- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
I just want to share some of my tire observations with the CBRs
Tires
- Thread starter Ansimp
- Start date
Help Support Classic Goldwings:
OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
Those are all the 91 180/55 x 17 rear Metzler RoadTec in the new pattern above
These are off the rear of the 87 Cbr1000f 150/70 x 17 Metzler RoadTec
I have had the 87 ( The Pig) since September 2008 when I started riding again and it had a Bridgestone Battlax 170/60 x17 which I changed to a Metzler RoadTec as soon as I had ridden on the Battlax for a short time. I started using the Metzlers on the advice of my mate Brad who had been running them on his Moto Guzzi Brava 1100 for quite some time. When I Wore out the center of the 170 I was advised by my tire guy to go back to the correct size which is the 150/70 x 17. I managed to give the elephant trunks a work out on that one that probably didn't really last that much longer than the oversize 170 but at least it wore evenly and not just in the center. The current one was fitted after going down the driveway when it was a little wetter than I realised and I dropped the bike. It was that slippery to get it back up I had to place my boot under the front wheel to stop the bike sliding down the hill while I tried to pick it up. Once I climbed back on I managed to go about 15 feet and crashed into the bank as my boot was covered in clay and slipped off the back brake. This time I smashed up the front guard, headlight surround and sheared off the flasher wire as well as being stuck under it with the rear wheel still going around until I hit the kill switch. I had no option but to get back on it and ride it down to a mates workshop and borrow some tools and repair it so that I could ride and meet up with my wife for lunch as arranged. After lunch I took a look at the back tire and realised while it was still roadworthy it was too worn for what I wanted it to do so it was straight to the tire shop for the new one that is on it now.
These are off the rear of the 87 Cbr1000f 150/70 x 17 Metzler RoadTec
I have had the 87 ( The Pig) since September 2008 when I started riding again and it had a Bridgestone Battlax 170/60 x17 which I changed to a Metzler RoadTec as soon as I had ridden on the Battlax for a short time. I started using the Metzlers on the advice of my mate Brad who had been running them on his Moto Guzzi Brava 1100 for quite some time. When I Wore out the center of the 170 I was advised by my tire guy to go back to the correct size which is the 150/70 x 17. I managed to give the elephant trunks a work out on that one that probably didn't really last that much longer than the oversize 170 but at least it wore evenly and not just in the center. The current one was fitted after going down the driveway when it was a little wetter than I realised and I dropped the bike. It was that slippery to get it back up I had to place my boot under the front wheel to stop the bike sliding down the hill while I tried to pick it up. Once I climbed back on I managed to go about 15 feet and crashed into the bank as my boot was covered in clay and slipped off the back brake. This time I smashed up the front guard, headlight surround and sheared off the flasher wire as well as being stuck under it with the rear wheel still going around until I hit the kill switch. I had no option but to get back on it and ride it down to a mates workshop and borrow some tools and repair it so that I could ride and meet up with my wife for lunch as arranged. After lunch I took a look at the back tire and realised while it was still roadworthy it was too worn for what I wanted it to do so it was straight to the tire shop for the new one that is on it now.
You have more fun on your driveway than most folks do everywhere else! Maybe you need a Wing-powered quad...
OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
We have two of those, 02 and 07 Subaru Foresters! :good:
I used my driveway as a means of determining if I was skilled enough to return to riding after a 27 year absence, luckily I passed even though sometimes I am not so sure. After viewing the clip from the dreaded driveway a mate suggested I should build a shed at the mailbox so that I could leave a road bike there and ride a trail bike up to the house. :moped:
I used my driveway as a means of determining if I was skilled enough to return to riding after a 27 year absence, luckily I passed even though sometimes I am not so sure. After viewing the clip from the dreaded driveway a mate suggested I should build a shed at the mailbox so that I could leave a road bike there and ride a trail bike up to the house. :moped:
OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
Even though this is a fairly old site there is some great information
https://www.motorcycleanchor.com/motorcy ... tires.html
Here are some key points:
PROFILE DESIGN:
Although we've talked about the grooves cut into a tire, we haven't discussed the actual profile of a tire (the outer curve of a tire when you look at it head-on). Different tires have different profiles, and generally speaking, a more triangular radius (think pointier) tire will handle faster, while a tire with a wide slow arc will handle more slowly but provide more straight-line stability (because of a larger center section to track flatly on).
Manufacturers have been tweaking these parameters for decades to get benefits. Personally, I like Metzeler's solution (also implimented on some Pirelli tires as well) of a triple-radius design, which instead of having a single arc shape, actually has three arcs, each at a different curvature (so you get the benefit of the stability in the very center, with progressively faster handling as you lean further over).
FITMENT SIZE:
Your rims are a certain size across from edge to edge (the short way), and specific diameter. The tires rated for your bike are designed to fit into this wheel (think "tire retainer" instead of the term wheel), while maintaining proper contact at the edges to keep the tire just rigid enough, not distorting the profile design (by rebending it to fit a narrower or wider gap at the base), and still clear everything else that the tire might rub on (such as the swing arms, the chain, etc).
NARROW VS WIDE: Although wide tires are all the rage now, narrower tires handle better under most real world conditions.
https://www.motorcycleanchor.com/motorcy ... tires.html
Here are some key points:
PROFILE DESIGN:
Although we've talked about the grooves cut into a tire, we haven't discussed the actual profile of a tire (the outer curve of a tire when you look at it head-on). Different tires have different profiles, and generally speaking, a more triangular radius (think pointier) tire will handle faster, while a tire with a wide slow arc will handle more slowly but provide more straight-line stability (because of a larger center section to track flatly on).
Manufacturers have been tweaking these parameters for decades to get benefits. Personally, I like Metzeler's solution (also implimented on some Pirelli tires as well) of a triple-radius design, which instead of having a single arc shape, actually has three arcs, each at a different curvature (so you get the benefit of the stability in the very center, with progressively faster handling as you lean further over).
FITMENT SIZE:
Your rims are a certain size across from edge to edge (the short way), and specific diameter. The tires rated for your bike are designed to fit into this wheel (think "tire retainer" instead of the term wheel), while maintaining proper contact at the edges to keep the tire just rigid enough, not distorting the profile design (by rebending it to fit a narrower or wider gap at the base), and still clear everything else that the tire might rub on (such as the swing arms, the chain, etc).
NARROW VS WIDE: Although wide tires are all the rage now, narrower tires handle better under most real world conditions.
OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
It is turning in to my own personal rant but I started so I need to keep going and hopefully it can be beneficial to all.
I have used Shinko 230s on the advice of Backlander for the Rats Nest and Dad's 82. After having some hassles with another online supplier I ended up with American Moto Tire who have been excellent.
https://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/
Their online catalogue is so easy to use and very handy to compare different brands and hopefully allow you to make an informed choice. I was trying to use Backlander's supplier who advertised a better price but in the end they could not supply and I returned to American Moto Tire.
Tires used on the 82
How they are shipped
Front Tire
Rear Tire
I have used Shinko 230s on the advice of Backlander for the Rats Nest and Dad's 82. After having some hassles with another online supplier I ended up with American Moto Tire who have been excellent.
https://www.americanmototire.com/catalog/
Their online catalogue is so easy to use and very handy to compare different brands and hopefully allow you to make an informed choice. I was trying to use Backlander's supplier who advertised a better price but in the end they could not supply and I returned to American Moto Tire.
cant wait to hear what you think of the tires......ithink when your talking tires most manufactures provide the same product ...close,y going with race like theory design for roads and handleing .....but there are many ways to look at this ....if you live around gravel the conditions change the way bike works bigtime ....oldwings suffer from the fact when they came out there was no tires being made to handle the weight and size of oldwings ...so the wheels were made to to mount the flimsy tires that were made and that were not close to even working for the streetbikes of the time ...to say Honda design them for these stock tires is a joke they had no choice but to put tires available on the oldwings .....
car tires or bike tires to big to fit rear wheel and rear motor clycle tires moded to oldwing would be a huge mod to oldwing for the front tire or other motorcycle tire ...... as they hit a spot that was bad in tire design for such a heavy bike for touring and not even close to a track bike corner carver ....there is huge room in oldwings to improve the way they work in this area ...but it takes wheels of proper width and room to use them ...
I have one moded swingarm started and not done ...as in my case I could use the mod bigtime where I live ...
a car tire set up up for touring angle of the bike is huge peace of mind on a trip along with front moded to get extra milage and comfort for the long hauls of touring demands and comfort :mrgreen:
car tires or bike tires to big to fit rear wheel and rear motor clycle tires moded to oldwing would be a huge mod to oldwing for the front tire or other motorcycle tire ...... as they hit a spot that was bad in tire design for such a heavy bike for touring and not even close to a track bike corner carver ....there is huge room in oldwings to improve the way they work in this area ...but it takes wheels of proper width and room to use them ...
I have one moded swingarm started and not done ...as in my case I could use the mod bigtime where I live ...
a car tire set up up for touring angle of the bike is huge peace of mind on a trip along with front moded to get extra milage and comfort for the long hauls of touring demands and comfort :mrgreen:
OP
OP
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2013
- Messages
- 9,855
- Reaction score
- 34
- Location
- Brisbane Australia
- My Bike Models
- 1981 GL1100 “Rats Nest”
1998 GL1500c Val
1987 CBR1000f “The Pig”
1991 CBR1000f Red
I love my Rats Nest Joe but I will be jealous of Dads 82s 10mm wider tread width front and rear. That said I prefer the handling of my 87 CBR with a 150 rear over the 92 with the 180. Which Confirms for me the information in post 5 so it will be interesting to compare the 81 and 82 Gl1100s in the real world. I actually had a wider 82 rim on the Rats Nest but I ordered a standard front tire so Steve was able to use his 80 parts bike front wheel on it.
