Sprocket size and Fuel Mileage

[quiktaco]

I don't see the advantage of going to a taller tire.  (besides being another way to change gearing for commuting).  It seems that it's no advantage because it changes gearing, and it is probably at least 1 extra pound in rotating mass for each wheel.  Wouldn't it be better to have stock tires and change the front gear to a 17 or 18 tooth than going with taller tires?

[gsJack]

I ran mostly Dunlop touring tires on my 4 Hondas and they came in 90 profiles and I got 25-30k miles and more on my 400-750 cc bikes with these touring tires.

I tried a MT90-17 (equiv to 130/90-17) Dunlop K491 on my 1st GS500 and found the bike wanted to corner faster than the tire did.  Ran it about 18k miles till it got a non-repairable puncture.

Before that I ran a 130/90-17 Metz ME88 that went about 17k miles to the wear bars and it was much better on the GS than the K491, it stuck about as good as the BT45 I had before it and lasted much longer.

The ME880 in the 140/80-17 size is a real big 140/80 and actully a bit taller than the 130/90 ME88.  As I recall, the 130/90  ME88 is 666 mm dia and the 140/80 ME880 is 669 mm dia.  The only reason to run these tires is to get the better touring tire type milage and you can get better handling and about 14k miles from sport touring radials on the GS, the 130/80-17 Z2 is still available.

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