• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • This forum is for placing reviews for parts, accessories, gear and service as it relates to your GS motorcycle. The key here is "GS Related". There is a bit of latitude here but we don't want to see a review on Maytag washers just because that's what you use to clean your riding jacket in.

    Keep your review as factual as possible and please refrain from personal attacks. Posted articles will be reviewed by the Editors and may be removed at their discretion.

    So let's make this a useful addition to the forum! A special pat on the back goes to Hap Call for coming up with this great idea.

    The views expressed in this forum are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of "The GSResources" or the editors.

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

Bad tires

  • Thread starter Thread starter ddz
  • Start date Start date
D

ddz

Guest
So i bought tires from DK & without listening to all the tire threads , I just got kenda (cheap...$100 for the set). Being that im not a "peg scraper" i didnt think it mattered what tire i used . Well ....DONT BUY KENDA TIRES!!!!!After 300 ish miles (should be well broken in) i got caught in a rain storm & COULD NOT STOP THE BIKE!. Both tires kept locking up (Granted it was a heavy down pour)every time i let off & grabbed the brake again they locked up. Also it was such a downpour that visibility was not good so i was riding at less than 40 mph.& it was not a panic stop.i made it to work but had to drive like i was on ice !

FYI...the date codes are current ..(o7 & 08). Tire pressure is spot on.They are the stock sizes & were put on the rim in the right direction (rotation arrows).
I called DK & they said to send them back for inspection . Im going to but, now i lost $ for the swap from the dealer like $85 & i will have to buy new tires cause i cant wait for this to be resolved & have no ride!
Ill post what happens in the future

Vinny
 
Wow, I never would have guessed that cheap tires would have made THAT much of a difference.....
 
I bought a 1979 GS1000 that came with Kendas on it, and they are total cr@p! This bike has understeer compared to my 1978 GS750, which I sold to buy this bike. The 750 handled great, especially for 30-year-old technology. I'm hoping that going over to Dunlops or something else good will help with the understeer and generally unstable feel. Everything is torqued correctly, inflated properly, all is good, but I HATE the Kendas!
 
Your tyres are arguably the most important thing on your bike.That tiny oval of contact with the road is the difference between fun and sheer terror.Skimp on other stuff but NOT your rubber.Cheers,Simon.:-k
 
Thanks

Thanks

Good posts and good to know. By the way, I had a problem with a R/R I bought from Dennis Kirk and they were really nice about it. It was defective and they went over and beyond the call of duty to take care of it. I was impressed!
 
What model of Kenda tire? They are not all the same. For example, there is lots of positive feedback on the Cheng Shin Hi Max tires but lots of bad comments on the Marquis. Go figure.

I've got Kenda's on my 850 (installed by previous owner) and they seem fine in the dry. Haven't tried them yet in the wet...and maybe won't after reading about this problem.
 
I always had the belief that you should spend as much as possible on tires as you can afford, but many here that I trust have much praise for the Cheng Shin tires.
 
After one too many harsh lessons with cheaper tires, I choose to side with buying the best tire possible.

If you cannot afford a better tire, then wait until you can. Skip a hamburger or beer and save the money to save your life.

You have only two safety items on your bike that truly matter and they are both round and black. EVERYTHING depends on them.


Even with Canadian prices being at least twice that of USA for identical tires, I will always buy the best tire for the purpose.
 
Wet

Wet

One thing I read recently (one of the many things I didn't know) is that a tire that handles very well in dry conditions may be terrible in wet conditions. I would have thought there would be some consistency but evidently not.:(
 
It's important tires are matched to the bike - many of the older bikes require ribbed or semi-ribbed front tires to avoid the front-end wandering on some roads.

Tire pressure is very important - different brands work best at slightly different pressures.

Matching tires front to back is very important. While some mixes of different brand tires (or different styles of tires within a manufacturer) may work, most do not.

Selecting the correct size helps handling as well. Many riders want to stuff the widest tire they can fit on the back - but the reality is most times this makes for a poor handling bike. Not only is the correct width important, but changing profile of tires can adversely impact handling too.

I like the feel of Dunlop D404 on smaller bike, I run GT501's on my performance bikes.

I like Continental tires, but I don't think they are worth the money - very expensive.

I used to run Avon Roadrunner tires when I lived in England and liked them in the wet - but I have not found a source for the sizes I would need on my bikes.

I have yet to find a Michelin tire I like - they always feel like they are sliding on the road - never firmly planted.

I used to run Pirelli tires on my turbo bike - great sticky tires, but the life was VERY short.
 
jeff.saunders said:
It's important tires are matched to the bike - many of the older bikes require ribbed or semi-ribbed front tires to avoid the front-end wandering on some roads.

Tire pressure is very important - different brands work best at slightly different pressures.

Matching tires front to back is very important. While some mixes of different brand tires (or different styles of tires within a manufacturer) may work, most do not.

Selecting the correct size helps handling as well. Many riders want to stuff the widest tire they can fit on the back - but the reality is most times this makes for a poor handling bike. Not only is the correct width important, but changing profile of tires can adversely impact handling too.

I like the feel of Dunlop D404 on smaller bike, I run GT501's on my performance bikes.

I like Continental tires, but I don't think they are worth the money - very expensive.

I used to run Avon Roadrunner tires when I lived in England and liked them in the wet - but I have not found a source for the sizes I would need on my bikes.

I have yet to find a Michelin tire I like - they always feel like they are sliding on the road - never firmly planted.

I used to run Pirelli tires on my turbo bike - great sticky tires, but the life was VERY short.
Click to expand...

Some good points here Jeff.

Your last comment rings true for a lot of us who swear by Pirelli Sport Demons. These tyres front and rear with the correct pressures really suit an agressive riding style, but you pay the price with wear rate. They are also very predictable in wet conditions.
I had a scarey moment some months back in dry conditions, when I was very glad I had chosen to pay the extra money. I only get 5000 kms out of a rear tyre and thats without smoking the rear. Better that the tyre looses its life at an earlier age than yourself!!
 
Bad tires

Guys,
I've owned and ridden the same 79 GS850GN since 1983. It came with Dunflop 491 touring tires....they did not last welland did not inspire a bit of confidence in the wet. I tried the Continental but they had little endurance,and the front cupped. I tried Michelin M48s loved em but they didn't last either....Tried an IRC{Iriquois Rubber Co} dont recall model but trhe 130-9017 scrubbed the shaft housing.
I had spent some time working in an indeoendent shop that carried the C/S and a few other lower brand tires and on advice of the owner I tried the Bridgestone line of tires. S11 I believe it is...I notice a lot of guys run a 100-90 front, the owners manual called for a 110{3.50} 19 front and stock rear was a 4.50-90-17. I stayed with the OEM front reccomendation
but went tothe 13{510} -90-17 rear. They have been in the business of a dual tread compound tire foe a long time and I get decent mileage from these tires and their handling in the wet is superb. a set of these tires is about 120 usd if you do a search or two....like the fellow said the two most important dsaftey items are the tires....I may not buy 93 octane gas but I'll buy the best tire I can for my bike...I hate to think how much I have invested in this bike over the last 25 years.When it comes to my life or my bike the best isn't good enough.......

Rod
 
Jethro said:
I always had the belief that you should spend as much as possible on tires as you can afford, but many here that I trust have much praise for the Cheng Shin tires.
Click to expand...

Cheng Shin HiMax tires -- the best tire value for the money, in miles per dollar. They perform quite well, and I'm a rather aggressive rider.
 
Cheap tires are like cheap helmets! They are all fine & dandy till you're laying on the pavement BLEEDING, or WORSE!, wondering what the heck just happened! Ray.
 
Grandpa said:
Cheng Shin HiMax tires -- the best tire value for the money, in miles per dollar. They perform quite well, and I'm a rather aggressive rider.
Click to expand...

I agree, Cheng Shin HiMax are decent tires. Currently, I have over 7K miles on the set on my 1100G. They have performed great in extensive canyon riding, well in wet and dry and I am not particularly gentle on them. Not down to the wear markers yet and I figure I will replace them around the 8k-8.5k mile mark. The HiMax wear evenly unlike BT, Dunlops, Michelin, Contis that I have run in the past. For the money and rounded performance they cannot be beaten.
 
rapidray said:
Cheap tires are like cheap helmets! They are all fine & dandy till you're laying on the pavement BLEEDING, or WORSE!, wondering what the heck just happened! Ray.
Click to expand...

If you replaced "Cheap" with "Poor Quality" I would be right there with you. But sometimes price is not the deciding factor in quality. That goes for everything you purchase, and not just motorcycle tires and helmets.
 
Cheap tires, never!

Cheap tires, never!

I learned your lesson in my 1977 Chevy Monza 305. No accident, but what a surprise! Since then I've allways chosen the best performance tires, irrigardless of personal finances. Until you replace those, you better ride like a pilgrum.
 
rapidray said:
Cheap tires are like cheap helmets! They are all fine & dandy till you're laying on the pavement BLEEDING, or WORSE!, wondering what the heck just happened! Ray.
Click to expand...

This is a fallacy that will lead you to waste a lot of money needlessly. The Cheng Shin HiMax is inexpensive, and the best, without a doubt, value for the money in street tire.

"Inexpensive" and "cheap" are not synonymous.

The quality of all tires made in the last ten years far exceeds the quality of tires built during the years GS bikes came out -- late 70's and early 80's.

Buying a tire because it's the most expensive is a "feel-good" attitude that results in the throwing out of perfectly good money.

Yet throwing away money is not against the law, so you're allowed to do so if you wish.

Cheap Grandpa
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Chuck78
Radial tires on vintage bikes - Continental etc
Replies
8
Views
763
Grimly
Grimly
F
Fly and Ride GS1100G
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
DanTheMan
D
Back
Top