I need a new back tire

[JohnS2R]

Hey guys,

recently bought a 2002 GS500 and I would like to replace the back tire, what are some recommendations?  

I have been hearing Bridgestone BT40s but came here for more opinions.  Also will only one size fit my rim or do I have options?  Currently on the back rim is a 130/70-17M 62H tire, Bridgestone Exedra.

This is the wife's bike, I just bought a red/white Ducati S2R, gonna be a fun summer in Houston!!!!!

[geekonabike]

Welcome!  I personally just put the original Bridgestones on my '98 and since I'm still only a couple years into riding (conservatively at that!) they seem fine enough to me.  But check out the search feature for the forum.  This comes up periodically.  You could even just scroll down the subject posts and find a recent thread on this if you like.

Good luck!
-Mike D.

[roguegeek]

I'm currently wearing an Avon AV46 on the rear wheel of my GS. Couldn't be happier. Would be interested to see what other people think of this tire too.

[Kerry]

I personally just put the original Bridgestones on my '98

since I'm still only a couple years into riding (conservatively at that!) they seem fine enough to me.

Honestly, I know what you mean.  But if/when you install BT45s you will go "Wow!" ... just like I probably will if I go from BT45s to one of the "more fancy" tires....  

That assumes that you take some good curves though.  If you do mostly straight-up riding then you may as well go cheap (Cheng Shin, Kenda, etc.)

[geekonabike]

I personally just put the original Bridgestones on my '98

since I'm still only a couple years into riding (conservatively at that!) they seem fine enough to me.

Honestly, I know what you mean.  But if/when you install BT45s you will go "Wow!" ... just like I probably will if I go from BT45s to one of the "more fancy" tires....  

That assumes that you take some good curves though.  If you do mostly straight-up riding then you may as well go cheap (Cheng Shin, Kenda, etc.)

Yeah, I'm starting to enjoy leaning into curves more, and also discovering that area on the tach between 7K and 10K, though I don't really speed .  But when I got the bike it needed a lot of little stuff done, :x and I found a decent deal on the original spec Bridgestones.  So now I'm stuck with them for some thousands of miles until I have a good excuse to change them out.  Kind of like my 800MHz Athlon I've had almost five years.  At the rate I put miles on the bike the tires will croak from age before the treads are too worn.  Thanks for the tip though.  Considering the source I'll take it more seriously.   If I get the craving I'll bump them up, but not for at least a year I think.

[Mat]

Kind of like my 800MHz Athlon I've had almost five years.

i just moved up from a celeron 333Mhz
now i got my new Athlon 64 with a whole bunch of other goodies and it rocks