GSJack tire log

[UnSaniTiZ]

Can anyone link me to gsjack's tire log? I'm trying to decide between AM51/52s and pirelli sport demons for both front and rear. Anyone prefer one over the other?

Thanks
-UnSaniTiZ

PS. I've done about an hour of searching through old tire threads. Found a lot of useful stuff, but I can't seem to find gsJack's tire log atm.

[gsJack]

Tire info here in FAQ section:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=16501.0

My up to date tire log.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

In that FAQ thread Pablo quoted a list of the tires I've used and rated in order of preference but it's a bit outdated now.  I'm going to update it soon for that FAQ thread.

Will include my latest and best so far choice of tires; the Lasertec front with the Road Attack rear.  I call them Laserattacks.  One from Metzeler and one from Conti but they're a matched pair because they both come from Germany.   

[UnSaniTiZ]

thanks... ahhhh it is a hard decision for me

[Chuck]

I am going to try the Sport Demons first because they'll burn up quicker.  Then try the AM51/52.  That way I'll know the answer quicker than if I wait for the AM51/52 to wear out. 

[UnSaniTiZ]

yea I decided to go with the demons too, they're only a little more expensive... Too bad they wear out really quick

[gsJack]

The latest in bias ply sport touring tires with up to date construction including multi arc profiles and with the latest in tread compounds are the Metzeler Lasertecs, the Michelin Pilot Actives, and the Pirelli Sport Demons.  All are very good tires, come in GS500 OE sizes, and cost about the same ordered online.

I like the Lasertecs best because of my fondness for the Metz Laser type front tread pattern.  It's the only one to give me even wear all the way down where all of my approx 10 other bias and radial front tires cupped and/or bevelled badly on the GS's.  The Demons should be better handling but shorter lived than the Lasertecs or the Actives.

The Avon AM51/52 tires are different from these other three, a different tire for a different purpose.  Avon calls them a general purpose tire ideal for mid-sized commuter bikes.  I agree , they are an excellent commuter tire and a real bargain for that purpose due to their lower price and relatively long life.

They have modern tread compounds and stick pretty good but part of their longer life is achieved by giving the rear tire a square profile to start with and it got squarer as the miles added up.  I took my rear AM52 off at 9k miles although it would have gone quite a few miles further because it became extremely annoying throwing me around on the roads with construction grooves which were all over last summer (05).  I put a Lasertec rear on and it went over the same roads barely aware of the grooves.  Here's a couple pics of a new AM52 on a Ninja 500 rear wheel showing this profile:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/AM52-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/AM52-2.jpg

One more thing I should probably mention, there have been several reports of some head shake developing when new Demons were put on the Ninja 500. First on the old EXriders.com forum which seems to have folded after being hacked a couple times and then the problem arose again on the new Ex-500.com forum recently.  The Demon has been a favored tire with the Ninja 500 users and many have been used with no problems.  Also, I've not heard of such a problem with the Demons on the GS.

[gsJack]

Time to update my ranking of the many tires I've used on the GS500's.  Just my own personal opinions based on my experiences, your usage may vary. 

Tires I've used on the GSs so far and miles used:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelog.jpg

My ranking so far for my type of use:

1.  Metz Lasertec front with Conti Road Attack rear.  Tentative rating, see below.

2.  AV45/46 Avon ST radials

3.  Metz Lasertec bias sport touring

4.  MEZ4/Z2 sport touring radials

5.  ME33/ ME88 Metzelers for longer life with good handling.  Consider Lasertec/ME880 combo now for long life but gives very tall 130/90 or 140/80 rear tire.

6.  BT45

7.  AM51/52

8.  OEM Excedras

9.  K491 rear.  Very long lasting but too slick for GS500s handling.  Worked good on my previous old Hondas though. 

The ME33 front was the most even wearing front tire I've had on the GSs, most other fronts wore very unevenly for me.  Main reason for my trying the Lasertecs rather than the Demons or Actives, the front has the same ME33 type tread pattern.

The BT010 front was put on the 97 because it was immediately available locally and the more responsive handling of this sport radial is quite noticeable over the sport touring radials.  If you ride less miles per year or have lots of tire bucks, you might enjoy the all out sport radials although the rear tire size will be a compromise on our 3.5" wheels.

Now possibly the best of both worlds, the new Conti Road Attacks.  Conti's claim:  "giving the performance of a sports tyre and the mileage of a touring tyre."  I'm trying a Road Attack rear with a Lasertec front, my favorite front tire.  With over 2k miles on them so far I can confirm Conti's handling claim.  I find myself cornering faster now with the Laser/Attacks than I did with the sport touring radials or the pair of matching Lasertecs and doing so with ease and confidence.  I really don't expect the Road Attack rear to last the 13-14k miles the Avon and Metz sport touring radials did, but if they go the 10k miles at least that the Lasertecs did they will remain my first choice.  Final report next year on these.

[UnSaniTiZ]

Thank you such an informative post. I think I'll get lasertecs then, and i'll look into road attacks

[TragicImage]

Jack...

Don't you find your RoadAttacks to be sorta "dead", I mean, I can't read what my backend is doing for the life of me.

I will say that they grip to no end... and I intend to check that even more tomorrow...  but I can't get a good feel for the back end.


I'm running the 150/70 rear and the 120/70 front.

[gsJack]

Well, my rear Road Attack did feel a bit different at first but now after 2k miles on them I seem to know exactly what my rear is doing.  Give yours a bit of time.  When I was trying to decide which sport touring radial rear I wanted to try with the Lasertec front, I was considering another Z2 or another AV46 or the new Road Attack which my dealer had and which was priced below the Lasertec rear.  My final choice was influenced by the Canyon Chasers review of the Road Attack.  Their initial impressions of the Attack handling:

"First, I had an initial hard time getting used to the tires profile. They are different from anything I had run before. The tire tips in really quickly, but then the more you lean, the slower they tip in. This was weird at first, but after a few thousand miles on them, I don't want to go back. It is the unique profile of these tires that makes them shine. Extremely stable while going straight, similar to a Metzeler, really quick and light on the initial turn in, very similar to a Pilot Sport, but progressively more stable and planted as lean angles increase. I found this to inspire additional confidence"

They also compared the Road Attack's grip with the M-1 Sportecs they had used and felt they might even stick to the ceiling.     The Canyon Chasers review:

http://canyonchasers.net/reviews/accessories/road-attack.php

[Tang]

 CONTINENTAL ROAD ATTACK 150/70ZR-17 REAR      

CONTINENTAL ROAD ATTACK 150/70R-17 REAR

what is the difference between these two?

one has a 70zr and the other one has 70r

and is this the correct front tire size?   METZELER LASERTEC 120/70V-17 FRONT

[gsJack]

Conti makes 110/80R19 and 150/70R17 tires that are V speed rated for dual sport bikes like the V-Stroms that are mostly road bikes that are occasionally used offroad, I'm nor sure what the difference is besides the speed ratings but they usually sell for a bit less.  I used the regular street tire with the ZR rating.

I've only used 110/70 and 110/80 front tires on my GSs and never tried a 120/70 size.  I used the 110/80 Lasertec with the RoadAttack rear and like the way they wear evenly all the way down and don't cup and/or bevel badly like most of the other fronts I've tried on the GSs.  Here's pics of the tires after some milage:



As you can see, I like to ride the twisties in a spirited manner but am not burning off the edges of the tires.  Getting old I guess.     But they are not flat in the middle either from riding too many straight roads.   

The two Z4 front radials I tried wore out and were replaced before the sport touring radial rears were, they were down to the bottom of the tread grooves on the bevels while the middle of them had a lot of tread left:

[Tang]

thx a lot for the info gsjack

your a trouble saver haha

[qwertydude]

I burn through tires like no one's business as I ride pretty much 365 days a year, 3000 miles a month. So far most cost effective are the Kings tires, kt-9871 and 9872. But no one seems to carry it anymore. Decent traction and long life I get 10,000 miles rear and about 18,000 miles front. You can get a set for about $100.

[Tang]

dang bo for real?

anyone else have diffrent expiernce with diff tires

cons and bads?

[gsJack]

.................Kings tires, kt-9871 and 9872................Decent traction and long life I get 10,000 miles rear and about 18,000 miles front. You can get a set for about $100.

For decent traction and long life I think the Avon Roadriders are hard to beat right now, from a major maker and priced very nicely.  My local supplier has an oem size set for $133 plus sales tax, I bought the 110/80 and 140/70 sizes for about $14 more.  About $130 plus shipping for the oem sizes from AMT for an online example.

I have 13k miles on the rear now and it looks like it will go 15k miles before replacement.  Put the front on 3k miles after the rear so with about 10k on it now it looks like it has a long way to go yet.  Will put final miles on my log when they are used up.

Son JP used the oem size 110/70 and 130/70 Roadriders and got 13k from the rear.  He uses the bike for a commuter and does a lot of freeway miles.  Your miles may vary.   

[Tang]

since ur not using oem size is it harder to fit it on the rim?

and why aren't u using oem haha

i'm slowly learning

any tips or pointers before my friend looks at me and say i'm and idiot for buying the wrong sizes lol

[qwertydude]

Looks like imotorcyclestore.com has the Kings tires looks like it's only 80 bucks plus free shipping! Wow miles per dollar you can't beat that. It is a bit stiffer tire so you probably can't put the tire in yourself, even the tire machine at my local shop had a little difficulty mounting the tire as the bead didn't want to seat, plus it's a heavy tire. Took almost 3 ounces to balance. I'd say handlingwise it's a little slicker than the stock BT-45's but has quite a bit more life. You can deviate from stock sizes a little, I've seen people run 130/90-17 as it raises your effective gear ratio. Mine with 18 tooth front and 140/70 rears means at 65 mph I'm barely running 4500 rpm. Great for highway miles which my bike primarily sees plus my valves were just barely out of spec after 23000 miles of no valve adjustments.