So I'm scouring all the stuff on here about tires and I think I'm more confused now then before I started.

I found some Dunlop GT501G that are made for the 250 Ninja and wondered what any may think on them or has them?

Seems to me the price is right and the ratings seem to be ok.

What do you GSers think?

Not familiar with that particular tire but I have been disappointed in the past with the wet traction of other Dunlop tires.

-Jessie

I've always been happy with the stock Battleaxe tires for city and highway riding - even in wet Seattle.
On 3 bikes (well, 4 but Phenix is not ready to ride - yet) and can't complain at all.

There was an excellent article specifically on tires for the GS500 in a European magazine that was available online ~ hopefully someone will be along shortly that knows where it is/was

Here it is and the GT501 was one of the top two tires according to the testers. 
http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php/Tire_Comparison

i was actually going to replace mine with pirelli sport demons but now idk lol thanks for the article. looking around i don't think they make the standard bridgestone bt-45s in the proper size anymore

bt45's are still available, try motorcycle-superstore.com

I could be wrong, but they have tires in that name in our size, but with tires, they are doing all sorts of weird shaZam!, so someone else will know.


oh here: if these are the right ones, they are on sale;


http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/6013/ITEM/Bridgestone-Battlax-BT-45-Sport-Touring-Rear-Tire.aspx

The Bridgestone Battlax is what some bikes came with. I have a set of Michelin Pilot Activs on my 07 and a pair of Bridgestone Battlax BT-45's on my 97. Personally, I like the feel of the Battlax over the Pilot Activ but they are both good tires with excellent characteristics.

The stock tires are, well, in stock. My dealer caries them in stock. Other bikes use them. They are not a GS500 specific tire.

thanks, i kept looking around but couldn't find them in the proper size before. i really love them and didn't really want to switch to a different tire if i didn't have to 

Quote from: gsJack on March 02, 2012, 06:00:27 PM
Here it is and the GT501 was one of the top two tires according to the testers. 
http://www.ex-500.com/wiki/index.php/Tire_Comparison

Based on that article I got the Avon Road Riders. It will be my first set, riding on the Bridgestone BT45's now. I mainly got the Avons because they tested well and I could get them cheap. My bike is parked for the winter so I haven't put them on yet  but the weather is getting better so I hope to get that done and start riding again within the next month or so.

I'm using the Roadriders as well. Not quite as sticky as the Metzeler M1/M3, but very competent and not as squirelly on grooves and painted lines. Got about 7000 miles on the rear tire.

Seems throughout the tire threads.
That I am the only open semi cheap @$$ riding on Kenda's. hahaha

Might be one of the cheaper tires that I found but I still have zero complaints for how I ride.
Not one for the twisties just yet.
and mostly into just cruising around.
So they are just fine for me for now.

I've ridden them on street and highway speeds.
and also through light drizzles to downpours enough to soak me all the way down to my underwear! haha
never had a problem with them yet.

put a new one on my front at end of the riding season last year. (maybe 200 miles on it now if that)
and a brand new one now on the rear.

cost about $80 to $90 per tire shipped depending on the site.

not 100% sure on the mileage of them tho.
as the rear one I got last year when I first bought the bike was a used tire from the salvage yard that wasnt an old tire, still had 90%+ tread on it and only cost $10! haha

Next tires I get tho will probably be better ones.
Most likely the battleaxe ones and see how those compare.

Quote from: Tombstones81 on March 03, 2012, 02:09:19 PM
Seems throughout the tire threads.
That I am the only open semi cheap @$$ riding on Kenda's. hahaha

I had a set of Kenda K761's on my KLR650. $130 shipped for a set. For my KLR, which was not a sportbike, they performed flawlessly. You'd be surprised how well dual sport tires, even cheap ones, handle rain.

I've heard fairly good things about the Kenda K671's, which I think are the ones you're referring to.

My only complaint about the K761's was they seemed to wear very quickly, but then again, there wasn't a lot of tread depth in the center to begin with.

Quote from: Kijona on March 03, 2012, 02:15:36 PM

Quote from: Tombstones81 on March 03, 2012, 02:09:19 PM
Seems throughout the tire threads.
That I am the only open semi cheap @$$ riding on Kenda's. hahaha

I had a set of Kenda K761's on my KLR650. $130 shipped for a set. For my KLR, which was not a sportbike, they performed flawlessly. You'd be surprised how well dual sport tires, even cheap ones, handle rain.

I've heard fairly good things about the Kenda K671's, which I think are the ones you're referring to.

My only complaint about the K761's was they seemed to wear very quickly, but then again, there wasn't a lot of tread depth in the center to begin with.

yeah the K671s are what I was talking about.
sorry Just woke up and half out of it hahaha

i'll def be putting them to the test this year tho.
with ridiculous gas prices and many other personal reasons, I plan to ride at least 3X more then I did last year.
which was between 3 and 4K miles only.
woulda been more but it was down  for like a whole month for one main reason.

Pirelli Sport Demons
Avon Roadriders
BT45s

If you want longer life, get the BT45. If you want better grip get the Sport Demons or Avons.

I'm on my third rear. First was BT45, second two have been Sport Demons. Distance wise I've gotten this following...

BT45 - 23,000km rear, 30,000km front
Sport Demon - 17,000km rear, third rear currently has 10,000km on it and the front has 20,000km and both look Real good.

If you have money to burn and want to change tires like nobody's business, get the M3s. Good grip, not really suited for around town riding more for the canyon carver.

Michael

I've had very good luck with the BT45's, and just bought a new pair from Cycle Gear.  My local store keeps them in stock. 

Thanks for all the replys. I had hoped to get a better "Go For It" on the GT501's as I found a set shipped to me for $190.00.
That seems to be 50-100 $ less then any others I have found.

I did find some BT45's as well but I too thought they were no longer made so I didn't want old stock.

Quote from: Kijona on March 03, 2012, 02:15:36 PM

Quote from: Tombstones81 on March 03, 2012, 02:09:19 PM
Seems throughout the tire threads.
That I am the only open semi cheap @$$ riding on Kenda's. hahaha

I had a set of Kenda K761's on my KLR650. $130 shipped for a set. For my KLR, which was not a sportbike, they performed flawlessly. You'd be surprised how well dual sport tires, even cheap ones, handle rain.

I've heard fairly good things about the Kenda K671's, which I think are the ones you're referring to.

My only complaint about the K761's was they seemed to wear very quickly, but then again, there wasn't a lot of tread depth in the center to begin wit

I have Kendas on my '89 GS and both of my Shadows.  No complaints, decent all around tire for the money.

-Jessie