Tyres

[Keith Chapman]

Ok, they are black and round and keep your rims off the ground. But what is the preferred fitment to an 800GS.

Mine came with Anakees as OEM, but I am not convinced by them on damp roads, I have covered 1000s of miles with Tourance on my 1150 and felt more secure. I know the 800GS is a very different motorcycle to the 1150GS and Tourances my not suit it. So what do you recommend I try next?

 

[dibbs]

Hi Keith
I am also interested in your thread as I have just purchased a set of Metzeler Karoo 3's to try (currently have Anakee 2's fitted but want something a bit more off road) However I have just re looked at the order sheet and it says 'tubeless' on them! now have I made a terrible boob or can I run them with heavy duty inner tubes? hope its the latter and hopefully someone in the know can put me right.....

 

[JJH]

Put tubes in. Cue loads of replys saying you can't. JJH

 

[Keith Chapman]

Put tubes in. Cue loads of replys saying you can't. JJH

 

[earwig]

I run Tourance Next (at manufacturers pressures) on my 650. Great for road use, not sure about off road other than gravel

 

[wessie]

if you aren't going off road then don't bother with Adv tyres, get some sport touring ones such as the Michelin PR4

 

[SuperTed]

+1 on the Tourance Next. Currently coming up on 8000 miles on a set and they feel great in the dry and nice a secure in the wet, as well as still having loads of tread left.
Previously ran a couple of sets of Conti TrailAttack's. Nice tyre with plenty of grip but they didn't last as well as the Metzelers.
Most of the adventure type tyres are simply the manufacturers sport/touring rubber with a different tread pattern. So find a company whose tyres you like, and get their adventure or sport/touring tyre and enjoy the ride.
As for inner tubes; well the tyres might be tubeless but the wheels aren't. My F8GS has had tubes from day 1 with no ill effects what so ever.
Hope that helps
SuperTed

 

[mylovelyhorse]

I use Michelin Anakee 3 tyres. They have an excellent feel and grip very well, at our dry. The bike handles very smoothly, typing easily from side to side without the 'blocky' feel I found from other tyres. I got >12,000 miles out of my first set.

On my old R1150GS I used Tourances but I don't think I would fit them again.

 

[JJH]

if you aren't going off road then don't bother with Adv tyres, get some sport touring ones such as the Michelin PR4

I didn't know that they were avaible in 21 inch front. JJH

 

[wessie]

seems Bridgestone Battlewings or Conti TrailAttack are the closest you can get to a sport touring tyre in that size - I assumed the bike had 19" wheels

 

[snappo]

If you're fully on road, I'd highly recommend Conti Trail Attack 2, since I've had them on mine it's transformed the bike, absolutely brilliant!

 

[thefooleryoftom]

Had Contis on the my 1100 GS, cracking tyre. Felt much lighter and easier to chuck around than Metzelers, and only £140 a pair too.

 

[Gigsy]

I use Michelin Anakee 3 tyres. They have an excellent feel and grip very well, at our dry. The bike handles very smoothly, typing easily from side to side without the 'blocky' feel I found from other tyres. I got >12,000 miles out of my first set.

+1 - OK on fire roads too.

 

[Deleted account 181015003]

Mine came with the Pirelli Scorpions they grip ok on a dry road in the wet not too good and are useless off road and are about 3/4 worn out in 2800 miles so wont be buying them again.

 

[Nick V]

Just to clear up the 'Tubeless' issue: the next time you're at a BMW Motorrad dealership, have a look at all the F800GSs and F800GS Adventures on the sales floor.
You'll notice that most - if not all - tyres fitted to them are marked 'Tubeless'.
But you'll also notice that all have 'conventional'-pattern spoked wheels, with the spokes terminating at the rim's centreline, meaning that even though the tyres are rated for tubeless running, if you try to do so, the air will leak from the spoke nipples.
This is why all F800GSs and F800GS Adventures are equipped with tubes. (As an aside, this is the reason why these bikes cannot be equipped with RDC.)

Tyres marked 'Tubeless' can be used either in tubeless or tubed configuration. Do bear in mind, though, that running an inner tube does generate more heat throughout the tyre carcass than if there were no tube present - so the tyre's normal maximum-speed rating may not apply.

 

[dibbs]

Thanks Nick. Well they arrived today so im glad I haven't fu*&^d up there!!!

 

[de crowe]

Just to clear up the 'Tubeless' issue: the next time you're at a BMW Motorrad dealership, have a look at all the F800GSs and F800GS Adventures on the sales floor.
You'll notice that most - if not all - tyres fitted to them are marked 'Tubeless'.
But you'll also notice that all have 'conventional'-pattern spoked wheels, with the spokes terminating at the rim's centreline, meaning that even though the tyres are rated for tubeless running, if you try to do so, the air will leak from the spoke nipples.
This is why all F800GSs and F800GS Adventures are equipped with tubes. (As an aside, this is the reason why these bikes cannot be equipped with RDC.)

bang on! currently running pirelli's scorpion trail tubeless rated v with inner tube, not entirely convinced in the wet,

would not mind trying the heindau

 

[ahutcheon]

Thanks Nick. Well they arrived today so im glad I haven't fu*&^d up there!!!

Don't panic that the first half of the tread wears off the back one rather quickly (at least on my 1150), the wear rate slows considerably once it starts looking a bit thin. Great tyres, if you're happy to trade a little bit of tarmac performance for quite a lot of gain in the gravel and dirt.

 

[Reggie P]

De Crowe said ..... bang on! currently running pirelli's scorpion trail tubeless rated v with inner tube, not entirely convinced in the wet,

would not mind trying the heindau

I completely agree. My new ( 2014) F800GS is a nightmare on the Scorpion .I have had too many "moments " and have actually considered throwing them away ( after 3000 miles) and replacing them with the wonderful Michelin Anakee ( loved them on previous bikes) .

I have heard others ( the pace podcast in the USA) criticise Pirelli Scorpions , so its not just you and I who find discomfort and frustration with their grip.

By the way , the Dual Sport crowd in the USA love the Continental tyres too.

 

[bobbsy]

My 2010 F800GS came with Pirelli Scorpions - as others have said, I like them in the dry, but not in the wet. Then went for Metzeler Tourance (2nd version I think?) but while they were ok in general wet or dry, the front didn't give me loads of confidence.

Have just put on a set of Continental Trail-Attack 2, and they are fantastic - hands down the best of the three so far for feel wet or dry. Only have about 1000 miles on them so far so no idea yet of longevity. They felt very very strange the first day (they tip into corners very quickly) but I got used to that.