The reason you can't mix bias ply and radials has to do with the way the tire responds in a turn that are due to their construction. A larger rear tire won't necessarily provide more grip than a smaller one, but it will last longer.

dropitlow88, the 150/60 Shinko 006 fit good for me since I already put a bend in my brake torque brace a couple 150's back.  Just got out for a few miles on it yesterday and it's feeling real good although I haven't really got it broken in yet.  I'm running it with a Roadrider 110/70 front.  Been on the Roadriders front and rear for 4-5 years (3rd set)  now and although their performance meets my current needs they last so long they're getting boring.     I don't expect more than half the tire life from the Shinko that I was getting from the Roadriders.

cashmoves, I still think the best all around handling I got on the GSs was a 110/80 bias Lasertec front with  a 150/70 radial RoadAttack rear, a 110/150 and bias/radial mix like I have now.  The current mix has not really been tested yet but the Lasertec/RoadAttack combo went 10k miles.  A bias front with a radial rear can be OK but a radial front with a bias rear is a no-no, can result in dangerous handling.

I would really like to see a pic if possible. I have a slight bend in mine now. Don't mind adding a little more. My current setup is roadwinner 110/70 front and dunlop gt501 140/80 rear. It's a little tall and squared. Makes the handling a little uncomfortable, I'm afraid to really push in the corners. The podium 006 has received rave reviews for the money spent so it looks like that will be my next purchase.

I'll try to get a couple pics of it today or tomorrow if you promise not to comment on the rust on my bike in the pics.    My 02 GS is now nine years old with 93k miles of year around riding here in NE Ohio, salt capital of the world, and I'm getting too old to get down and clean it like I use to clean my bikes, a trip thru the magic wand car wash every spring has to do now.   

Quote from: gsJack on April 14, 2012, 08:50:03 AM
I'll try to get a couple pics of it today or tomorrow if you promise not to comment on the rust on my bike in the pics.    My 02 GS is now nine years old with 93k miles of year around riding here in NE Ohio, salt capital of the world, and I'm getting too old to get down and clean it like I use to clean my bikes, a trip thru the magic wand car wash every spring has to do now.   

lol, no comments will be made

Rain just started and is supposed to last thru tomorrow so I just shot some pics of my 02 GS with Shinko 006 tire near the open door of my dark garage, no electricity.  Worst time of year for pics of my bike after riding all winter, it might look a little better come summer but I'd rather ride than wash/polish bikes.   

Looks good on there. I'm sold. On the hunt for one

Here's some pics of a 150/60 tire on a Ninja 500 racer, the Ninja 500s have the same size wheels as the GS500s do.  I saved it a while back when folks were debating a 150/60 size tire fitment on 3.5" rims, not approved by the tire makers but many are using them on the 500s.

http://www.classicbikes.com/ex500racing.html

Quote from: gsJack on April 14, 2012, 02:08:30 PM
Here's some pics of a 150/60 tire on a Ninja 500 racer, the Ninja 500s have the same size wheels as the GS500s do.  I saved it a while back when folks were debating a 150/60 size tire fitment on 3.5" rims, not approved by the tire makers but many are using them on the 500s.

http://www.classicbikes.com/ex500racing.html

how is the flickabikity of the bike?

From the Racers Corner link on the original gstwins.com front page:

"Race rubber is readily available for the GS 500, probably because it uses the same tires as Aprillia cup bikes.   On a racing GS, the front tire size is the same as stock (110-70-17).  For the rear, most racers I know use a 150-60-17 (stock is 130-70-17).  The fitment guide will tell you the rim is too narrow for this tire.  It is, but this does not result in bead failure, even under extreme racing conditions.  It does modify the profile enough so that it impossible to get all the way to the edge of the tire.  If you can't live with that, you can have your wheel widened to 4 inches by Kosman Specialties (http://www.kosman.net) for about $375, but then you won't be legal in Supersport class.  I once tried the other racing tire choice (Metzler 140-80-17) and hated it.  It is taller tire than stock and a non-radial.  The bike steered like a cow, flopped unpredictably into corners and felt very top heavy.  When I switched to the 150 radials, I almost drove off the inside of the track because it turned so easily.  Race rubber is available from Dunlop (D-207GP and D-208GP), Michelin (Pilot), Metzler (Rennsport), and Pirelli (Dragon Supercorsa) in sizes 110-70-17 and 150-60-17.  The Supercorsa and Rennsport are the exact same tire with different tread patterns.  This makes sense since Pirelli and Metzler are the same company.  Most people at BIR have historically run Michelins or Metzlers, depending on which manufacturers were offering contingency money.  The way contingency works is you use their tires, fill in the form during race registration, put their decals on your bike, and finish well in the race (usually fifth or higher), and you get certificates useable for your next tire purchase.  I have ridden the Michelin Pilots and Metzler ME Z3's back to back, and could not feel any real difference.  I believe any big name race rubber will perform adequately, so go where the money is or just pick one randomly and see how you like it." 

Maybe a bit dated now as far as specific tire brands mentioned but sizes are still pertinent I think. I've hardly riden on the new Shinko yet but it feels real good just putting along, wants to fall right into corners with the new round rear tire replacing a not so round used one.  But it usually feels that way with most new tires replacing old out of shape ones.  Thought you might find the Racers Corner opinion on the 140/80 race tire size interesting, think you said you had that size now.

Interesting indeed. Flop like a cow it does lol. Not very confidence inspiring. Not to mention it's square. I'm anxious to get a new tire on there now, feeling like I'm missing out lol, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. And to the OP, sorry for jacking your thread lol

Lol, I already had my question answered by 5 posts in. I ordered my sport demons already. Working on taking the wheels off front and back so can have them installed as soon as they get here.

When I take them in, I should leave the rotor on right? For balancing?

Rear sprocket too?

Yes leave the rotor on, I've never removed my rotors for tire mount and balance and all but one rear rotor that I replaced on my 97 GS were never even off the wheels for any reason in 400k miles on 6 bikes.

I always left the sprocket/hub assemblies on the rear wheels too for years whether I took then in or did it myself.  More recently though the place where I currently get mount and balane done has been requesting that all loose sprockets be removed by customer.  I take them off now.  A few years ago this place lost the spacer from my 02 GS rear wheel that goes between the left rear wheel bearing and the sprocket hub bearing that can only fall out if hub is removed and this caused rear wheel bearing failure for me a bit later on.

Pirelli Sport Demons are Bias Ply.

Personally, I wouldn't install Radial tires on the GS unless you've already done the suspension, and are willing to go with a low mileage sport tire. Radial construction is softer than Bias, which makes the already soft suspension worse. And the sport-touring bias-ply on the market are soft enough to put a knee down, last pretty much forever, and give good feedback.

I wouldn't personally put a 150 radial on the GS rim. If you want a wider tire, install a Kat rim. There are very good radial tires that fit the GS rims properly - the extra tire width won't buy you traction, but will have a weird profile and will increase rotating inertia (bad.) There are several 150mm bias tyres that are speced to fit the GS... Should be fine on our bikes.

Thanks for answering about the rotor and sprocket.

I'm semi-dissembling the wheels, rotors, front and rear sprockets and giving it all a good scrub. Not often I'll have it torn down like with this good of access to everything. Found out the stock chain and sprocket are a silver color. Always thought they were black.

I'm just waiting on my tires to come in.

Chaparral Racing's two day shipping is more like standard ground. Oh well, they had the best price.

Shiny and clean.

Quote from: burning1 on April 16, 2012, 09:50:02 AM
Pirelli Sport Demons are Bias Ply.

Personally, I wouldn't install Radial tires on the GS unless you've already done the suspension, and are willing to go with a low mileage sport tire. Radial construction is softer than Bias, which makes the already soft suspension worse. And the sport-touring radials on the market are soft enough to put a knee down, last pretty much forever, and give good feedback.

I wouldn't personally put a 150 radial on the GS rim. If you want a wider tire, install a Kat rim. There are very good radial tires that fit the GS rims properly - the extra tire width won't buy you traction, but will have a weird profile and will increase rotating inertia (bad.) There are several 150mm bias tyres that are speced to fit the GS... Should be fine on our bikes.

I'm confused as to what you're trying to say here.  You say you wouldn't put radials on the GS unless willing to go with a low milage sport tire and then go on to say sport touring radials last pretty much forever.  Sport touring radials are radials, there are sport/supersport type radials and sport touring type radials basically and both types are radials. The sport/supersport radials come in a 150/60 size and none are approved by their makers for fitment on 3.5" rims while sport touring radials come in a 150/70 size that is approved by some makers but not others for general fitment on 3.5" rims.  Not considering special racing tires there is very little narrower than 150mm radials.  Only ones I can think of off hand are the 130/80 Z2 and the 140/80 AV46 sport touring radials which are sized for 3.0 and 3.5" rims respectively and the 140/60 Shinko 006 sport radial which is sized for 4.0" rims.

You also say the 150 radial on a GS rim would increase rotating inertia (bad)and then go on to say there are several 150mm bias tyres that are speced to fit the GS... Should be fine on our bikes.  Aren't the bias tires generally heavier than same size radials?  Anyway, most of the bias ply sport touring tires are approved for fitment by their makers on 3.5" rims.

I've personally run the 130/80 Z2 and both the 140/80 AV36 and AV46 as well as a 150/70 RoadAttack on my 3.5" wheels with very good results.  All of which are sport touring radials.  I've always discouraged use of the 150/60 sport type radials on the GS 3.5 wheel because they are much lower milage tires than the sport touring radials, not approved for the fitment, and are overkill on a GS for most.  I just put a 150/60 Shinko 006 sport tire on my GS on a stock 3.5" rim just because I wanted to try one.   

Typo. I meant to refer to sport-touring bias ply tyres, such as the Avon Road Riders.