, you will probably still be quick on them!

However I liked the anakee's that were on the bike when I had it, seemed a little nicer on road to me than my tourences.

 

[motobiker]

Pilot Roads.

Continental road/trail attacks. (trail is a definite misnomer btw)

I have BT020s on my bike right now.. and its been transformed. I never go off road.

next time round will be a choice of the above 3. Definitely NOT tourances.

In fact the bike has been so transformed by the addition of 'road' tyres I am seriously considering taking it one step further and swapping the wheels for Cast... which will increase my options considerably. Also turning a great bike into a fantastic bike.

 

[littleredrooster]

Thing is, and this is just my humble opinion, both Tourances and Trail Attacks give you enough grip to drag the undercarriage almost at will. Why then would you want to pay more for something which won't last as long?

 

[Grim Rider]

Mine had BT020s when I bought it and used those for first couple of years before switching to Tourances - happy with both (ride mainly on road but went round Morocco on the Bridgestones) main difference has been fact that Tourances last twice as many miles so I would recommend sticking with those, but I am uncertain as to whether the new Tourances last as well.

 

[motobiker]

Thing is, and this is just my humble opinion, Tourances give you enough grip to drag the undercarriage almost at will. Why then would you want to pay more for something which won't last as long?

Not tried the Conti's so removed em from your quote.

I have though tried the Tourances and one word sums them up - DULL. I think the clue is in the name. TOURance. Great tyres for Touring.. wont deny that. But Touring isn't exactly an exciting pastime is it? Fully loaded and usually Two-up. Hours spent on Motorways and Autoroutes to get to where you're going. Dull riding demands a dull tyre and thats what a Tourance is.

In my daily/weekly round I never use the Motorway system and I avoid as much as possible Dual A-roads. So why do I need Tour tyres?

The 020's I have, have already surpassed what I was told to expect from them.. only slightly squared and I blame that on my occasional trips to Brum and using the M6/M42/A42/M1 to get back home fast late at night.

I'm not obsessed with longevity though from my tyres. If they last 2 summers and 2 winters thats fine.

If my riding changes and I'm forced to use the Mway. or D/C. or go abroad on a long tour then TOURances would be high on the list. But until then - no thanks.

just to add.. even the write up on Metzelers own website makes these tyres sound dull.

Improved carcass structures for enhanced straight line stability at high speed with smooth rolling characteristics for long distance journeys
Perfect combination of long mileage capability and great traction also on light off-road surfaces thanks to the specific compound
Great grip with light and precise handling make riding easier in all weather conditions

another couple of adjectives - 'Adequate' and bloody noisy.

 

[littleredrooster]

Not tried the Conti's so removed em from your quote.

I have though tried the Tourances and one word sums them up - DULL. I think the clue is in the name. TOURance. Great tyres for Touring.. wont deny that. But Touring isn't exactly an exciting pastime is it? Fully loaded and usually Two-up. Hours spent on Motorways and Autoroutes to get to where you're going. Dull riding demands a dull tyre and thats what a Tourance is.

In my daily/weekly round I never use the Motorway system and I avoid as much as possible Dual A-roads. So why do I need Tour tyres?

The 020's I have, have already surpassed what I was told to expect from them.. only slightly squared and I blame that on my occasional trips to Brum and using the M6/M42/A42/M1 to get back home fast late at night.

I'm not obsessed with longevity though from my tyres. If they last 2 summers and 2 winters thats fine.

If my riding changes and I'm forced to use the Mway. or D/C. or go abroad on a long tour then TOURances would be high on the list. But until then - no thanks.

just to add.. even the write up on Metzelers own website makes these tyres sound dull.



another couple of adjectives - 'Adequate' and bloody noisy.

It's a shame that when you removed the rest of my quote you didn't read the rest of the text. Did you spot the bit about "...drag the undercarriage..."

Tourances are far from dull, my riding is far from dull. Come down off your high horse and join me for a ride sometime........and yes - I do sometimes use motorways, and yes - I do cover extensive mileages in Europe, and yes, my tyres are feathered to the edges.

And I cannot make my tyres last two summers and two winters; but, then again, I only do about 10,000 miles a year.

 

[motobiker]

It's a shame that when you removed the rest of my quote you didn't read the rest of the text. Did you spot the bit about "...drag the undercarriage..."

Tourances are far from dull, my riding is far from dull. Come down off your high horse and join me for a ride sometime........and yes - I do sometimes use motorways, and yes - I do cover extensive mileages in Europe, and yes, my tyres are feathered to the edges.

And I cannot make my tyres last two summers and two winters; but, then again, I only do about 10,000 miles a year.

left the bit about dragging the undercarriage out - because I wasn't sure what the feck you were going on about.

wasn't on any high horse... you gave your 'humble opinion' and I gave mine. Isn't that what this forum is all about? different opinions.

My bike and riding experience has been transformed since I stopped using Tourances. Nothing much I can add to that. Trail or road attacks are high on my list of tyres to try in the future. Tourances most definitely aren't. I do relatively low mileages because thats the way life is for me right now. too many responsibilities

 

[Stewart H]

Exciting tyres ? damn I threw out some old Pneumants a while back, now those were exciting
I will stick with boring old Tourances, boring in the dry, boring in the wet, I dont get to visit the nice tyre fitter chap that often so that contributed to the boredom of keeping my wallet firmly closed.
Stewart

 

[davegs]

Tourences

Boring tyres? me thinks this sounds like an "armchair expert" I have always used tourances (old type) with occasional kc80s for dirt roads. having had both footrests on the deck cornering how can these be dull? in fact I would think 90% of gs riders seem to use them so can't be all bad. looks like a harley fan so would he know about "exciting" biking anyway?.
Dave gs.

 

[Adventure Stu]

without getting envolved in any "disputes"

I have been running my 1150 Adv on Tourances for about a year now and have never had any issues. They certainly don't disappoint on my more spirited rides and have served me well around the coast of the UK and on a tour of the Ardennes last year. Added to which I have no doubts that they will be equally as good around Germany, Italy, France and Spain later in the summer. (All off 1 set of tyres!)

 

[tommymoto]

EXP's

has any one tried the Tourance EXP's yet? Just wondered how they compared against the regular Tourances.

 

[Markblox]

Tourance round Brands Hatch

Last Monday went round Brands on a pair of new Tourances and they never missed a beat. Went to the very edge on the right hand side and went past about ten of the 25 sports bikes on my 1150GSA. I think it pissed a few of them off! Great fun, great tyre.

 

[littleredrooster]

has any one tried the Tourance EXP's yet? Just wondered how they compared against the regular Tourances.

More grip (that you can't use) and far less mileage.

 

[Wrinkly]

1150 gsa se, Tourances
1100s sport,Bt 020

My 1150 has tourances,for me in some situations there great,in others not so great.
Very narrow country lanes often with grass or gravel in the middle on these roads i really like them they feel very planted and secure.
Fast A roads with long sweepers and fast straights they also feel fine.
It's the B roads with tight twisties that i am not overly keen for these tyres,
i feel they are slow to turn in and the front end sometimes feels as though it is going to give way.
My 1100s has bt 020's it feels very twitchy on narrow lanes with gravel and grass on them but it feels brill on the tight twisty B roads.
I guess i'm trying to say that it's horses for courses and it depends on what you use your bike for. I would not put Tourances on my 1100s and i would not put 020's on my 1150gs.
Despite the fact that i am not keen on tourances in the twisty bits i do believe they are a good alround tyre.

Steve
they are a good aLround tyre

 

[Bronco Billy]

Have done thousands of miles on Tourance`s, Theyre a decent enough tyre in my opinion.
Put Pilot Roads on Last year and what a difference, they transformed the bike especialy on the twisties. They seem to move quicker and they saved me from what would have been an off when cranked over on a bend. Hit excess gravel put down on a repair spot. The back end went out what seemed like a yard, probably just a few inches. Was two up with panniers and luggage! My three mates behind me saw my slide and avoided the hazard. My mate just behind me on his 1100 said that if he`d been first he`d have been off.
Just my Two Penneth having ridden bikes for over Thirty Years.

 

[Brewers Whoop]

Got Conti Trail Attacks on my 1100. On tarmac, they are superb; all the grip and feel I want, wet or dry. They have the Continental dual-compound thing going on, so have harder rubber in the middle of the tread for wear resistance, and softer/grippier rubber towards the edges. Got 4000 miles on them now, and there is little sign of wear. IMO, as road tyres they are superior to - or at least, I prefer them to - the original-type Tourances.

But as someone pointed out earlier in the thread, the word 'trail' in the name is a bit misleading. They are Ok-ish in gravel, but useless on anything slippery. In my experience, Tourances - although still very obviously on-road tyres - at least make some attempt at grip if the going gets a wee bit snotty.