Hiany tips on good tires for the K100 on the cheaper side.What are the standard size and can you fit other sizes?Regards

hi raggun , i have used a shinko (chinese tyre brand ) on the rear of my bike ....and its a good one ...ive got about 5000ks on it so far , its sticks to the road and isnt wearing too badly at all (nice and cheep )

i wouldnt try their front tyre though ....

i have used a pirelli sport demon on the front .....

this combination was suggested by our local tyre guy
and i was plesantly surprised at the cost

Nice tip mate!

I have a Bridgestone BT45 on the front (100x90x18) and a michilin Macadam (140x80x17) on the rear and find it is a good combination for mine and not too expensive. I did have a BT45 on the rear as well but I didn't like it as it would pick up the lines on the road and weave a bit. Also had a metzeler on the rear which wore out very quickly. The macadam is wearing very well and I would expect to get 15 to 18k from it as I have with the others I have had.

Hey Charlie, please explain?

"i wouldnt try their front tyre though ...."

blakey wrote:Hey Charlie, please explain?

"i wouldnt try their front tyre though ...."

If Charlie's experience was anything like mine he will never have another. I put a pair of Shonkos on my R80RT and had the front let go on the mummulgum range fortunately I had enough room to stand it up and catch it and it was always feeling like it was washing out on me. I got rid of it after it let go and will never have another.

That would put the willies up ya!

just the pattern blakey ...looked a bit suss ...for want of a better word ....i have seen that before and thought to steer clear ....not that i put one on ....just saying ....

im verry happy with the combination at the moment and feel sure that when i get a rear shocker that works it will be even better..

i thinnk twb could atest that the poor old darlin' held together fairly well up them twistys out of drake the other day (if even there was some wallows after a pothole in the riding line ...grin

Bridgestone Spitfires. Good and inexpensive.

Bridgestone BT45

They're not cheap, since they don't last very long (~5000 km) due to their grip, but I don't make any compromises regarding material that is supposed to keep me on the pavement with a contact patch the size of a palm (both tires together!!!) at speeds beyond 200 km/h...

Alex, I'm relieved to see that you get a similar mileage to me. I have seen other threads that talk of 10-12 thousand miles and can't understand it.
I wouldn't regard myself as a hard rider but would generally only see 4 or 5 thousand miles from a back tyre.
Back on the thread subject. I have just worn out a Dunlop Arrowmax rear tyre in just over 3 thousand miles. Front is not long for this world either. Good enough tyre for handling but disappointed in the mileage. Granted, about a thousand of those miles was, um, spirited riding while on a trip but even so.
My preference would also be for the Bridgestone BT45's. Good grip and lasted noticeably longer than Metzlers or Dunlops. Regards cost, it helps when your son-in-law has a tyre business.
This has made me think of a new thread subject, see 'Tyre compounds for different climates?'.

The last Dunlop Arrowmax I had n the front lasted about 10,000 miles but probably should have been changed a couple of thousand earlier. I was taking it very easy in the wet for the last few weeks before I changed it. The Bridgestone BT 45 I had on the rear lasted around 7,000 miles and the center thread was just about visible when I changed it. I now have an Arrowmax on the front and an Avon Roadrider on the rear.

Hi,

In my K100 i have tried in front Dunlop, Michelin Pilot (i think) and Shinko (this last one still in the bike).

With Dunlop, the front wheel vibrated to much pass the 100 Kms/h and i just have made +- 8000 Kms.

The Michelin Pilot were good, the wheel grab the road but they have uneven wear at right and left.

Now i have Shinko and i like it very much. The Wheel stills grab the road and they already have 11000 kms. I think they probably made more 2000 kms with very safety. I think is important to say that +- 7500 kms were made with 2 persons and luggage.

In rear i tried Metzeler (for 2 times) and Shinko. I have another brand but i don´t remember the name (was the one that the bike bring when i bought it).

So, Metzeler are good but i have just made about 8500 kms with them. Another thing i feel with metzeler is that they need time for warm up to grab the road. Are very good with rain.

The Shinko i have on the rear wheel were very good grabing the road, with or whithout rain but they have just made 6000 kms. Were 6000 kms done with 2 persons and luggage but after 3000 kms the tyre suddenly start disappearing.

Now i have on rear the Metzeler again because i have to change the tire in the trip from the Alps, because when i arrive in Madrid the tyre was flat! I have just found Metzeler and in Madrid so i have to put it. I don´t another choice to continuing journey to home.

So, summarizing,

I like Shinko in front and probably i will tried it again and they are not expensive. However i already heard to talk good things about Continental.

In rear the next one i change i will change it for Continental too. This one is cheaper and i hope is good.

Good Curves

Hi Raggun, Pirelli Sport Demons for me........just got 17,000 klm out of the rear (and they are a sport tour tyre), just 1up and freeway commuting to work (180klms per day, 900klms a week)
And you can get 'em in std sizes and also in 110/80-18 front, and 140/80-17 rear - which I have on. Highly recommend them, wet or dry. I've tried Michellin and Continentals, and these Pirelli's are the best by far. cheers Andyb

Have always used Bridgestone BT045 front and rear on my K100RT and they give good all round performance. Maybe not as long lasting as some brands but I would rather stick to the road than slide off it ! - the only issue that I have had with these tyres is that the front tyre seems to "scallop" around the edges when well worn, this can lead to a front end wobble so I now replace the front before this happens. My K1100LT does exactly the same

I also use the Pirelli Sport Demons in plus-one sizes of 110/80V18 front and 140/80VB17 rear, although on longer rides I'll substitute a 140/80VB17 Metzeler ME880 Marathon out back. The Pirellis grab the road really well, wet or dry, but the rear doesn't last long enough to go off on long tours like the two months I did right round OZ last year. They're not particularly cheap though at AU$150 and AU$180, fitted, each. Like most things in life I reckon you get what you pay for and with only two credit card-sized contact patches between my soft hide and the blistering tarmac....

TWB give this guy a go I ordered two sets of Pilot Roads for the K11 and they were here in 4 days and heaps cheaper even after $15 for fitting.
I found that getting 4 tyres was the most economical way to do it.
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/

I remember you saying you'd bought those Pilots from Amorica. I have dealt with Rocky Mountain in the past when I lived over there. I've just checked their website and could get a set of Pirellis from them for US $212 plus $55 for shipping. With our dollar being above parity (it's $1.07 today) that makes them an even better deal. Now to deal with the ethics of the decision to help keep local OZ suppliers in business.....Nuh, it's not worth an additional $82 or so out of my pocket...that's a lotta travelling petrol in my tank. BTW, their quoted price (converted to Aussie dollars) to my door is AU$248 for tyres I'd pay $330 for here. Ta for that tip again, K Freak.

i can see a group buy comming up again .......giggles

Yeah, Chazza, I can see that happening! I'll need a new front tyre within a coupla thousand more K's...that's a week or three away at this rate. I might as well get set up for my next set.

Group tyre buy any Aussie members?

I have AVON Roadriders on my bike a reasonably good tyre at a good price, no problems so far but there again I am not the most spirited rider.
I do not know what the latest cheepo tyres are like so I cannot comment, but I always remember many many moons ago with my Honda CB750 K6 which had Kacky Y front Yokahama tyres,
One day a car pulled out on me while negotiating a welsh mountain road so as a touched the brakes the tyres gave way and I slid around all over towards the mountain edge, I touched the back brake and the bike righted itself, I shook like a jelly as I pulled up into a layby and on my return home I had those tyres removed and had some AVONS fitted To this day I never compromise or mess about with bike tyres or brakes, Just me.

BIG D

BIG D wrote:

I have AVON Roadriders on my bike a reasonably good tyre at a good price, no problems so far but there again I am not the most spirited rider.
...

Yeah, heard a lot of good things about the Avons lately. I'm thinking about getting them as well (stupid German TüV road approval might intervene though...)

Alex_GER wrote:

Yeah, heard a lot of good things about the Avons lately. I'm thinking about getting them as well (stupid German TüV road approval might intervene though...)

WHY Are you not allowed to fit other makes I thought it was free trade, across Europe anyway.

BIG D

BIG D wrote:



WHY Are you not allowed to fit other makes I thought it was free trade, across Europe anyway.

BIG D

In order to be allowed to drive different makes of tyres you either need an engineers opinion (expensive) or the manufacturer has done that already (expensive for the manufacturer). Avons so far have that certificate, but only for the sizes 100 front and 130 rear. That would be fine and I'm thinking about getting those. Unfortunately nothing for 110 front and 140 rear (BT45 offer the certificate for that bigger size).

Free trade yes, but road approval in Germany is annoying...

I can see what you mean Alex, I knew there where certain constraints but did not realise it was so deep, there where news reports here in the UK some time back of European rules concerning the fitment of spares pushing for original manufacturers only,
That we do not want in the UK.

BIG D

Avon Venoms ,had them on for about 5 years good stuff

Rick G wrote:I have a Bridgestone BT45 on the front (100x90x18) ....

will the Bridgestone BT45 100x80xH18 fit on the front of a 1985 K100 RT?

I'm probably going to buy the BT45 130/80/H17 for the rear.

What's the latest tire logic here, from the forum?
I'm looking for okay performance (I don't push hard into the corners anymore), and mostly with my wife behind me, 2-up. I'm not going to drag the pegs in the corners with this touring bike.

Yes, I think the Pirelli Sport Demons might be better performance, but with sacrifice in life (miles), and a bit more money. And I would probably never push them hard enough to appreciate the difference. Especially with the wife beating the back of my helmet, screaming things that I'd best not hear.

I can get both front and rear Bridgestone BattlAx tires (mentioned above) for $190 (US) including free delivery. That's my kind of price.. unless the performance doesn't measure up.

I'm talking 1985 BMW K100RT. These tires are probably light-years better than anything money could buy when the bike was new.

I personally believe of all the things to economise on, tyres are the last. As noted above the contact area is tiny, the consequences of a loss of grip and control are so huge it does not bear thinking about. Get the best you can afford it could save your life, even a spill and slide where you don't get hurt is very expensive with bits of bike being shed onto the road as it slides along.
Regards,
K-BIKE

BadjerJim wrote:

Rick G wrote:I have a Bridgestone BT45 on the front (100x90x18) ....

will the Bridgestone BT45 100x80xH18 fit on the front of a 1985 K100 RT?

I'm probably going to buy the BT45 130/80/H17 for the rear.

What's the latest tire logic here, from the forum?
I'm looking for okay performance (I don't push hard into the corners anymore), and mostly with my wife behind me, 2-up. I'm not going to drag the pegs in the corners with this touring bike.

Yes, I think the Pirelli Sport Demons might be better performance, but with sacrifice in life (miles), and a bit more money. And I would probably never push them hard enough to appreciate the difference. Especially with the wife beating the back of my helmet, screaming things that I'd best not hear.

I can get both front and rear Bridgestone BattlAx tires (mentioned above) for $190 (US) including free delivery. That's my kind of price.. unless the performance doesn't measure up.

I'm talking 1985 BMW K100RT. These tires are probably light-years better than anything money could buy when the bike was new.

That BT 045 was on the K100 Jim. I found that and the Michilin Macadam (unavailable now) was the best combo for me on the K100.

Hi people after feedback on what u guys have on the rear of your bike. I'm due to change tyres for the first time since owning the K100.
Currently have Metzeler 130/80-17 Metronic. See some people run 140 /80 - 17. Are there any advantages in putting larger tyre on.
 I'm just a cruiser and have had no issues with current tyre just doing some research before buying new one.
Would like some Kiwi imput as they know our roads and conditions please.
 Cheers Steve.

For what it's worth, I ended up with a Battlax front and an Avon radial rear.  I was never really happy with the performance of that combination... and now the Avon is discontinued.

I'm back to Pirelli Sport Demons now, and the handling is MUCH improved.  I really like the bike with these tires.

I am running a Shinko Tourmaster 130/90-17 on the rear of my RT and am very happy with it.  I do a lot of touring and commuting with the bike, and will occasionally take it out for a day in the twisties with a friend on his Honda ST1300.  It does all these things to my satisfaction, lasts about 10,000 miles and is about the least expensive tire that fits.

yeah that shinko works well .75

good to hear from someone else that has tried it

there is a whole new range of shinkos available now ...with some nice aggressive tread patterns

I must go and investigate with my local "passionate tyre guy" for prices and reports ...so far

 but I have to say the Pirelli "Sport Demon"  on the back is a pretty good tyre in many respects ,  I have taken the attitude that rear tyres with a centre line tend to tram rail far quicker than those without, as they wear past that 60 % mark ...meanwhile the demon just hangs in there ...or that's what I see and feel

The question has already been asked but does the K perform well on 110/80/18 and 140/80/17, I like the idea of having a little more rubber on the road.

I got another set of BT45 on the RT in November. Second set this year. I have 110/90 on front and 140/80 on rear and have tried the 100/90 front and 130/90 rear. Feels nicer with the bigger sizes.

I take the K into our local Honda dealership, which is next door to BMW Motorrad, and get them fitted. When they were being fitted the guy came out with a small rectangle of material, the friction material off one of the front brake pads. They had brake pads in stock which saved me getting my spares sent up from home. €332 ride in for the two tyres including supplying and fitting the brake pads. As it happens the tech there is a former K100 owner and they carry stock for maintaining police bikes [some Rs use the same brake pads].

Both the RT and LT came with Lasertec on and I found them horrible and completely lacking in confidence, especially in cool or wet and murder in cold wet conditions.
 
I use the K all year, in all conditions and especially like how the BT45 behave in the cold wet conditions we get over the winter, temperature range generally 5-10C in winter and often wet. Morning temperatures can be 2-4C and they warm up quick enough. I know some of the other Eccentrics use the Pirellis and are very happy with them but I am happy with the BT45 as long as the tyre pressures are kept up. A lot depends on your local area and riding conditions and you are best to look at what is used locally or in places with similar riding conditions. What works well in warmer climates or in summer may not work as well in winter.

Dave,

The previous front tyre was 110/80, the replacement is 110/90 and I prefer the 110/90.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Dave,

The previous front tyre was 110/80, the replacement is 110/90 and I prefer the 110/90.

thanks, Olaf.  I've just bought some 130/90/17, 100/90/18 so it'll be a while before I need new tyres but I'll definitely have a go at the larger sizes.

Dave

You will be fine with them, I had those sizes on last year, in BT45.

Bridgestone list 100/90 110/80 and 110/90 18 for the front and 130/90 140/80 17 for the rear.

Word of warning though. When you out them on scrub them in, take it very easy for the first few miles and gradually get used to them. I rode away with new tyres on a cold wet day and it felt quite greasy up to about 50 miles on them, only then started to improve.

Dave wrote:The question has already been asked but does the K perform well on 110/80/18 and 140/80/17, I like the idea of having a little more rubber on the road.

A wider tyre will give you a slightly bigger contact patch with the road... so they will grip better than narrower tyres. Also a wider tyre will give you better clearance when cornering which means you can lean further before scraping something like your foot or peg. So yes, better performance BUT not all tyres are made equal. There are some that will lose grip like metzler LaserTec   which I only got 10k out of.

As there is now no radial in a sport/tourer tyre available for the early K wheels, the options/considerations are...
Bias ply or Adventure tyre radial
Single or dual compound

Here's a recent thread on rear tyre choice.
https://www.k100-forum.com/t10599-rear-tyre-choice

Plenty of other discussion if you use the forum Google search on the Portal tab.

I am also running the Shinkos, because they are cheap. Not because I am cheap, but because the last set of BT45s I got were garbage, the rear wore out really quickly and the front wore strangely. I replaced the back with a Metzler Lasertech but put up with the front. When I couldn't take it anymore, I went in and ordered a Pirelli for the front. Then I noticed that there was a drop of something, looked a bit like car polish, on the rear and the rubber had split around it, so I had to try to get two tyres with my one tyre budget, so the Shinkos it was. No problems. It's only a K75, but I ride it fast enough to make me smile and I don't have to slow down in the rain.

# WoodyAUK if you have good expiriance with Shinko fine, 
the BT 45 a good if it's wet and last a long time.
An other "cheap" tire is:
Maxxis 100/90-18 56H ProMaxx M-6102 Street 
Maxxis 130/90-17 68H ProMaxx M-6103 Street
http://international.maxxis.com/catalog/tire-214-216-promaxx
Drives nice and is really "cheap"

Cheers