Tourance vs Tourance EXP my first impression

[snerkler]

Obviously this will be very subjective but I know people (including myself) often ask what the difference is. Well here's my experience after just fitting Tourance, having had EXP's on for the past 5500 miles.
The Tourance initially tip in much quicker than the EXP's (more than just the difference between a new tyre and a squared off one) which I found a little unnerving at first as it feels like the front will fold, and didn't inspire me with confidence. I also found that even though the Tourance tip in quicker they don't seem to go around the corner as well, almost as though they're trying to push on/run wide. I would like to point out at this time that I don't ride fast/hard, and have never got full lean angle. Another strange thing I noticed with the Tourance is that although they tip quicker, when it comes to slow maneouvres and using the bars to turn rather than leaning, the front suddenly becomes heavier and more difficult to turn.
When I first picked the bike up with shiny new EXP's on I felt at home on it straight away, and the bike did exactly as I wanted it to. Now I have the Tourances I'm teetering about like a novice on a new bike. Hopefully I'll get used to them as I can't afford to swap again any time soon, but when I do swap I'll probably go back EXP's, even though they don't last as long. I'd rather have the confidence in the tyre.
I've always known tyres affect the bike's handling, but I never realised just how much. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't experienced it for myself, especially on a bike like the GSA. This is the first time I've tried different tyres on a bike, as I've always replaced like for like before.

 

[Wicker]

My GS was supplied with EXP's from new. Tyres changed at 6,500 miles with the rear pretty squared off and down to maybe 1mm. Having now switched to the standard Tourance & run 600 miles+ I find them a noisier tyre and the rear slightly more prone to white-line squirm in the wet.

I might have been tempted to run the EXPs for a few more weeks and get up over 7K however given the amount of rain Scotland had in May I was glad of the extra tread on the new tyres.

 

[Big Nick]

Weird you describe this 'tipping in buisness', are you sure it wasn't just the newer tyre had a rounder profile and you'd got used to a worn one

I thought the tyres were exactly the same but the Exp had a slightly softer compound

 

[snerkler]

Weird you describe this 'tipping in buisness', are you sure it wasn't just the newer tyre had a rounder profile and you'd got used to a worn one

I thought the tyres were exactly the same but the Exp had a slightly softer compound

It could be the fact that it's a rounder profile but I've replaced tyres on other bikes and never noticed such a dramatic effect. And I've had more squared off tyres before also.
I don't know if the Tourance has a rounder profile? They definately have a different tread pattern, but how much that can account for it I don't know?

 

[ianran]

Its interesting to read your comments about tipping in, I've just replaced my Standard' Tourances with Anakees and have had the same experience. The Anakees see to tip in more, I have, however put it down to very old tyres being replaced. I must admit the Anakees on first impression seem easier to use at slow speeds and the bike feels better with them on.

I would be interested to see how you get on in a thousand or so miles, Ive always used Tourances but so far, on balance, I am glad Ive changed to Anakees.

 

[Yellow Peril]

Hated EXP's would never buy again, didn't buy by choice originally but never never again, wear way too fast and never felt as sure footed as the original Tourance in the wet.

Use conti trail attacks now and would never go back to Tourances in any form, the conti's have excellent wear rates, good in the wet very good in the dry, as to noise levels probably the same as an EXP. Finally IMHO better value for money.

 

[Paul Wakefield]

Hated EXP's would never buy again, didn't buy by choice originally but never never again, wear way too fast and never felt as sure footed as the original Tourance in the wet.

Use conti trail attacks now and would never go back to Tourances in any form, the conti's have excellent wear rates, good in the wet very good in the dry, as to noise levels probably the same as an EXP. Finally IMHO better value for money.

My feelings exactly.

Currently on EXPs, not from choice, and dislike them. Back to Trail Attacks next time.

 

[snerkler]

Hated EXP's would never buy again, didn't buy by choice originally but never never again, wear way too fast and never felt as sure footed as the original Tourance in the wet.

Use conti trail attacks now and would never go back to Tourances in any form, the conti's have excellent wear rates, good in the wet very good in the dry, as to noise levels probably the same as an EXP. Finally IMHO better value for money.

Interesting, thanks. I might give them a shot next time then. It's obviously all very personal though as I've heard some slate trail attacks, whilst others love them, same for Anekees

 

[snerkler]

Its interesting to read your comments about tipping in, I've just replaced my Standard' Tourances with Anakees and have had the same experience. The Anakees see to tip in more, I have, however put it down to very old tyres being replaced. I must admit the Anakees on first impression seem easier to use at slow speeds and the bike feels better with them on.

I would be interested to see how you get on in a thousand or so miles, Ive always used Tourances but so far, on balance, I am glad Ive changed to Anakees.

I'll do my best to remember to post my post 1000 mile impression

 

[snerkler]

Been on a longish run again today and I'm no happier with the Tourances, sometimes I could swear blind the bike feels as though it's 'crabbing' when going in a straight line, and that it's wanting to turn left ever so slightly. Now the probability is that it's just the tyres being more prone to influence from the road camber,but i can't get it out of my head that they haven't been fitted correctly. I've checked to make sure they're the right way around in terms of direction o rotation, and there is no obvious sign of deformity of the tyre. The tyres are 'seated' correctly too.
What's the easiest way to see that the wheels are 'true' ie aligned correctly?
I know there'll be the usual crowd who just say "stop maoning and ride the bloody thing", and I wish I could. It's just that I'm at such unease with them at the moment that I can't
I have to say though that they feel much better at 45mph plus, below this they feel awful imo.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Been on a longish run again today and I'm no happier with the Tourances, sometimes I could swear blind the bike feels as though it's 'crabbing' when going in a straight line, and that it's wanting to turn left ever so slightly. Now the probability is that it's just the tyres being more prone to influence from the road camber,but i can't get it out of my head that they haven't been fitted correctly. I've checked to make sure they're the right way around in terms of direction o rotation, and there is no obvious sign of deformity of the tyre. The tyres are 'seated' correctly too.
What's the easiest way to see that the wheels are 'true' ie aligned correctly?
I know there'll be the usual crowd who just say "stop maoning and ride the bloody thing", and I wish I could. It's just that I'm at such unease with them at the moment that I can't
I have to say though that they feel much better at 45mph plus, below this they feel awful imo.

There's the clue

Speed - what tyre pressures, BMW recommend 36/42 or thereabouts, if they're lower than that, it could be the source of the problem

Try them @ 36/42 and see if it's better, if it's still the same..................up the pressures to 40/48 and the handling probs may well disappear

Metzeler recommend higher pressures than BMW

 

[Wicker]

On the standard GS, BMW recommend:
2.2 and 2.5 Bar respectively if solo riding (i.e 32 and 36 PSI).
2.5 and 2.9 if riding two and /or with luggage. (i.e 36 and 42 PSI). All measured with tyres cold.

When riding solo I may typcially run 1 or 2 PSI above the BMW recommends however I would never run solo with tyre pressures as high as suggested in the previous post.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I would never run solo with tyre pressures as high as suggested in the previous post.

Why not, pray tell?

I have spoken to the factory Metzeler chaps many times at the Garmisch BMW event and they say 36/42 is too low in their opinion, as tyre manufacturer of Tourances

They recommend higher than BMW and they pumped mine up to 46/50 solo with luggage, when they investigated symptoms, as Snerkler describes with a new front Tourance in 2005 and the handling problem went away and the bike handled fine wet (very) or dry (seldom) during the rest of the 3000 mile tour

Don't believe everything you read from BMW

 

[T900]

have EXPs on mine from new and there is 12,000km (7,500 miles) on them, and there is still a good 2-3mm of thread left on the rear.
most riding is on motorway as a daily commute.

 

[snerkler]

I know I'm not the most clued up person sometimes as far the technical aspect of biking is concerned, but pressures was one of the first things I thought of
The pressures are as per BMW, and the same as I ran on my EXP's. On my commute home I tried to determine the cause of my issues, and the 'crabbing' and wanting to turn I believe is caused by the tyre being very 'sensitive' to the road surface and responds and tracks to every ridge, groove, camber etc. Just something to get used to, which I'm sure won't take long. The tipping in is again something I'll get used to, it just took me by surprise initially. It still catches me out a touch with slow speed maneouvres. The front feelsmore vague though, and it still feels heavier in slow speeds

 

[Dave h]

TOURANCE

Hi
My 1200 GSA came with exp from new, Did not feel that confident with them, the rear slipped several times with swmbo on the back, freaked her out, swapped to original tourance after 1000 miles , feel more confident in the wet with the old tourance, Def feel better on loose stuff, but do have more trouble turning the bike quick on small rounderbouts when out with a few mates, prob not that confident with the profile, you can ride off the edge very quickly on dual purpose tyres,May try dunlop roadsmarts next. will see


Dave

 

[forest biker]

I have to agree with jb regarding tyre pressure , i run mine at 38/44 and feel thats just right for me without any loss of confidence

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Snerkler, put the pressures up to 38/44....................what have you got to lose

I love normal Tourances, can't beat them

Had a 2 wheel drift yesterday on gravel, both wheels sliding at the same time...........good fun

 

[Packer]

I wore out about 6 - 7 sets of standard original Tourances in about 70,000 miles and loved them. They could feel flighty in the wet when you were leant over at that angle where the centre and side blocks interlock but they never completely let go. I had a real problem with them melting at the shoulder on a track day but they never let go. The Heidi K60 is a better tyre if you do significant off road and the Dunlop Roadsmart is a better dedicated road tyre but the Tourance is a brilliant 10,000 mile per set 80/20 maybe 90/10 road to off-road tyre.

 

[skywalker]

EXP's pah !! Tourances are the way to go. All tyres on GS' get the squared off profile after a bit hence the weird feeling through the bars. As JB said try higher pressures.
The suspension design of the boxer leads to the front tyre being worked harder than a conventional set up.
The centre section of the tyre squares off noticable whatever brand of tyre you use!