New Tyres Fitted Unbelievable

Rushy · Mar 29, 2020

I know Some like the rufty tufty adv tyre look but like many I spend 99% of my time on road so I stuck a set of Bridgestone T30 Evos on my CT and that transformed the handling . They were also on offer at the time which made them about £70 less than a pair of the Roadtecs which I was going to try.

I really wanted to put another set of T31 Evos on but I needed a rear quickly couldn’t get the Evos and had to go for PR5s Trail in the end. They don’t inspire as much confidence when you are really pushing it like the Evos did, seem to turn slower and I can’t run at the same angle of lean.

r1happy · Mar 29, 2020

Njw1967 said:
Obviously not a 1250 GS unless your running a 17” front wheel

It is and I am. Also got a 180 rear. Waiting for my dealer to reopen to fit an RS swinging arm, so I can put on a 6” rear for a 190 tyre.

Giles · Mar 29, 2020

Rushy said:
I know Some like the rufty tufty adv tyre look but like many I spend 99% of my time on road so I stuck a set of........

I have just never understood that either. I just don't get why anybody, who doesn't go off road, would ride around all year on anything other than pure road rubber. Of course, tyre choice is limited - my 1190R had a 21, 90, 90 front and the choice was pretty limited. Rode Trail attacks mostly.

(Pic just for Stick .... xx)

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-BB6bWQd/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-BB6bWQd/1/268b6e91/L/IMG_3116-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-C7Gx7Sx/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-C7Gx7Sx/0/bb403355/M/001-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

stick · Mar 29, 2020

Giles said:
I have just never understood that either. I just don't get why anybody, who doesn't go off road, would ride around all year on anything other than pure road rubber. Of course, tyre choice is limited - my 1190R had a 21, 90, 90 front and the choice was pretty limited. Rode Trail attacks mostly.

(Pic just for Stick .... xx)

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-BB6bWQd/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-BB6bWQd/1/268b6e91/L/IMG_3116-L.jpg" alt=""></a>

<a href="https://gileslamb.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-C7Gx7Sx/A"><img src="https://photos.smugmug.com/Backtoschool/i-C7Gx7Sx/0/bb403355/M/001-M.jpg" alt=""></a>

Well done Giles , was that on a track day due to contstant rubber rub up , if not , I will be selling my bike...Picture two looks more road

Giles · Mar 29, 2020

That was in France but to be fair it was the hottest day of the year (like, Heat wave) and you could barely put your hand on the floor it was so hot ....

stick · Mar 29, 2020

Giles said:
That was in France but to be fair it was the hottest day of the year (like, Heat wave) and you could barely put your hand on the floor it was so hot ....

Fair play tho , I remember riding up to Millau from Spain ,the roads were melting that day , think it got to to 43 degs it was like riding on hot mud
Right : R1250 for sale :beerjug:

Spareparts · Mar 29, 2020

r1happy said:
Njw1967 said:

Obviously not a 1250 GS unless your running a 17” front wheel

It is and I am. Also got a 180 rear. Waiting for my dealer to reopen to fit an RS swinging arm, so I can put on a 6” rear for a 190 tyre.

Click to expand...

So with the RS final drive, that would give an extra c.15% speed in every gear. I have long wanted to do this to address the slightly too short GS-gearing for fast road touring. Look forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts once you’ve done the swap.

stick · Mar 29, 2020

Spareparts said:
r1happy said:

So with the RS final drive, that would give an extra c.15% speed in every gear. I have long wanted to do this to address the slightly too short GS-gearing for fast road touring. Look forward to hearing your feedback and thoughts once you’ve done the swap.

Click to expand...

Does the Rs get rid off the offset which happens with the conversion out of interest as higher speeds with the wheels out of line may not be good , only asking as have hear this can cause handling issues .
Conversion does look good

r1happy · Mar 29, 2020

stick said:
Spareparts said:

Does the Rs get rid off the offset which happens with the conversion out of interest as higher speeds with the wheels out of line may not be good , only asking as have hear this can cause handling issues .
Conversion does look good

Click to expand...

Yes it does sort the offset. I have had no issues with the handling on standard swingarm with Michelin Power RS sports tyres and no chicken strips, but it is noticeable to look at from the back.

I had a long discussion about the swingarm with the workshop supervisor at my dealers last Sat. We had a GS and RS side by side and there is a definite kink outwards on the RS swingarm that the GS doesn’t have The RS has a 180 back as standard and the wheels are in line. He checked part numbers and they are different.

I love the comfort and engine braking on the GS, and the lack of fork dive from the telelever. I only ride on the road so I want quicker sharper handling from a 17” front wheel and grippy sports tyres. After 3 R1’s, a Gixer 1000K5, a ZX10 and a bad back, I basically want a comfy twin cylinder sports or sportier bike.
I had a KTM 990 SMT and a Multi 1200, but prefer the GS to both.

Its my third LC GS and this one is a keeper so it has had lots of mods. RT wheels, paintwork, seat, lights, Ohlins TTX without ESA, Akra headers with Remus can, and a Hilltop remap.

It already looks the dogs danglies in my eyes, and the swingarm change with a 6” rear wheel with a 190 M9rr Metzeler should just about finish the project.
Or will it?

Giles · Mar 29, 2020

got any photos ..?! :thumb2

r1happy · Mar 29, 2020

Giles said:
got any photos ..?!

They don’t show the crash bars and attached lower day running lights that have been fitted. . The upper ones are programmed for main beam only.

Giles · Mar 29, 2020

Looking good ....

I am a big fan of the tele lever front end and the boxer engine. For real road riding, the boxer engine gives you that torque / grunt right where and when you need it. Couple that with good suspension and you get a very very good road bike.

(Happy with my 790 Duke though ....

)

Rudolph Hart · Mar 29, 2020

R1Happy's 1250GS does look nice. :beerjug:

Not ridden the 1250, but I agree that the boxer engine & tele lever front end combine to make a really good road bike. Not tried the 790 Duke either, but I'm sure that's also a cracking bike.

Enjoy whatever you ride & stay well. :thumby:

younger06 · Mar 29, 2020

That's a very tasty looking bike...........would really like to try it.
I would imagine that it's a fantastic handling bike.

from my G8 ThinQ

CPJS · Mar 29, 2020

Giles said:
Looking good ....

I am a big fan of the tele lever front end and the boxer engine. For real road riding, the boxer engine gives you that torque / grunt right where and when you need it. Couple that with good suspension and you get a very very good road bike.

(Happy with my 790 Duke though .... )

What's the 790 like for longer rides? been toying with the idea of treating myself for bit of hooligan fun for the boys and toys trips. I have seen them for sale for bargain prices leaving room to spend money on suspension.

Giles · Mar 29, 2020

CPJS said:
What's the 790 like for longer rides? been toying with the idea of treating myself for bit of hooligan fun for the boys and toys trips. I have seen them for sale for bargain prices leaving room to spend money on suspension.

https://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php/520223-790-Duke

So one of the themes of the above thread was this idea of down sizing and that I wasn't doing the long and big trips anymore. (for the moment - that might change next year with retirement).

At the moment, my riding is a days coaching or a spank with the boys and for that its absolutely great. I think my longest day has been a trip to Bahnstormers, coach, come back - so maybe a 10 hour day. At 6'00 I can't remember being desperate to unpeel myself from the bike at the end of that day, or having achy knees.

What I haven't done is any overnight trips on it yet. I have a kreiga bag set up on the pillion seat (usually compressor and puncture repair kit for Rapid days) and could certainly pack enough stuff for a few days away with the boys. I don't see it as a two up bike for me and the missus in any shape or form.

Probably the biggest change that I've had to get used to is the tank range. I think its probably good for about 130 miles, but the reality is that 100 miles in and you're getting jittery and looking for a garage. That is quite a pain if i'm honest. If I go for a spank and meet my crew, I have to go with a full tank other wise half way round my ocd will kick in and i'll be worrying about gas !! (luckily we always meet at a petrol station).

So in a nut shell .... very happy. The quick guys I ride with are on multistrada's, Blades, and one on an Africa Twin (which does well!! It's there when we're caning it!!). The 790 has absolutely no problem in that company. The Multi makes 50bhp but you wouldn't know that or see it. You might just detect on a long straight that bike getting away by 20 or 30 metres, but come the next corner you're back on his wheel simply because the bike is so agile and light that it, i/ takes less effort to get that power down and ii/ can generally take a corner with more entry speed than the bigger heavier 1200's which need a bit more setting up.

Its been a very interesting experience pitching different bikes (all riders a very similar standard) against one another. And it really goes to show how road and track are just not comparable. If I did a track day on this then a similar standard rider on a Blade / R1 would just blow this away. But on a public road (albeit we are naughty in the nationals - nadgery stuff, not three figure wide A roads) there is just nothing in it with all the bikes. A good lesson in 'Its the rider, not the bike'!

For £7,995 (which is what I paid) I think you get a lot of bike for the money.

(New multi knocking on 19k ??!!!!).

r1happy · Mar 29, 2020

I have seen loads of sports bikes at bike meeting places that have chicken strips almost as wide as the central worn part of the tyre. Quick in a straight line but rubbish as soon as a bend appears. Amazing how many bikers have no idea how to read the severity of a blind bend.

younger06 · Mar 29, 2020

r1happy said:
I have seen loads of sports bikes at bike meeting places that have chicken strips almost as wide as the central worn part of the tyre. Quick in a straight line but rubbish as soon as a bend appears. Amazing how many bikers have no idea how to read the severity of a blind bend.

My Dad..... Lord Vader...... thought me to use the Force.

from my G8 ThinQ

Winjar · Mar 30, 2020

r1happy said:
I have seen loads of sports bikes at bike meeting places that have chicken strips almost as wide as the central worn part of the tyre. Quick in a straight line but rubbish as soon as a bend appears. Amazing how many bikers have no idea how to read the severity of a blind bend.

Very easy to read, if you fall off you read wrong.

Mallockman · Mar 30, 2020

Concur your conclusions Stick. I just replaced a worn pair of TA2's with the TA3's, my 1200GS felt like a different bike. Very confidence inspiring .

New Tyres Fitted Unbelievable

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