Do you know of a cheap tire designed for a long life?
I bought my rear tire last year and already need to replace it. bald as a marble. I have a spare silver rim with a few miles on it so i'm gonna run that for a while.
I ride the GS everyday, everywhere, rain or shine. although I own 3 cages. I just prefer the bike.
sport touring tires are what you want. long life at the expense of high lean angle stickiness...
The sport touring tyres are actually quite grippy and you shouldn't have a problem with them. To save money buy the tyres mail order and take them to the mechanic to fit them.
What was the tire that you have now?
Cheap tires aren't nessisarily long lasting. Plus expensive tires are alot cheaper than parts and hospital bills...
I really liked Dunlop D205s, thier previous gen. sport-touring tire. Comes in GS sizes and sticks/lasts very well.
Not having much to compare it to, but the Bridgestone's on the 2005 GS500F BT45's seem to be a good tyre compromise.
Do they make cheap tires?
I put a pair of BT 45s on my bike. I've used everything but the last 1/2 inch on either side, and I've never had a problem. I got them based on their longevity. They weren't what I'd consider cheap. I'm sure they were less than Sport Demons though.
The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same. Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:
BT45 $85
Lasertec $98
Demon $90
Activ $89
The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction. The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.
http://www.americanmototire.com/
The 150/70 sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:
Diablo Strada $110
Z6 $120
Pilot Road $122
Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.
There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the sport touring bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:
D404 $51
S-11 $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=
Revised prices, they are more everytime I look. :) I always check price at several places after deciding which tire I want.
Can you get a radial in our stock sizes.
From searching this forum I noticed most say you have to upgrade to a 140 rear. Correct?
Quote from: runsilent on April 22, 2006, 07:09:55 AM
The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same. Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:
BT45 $85
Lasertec $90
Demon $85
Activ $89
The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction. The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.
http://www.americanmototire.com/
Sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:
Diablo Strada $98
Z6 $109
Pilot Road $114
Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.
There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the ST bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:
D404 $51
S-11 $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=
So what do you think of the oversized tires on the rear? I know a lot of board members don't care for them. I know that I got the BT45's because GSJack said that they were a good overall tire, and they came in 130/70. I avoided the bigger tires because I keep hearing that the wider tire causes the bike to fall into turns pretty badly. It already does that for me, so I don't think it needs any help.
Quote from: galahs on April 22, 2006, 07:20:19 AM
Can you get a radial in our stock sizes.
From searching this forum I noticed most say you have to upgrade to a 140 rear. Correct?
Can't get OE size radials in this country for GS, must get 130/80, 140/80, or 150/70 to properly fit our stock 3.5" wheels.
Quote from: Egaeus on April 22, 2006, 07:27:32 AM
Quote from: runsilent on April 22, 2006, 07:09:55 AM
The bias ply sport touring tires in OE sizes are all priced about the same. Last time I looked, a rear at AMT was:
BT45 $85
Lasertec $90
Demon $85
Activ $89
The BT45 was/is a good tire but the other 3 are all more up to date in materials and construction. The BT45 is getting a bit dated now.
http://www.americanmototire.com/
Sport touring radials will give you about 50% more life for a little more cost:
Diablo Strada $98
Z6 $109
Pilot Road $114
Can be cheaper in the long run considering shipping, mounting, and balance costs.
There are a couple of older model tires that will give you decent handling and longer life than the ST bias tires if you are a commuter and not a peg dragger with very good prices at Chaparral:
D404 $51
S-11 $66
These are 130/90 sizes and will raise the rear of your bike about 1" over OE sizes.
http://www.chaparral-racing.com/Chaparral/dept.asp?dept_id=456&mscssid=0C337EFBD88984B99963AA0CAEFB8CF5&Gift=false&GiftID=
So what do you think of the oversized tires on the rear? I know a lot of board members don't care for them. I know that I got the BT45's because GSJack said that they were a good overall tire, and they came in 130/70. I avoided the bigger tires because I keep hearing that the wider tire causes the bike to fall into turns pretty badly. It already does that for me, so I don't think it needs any help.
My opinions are the same as gsJacks.
Quote from: runsilent on April 22, 2006, 07:36:16 AM
My opinions are the same as gsJacks.
I came on just as GSJack left, so it's good to have someone as knowledgeable about tires and the GS in general back on the board. ;)
Quote from: runsilent on April 22, 2006, 07:36:16 AM
My opinions are the same as gsJacks.
I suspected they might be :) On an unrelated note I need to have a valve guide replaced on my head. I know GSJack posted a while back about the same problem. Does anyone know if he was able to replace it himself? I wonder if he would have any advice about the procedure? A PM would be great so this topic doesn't get hijacked.
-M
Thanks Guys :thumb:
I knew someone would know. :cheers:
Quote from: Mandres on April 22, 2006, 08:15:00 AM
Quote from: runsilent on April 22, 2006, 07:36:16 AM
My opinions are the same as gsJacks.
I suspected they might be :) On an unrelated note I need to have a valve guide replaced on my head. I know GSJack posted a while back about the same problem. Does anyone know if he was able to replace it himself? I wonder if he would have any advice about the procedure? A PM would be great so this topic doesn't get hijacked.
-M
The valve guide was not replaced. It was an exhaust valve guide and approx half the diameter was broken off down to the head surface; half still project out full length. After Bob B pointed out that racers ground off all of the valve guide protruding into the port, I decided to let it go as is. That was Apr 05 and bike has over 14k more miles on it now and runs better than ever.