Lots of good info on the search (Holy crap GSjack, how the heck do you know so much about tires??? LOL), but nothing specific to this question. 

Any difference good or bad going from 130-70-17 Battlax BT-45 rear to a 140-70-17?  I can get the 140 for the same price... also how is the price of 159.95 for a tire including installation?

Thanks!

Johnny

$160 not too great, depends on how much you're willing to pay for less hassle. That tire online you can get for $90-100. Gotta pay shipping though. From Chaparrel it'd be about $100 shipped. Plus $20 - $25 for installation (seems to be the going rate), you're looking at $125 total.

Usaually you can get better deals for tires online from various vendors or ebay, but I've found that most bike shops are reluctant to mount them. When it's busy (spring and summer)  many shops are too busy to mount tires that you bring in, since they're overloaded with mounting tires that people have bought through the shop. If they will mount your tire they'll probally charge you twice as much for the mounting than if you bought the tire through them.

I'd call some shops and ask about getting them to order tires for you. In the end It'll be much less of a hassle to get the tires through the shop and probally won't cost too much more. Last time I got tires, I ordered them online for cheap but it was such a pain in the ass that I doubt I'll do it again.

You can also save a lot on mounting if you just bring in the wheels. I rode my bike to the shop and then removed the wheels in the parking lot  It only takes a couple minutes and saves lots of money.

Quote from: debtman7 on May 15, 2007, 12:45:42 PM
$160 not too great, depends on how much you're willing to pay for less hassle. That tire online you can get for $90-100. Gotta pay shipping though. From Chaparrel it'd be about $100 shipped. Plus $20 - $25 for installation (seems to be the going rate), you're looking at $125 total.

Yeah, it must be my area.  All the shops are ridiculously high.  The tire price at that shop is $159.95 but they throw in the mounting.  I told them their prices are nuts, going rate is $100 bucks shipped online.  They said fine, buy the tire it's $85 an hour for service.  Another shop is $176 mounted, and the local Suzuki dealer is $230!!!  What the hell is is with these guys???  I guess I'm stuck going for the $159.95.

Any insight on switching from 130 to 140 size?

I went from a 130 to a 140 without any problems. I think 150 is pointless and you start losing contact patch area but 140 works really well.

I don't think it's just your area, lots of shops don't like to mount tires you bring in.

You could get a set of tire irons and do it yourself.

The biggest difference between the 130/70/17 and 140/70/17 BT45 rear tires right now is in the price.  Bridgestone lists only the G Spec GS500 OEM BT45 tires in the 110/70/17 and 130/70/17 sizes now and they are selling cheaper.

AMT sells the 130/70 for $71.88 and the 140/70 for $91.93.  Tires Unlimited sells the  130/70 for $78.66 and the 140/70 for $101.07.  Plus shipping in both cases.  I can buy the 130/70 BT45 locally for $90.99 plus $19.00 mounting and balancing plus 6.5% Ohio sales tax.  About $117 out the door.  The 140/70 is $22 more locally.

I had no problem going from a 130/70 to a 140/80 or a 150/70 tire, never had a 140/70 yet.  Type of tyre made more difference in the handling than the size did.  Both the 140/70 and 150/70 tires have been sized for a 4" rim for years till now and would be equally off a bit in profile, the 150/70 no more than the 140/70.

Now the Demons and Roadriders in the 140/70 size are sized for a 3.75" preferred rim width making them an equally good fit on both the 3.5" and 4.0" rims.  Good news for GS & EX500 owners.  If I try the Roadriders it will be with the 140/70 rear. 

Quote from: Johnny5 on May 15, 2007, 01:29:31 PM

Quote from: debtman7 on May 15, 2007, 12:45:42 PM
$160 not too great, depends on how much you're willing to pay for less hassle. That tire online you can get for $90-100. Gotta pay shipping though. From Chaparrel it'd be about $100 shipped. Plus $20 - $25 for installation (seems to be the going rate), you're looking at $125 total.

Yeah, it must be my area.  All the shops are ridiculously high.  The tire price at that shop is $159.95 but they throw in the mounting.  I told them their prices are nuts, going rate is $100 bucks shipped online.  They said fine, buy the tire it's $85 an hour for service.  Another shop is $176 mounted, and the local Suzuki dealer is $230!!!  What the hell is is with these guys???  I guess I'm stuck going for the $159.95.

Any insight on switching from 130 to 140 size?

Not just your area, most dealers are like that...

I ended up mounting and balancing them myself, wasn't too hard. I've never done it before and it only took a couple of hours including wheel removal. Plus, ya know, never hurts to acquire a new skill

How do you balance a tyre yourself?

Quote from: galahs on May 16, 2007, 10:48:16 AM
How do you balance a tyre yourself?

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=34754.0