best sports tyres for GS1000EN

[Greenbraes]

OK. I'm sure this has been asked before..sorry....I am looking for the best up to date sports tyres for the original wheels on my 79 GS1000EN (bearing in mind they will need inner tubes too)....what are your thoughts guys?

cheers

RB

 

[John Kat]

I use Dunlop Arrowmax GT 501s.
They hold on very well in the twisties but I haven't really tried them in the rain.
Another good choice are the BT 45s from Bridgestone.

 

[hampshirehog]

Pirelli Sport Demons.

 

[7981GS]

+1 on the Sport Demons.

They go away a bit faster than the V-rated Bridgestone Battleaxe BT-45's though which are a very close second in my book.

Daniel

 

[Dogma]

A lot of people also liked the Avon Road Riders before the cracking problems appeared. Some still use them. VenomX is was also good, if you couldn't get the RoarRider in the correct size for your front. Good wet or dry grip, reasonable durability. Other people like the Spitfire S11, though they may not be as "sporty" as others.

I seem to remember the Sport Demons don't last quite as long as others. Is that right?

 

[Guest]

Tyres

Tyres

Avon Road riders for me as fitted to my Gs1085S ,was recomended them by 2 earlystock racers
have found them brilliant in the wet and dry......
tried sport Demmons ,they only lasted 1000miles then were awfull in the wet,but everyone has differant opinions.....
I havent had any cracking problem with mine?....

 

[Suzuki mad]

I'd go for Pirelli's personally. Seem to handle better on a GS than BT45's.

 

[Guest]

I'd go for Pirelli's personally. Seem to handle better on a GS than BT45's.

Just the same as the old phantoms "we had back in the eightys" ,us older boys will know what i mean Aaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhhhhhh.......
good for 1000/1500miles then go off......

 

[tkent02]

Road Riders, just be sure to wear them out before they crack.

 

[7981GS]

Road Riders, just be sure to wear them out before they crack.

But they arrive cracked brand new! :lol:

Another GOOD one from tkent.


Daniel

 

[bwringer]

For the stickiest of all, Pirelli Sport Demons, hands down.

However, they are expensive, soft, and wear out quickly.


Avon RoadRiders cost a bit less, stick 99.5% as well and last a lot better. Plus, they have far better handling manners when they're worn -- even when the tread is getting faint, they still feel great.

RoadRiders also have a slightly "pointier" profile that sharpens handling a bit, like your bike lost 100 pounds -- very nice effect on a GS. I like 'em, obviously.

FWIW, I've never seen a cracked RoadRider in person, and I've used up and installed at least two dozen on my bikes and on bikes belonging to several friends. Do whatever makes you happiest.

 

[Guest]

I use the Avon Roadriders on both my bikes, no cracking problems as yet.
And I likes 'em.

 

[Greenbraes]

thanks guys...looks like I will give the avon roadriders a try

cheers

RB

 

[salty_monk]

I believe (partially from personal experience) that some of the cracking issues are caused by people running them at too low pressure....

Avon's recommendation is a far higher pressure than the 30 year old Suzuki one.

 

[Shin-Ken 1074]

Yeah I agree with the general consensus here: Pirelli Sport Demon! I have them on my 1982 1100S and they are the best handling tyre I have experienced in the 26 years I have owned it! Hard sharp twisties, mountain roads, hills, flatlands, wet or dry roads (no snow for this black duck) they perform so well that you enjoy every ride no matter what the weather throws at you. Yes, they may wear a bit quicker than some of the other brands but it's cheaper to put very good tyres on a bike than repair a bike after a prang because the low price rubber (cheap tyres are cheap for a reason in most cases) has let you down when you needed it most. Pirelli recommend a max pressure of 40 P.S.I. for these although I use 38 P.S.I. front and 36 P.S.I. rear for a bit of comfort. At these pressures I get 17,000km to 22,000 km per set depending on the quality of road surface. I haven't noticed any degrading in the handling as they get towards the end of their life. That's one of the things I like about them they have always maintained the same rate of feedback and performance from start to finish which means you actually get better value for your money than a cheaper tyre that drops off in performance as they wear and need replacing. cheers.

 

[Steve]

Have any of you "sportier" riders tried the Shinko 230 Tour Master? :-k

I know several of us more-sedate riders are using them with no complaints, just wondering how they feel when pushed a little harder.

.

 

[tkent02]

Have any of you "sportier" riders tried the Shinko 230 Tour Master? :-k

I know several of us more-sedate riders are using them with no complaints, just wondering how they feel when pushed a little harder.

.

I'm interested too, but I only wear out dirt tires anymore, none of the GSes even need tires. Bummer. Planning on trying them on the 550/650 clone if that ever happens.

 

[7981GS]

Have any of you "sportier" riders tried the Shinko 230 Tour Master? :-k

I know several of us more-sedate riders are using them with no complaints, just wondering how they feel when pushed a little harder.

.

The one on the back of this 1100EX that I have been riding around the past few weeks has one on it.
No problems being sticky yet.

Daniel

 

[49er]

Yeah I agree with the general consensus here: Pirelli Sport Demon! I have them on my 1982 1100S and they are the best handling tyre I have experienced in the 26 years I have owned it! Hard sharp twisties, mountain roads, hills, flatlands, wet or dry roads (no snow for this black duck) they perform so well that you enjoy every ride no matter what the weather throws at you. Yes, they may wear a bit quicker than some of the other brands but it's cheaper to put very good tyres on a bike than repair a bike after a prang because the low price rubber (cheap tyres are cheap for a reason in most cases) has let you down when you needed it most. Pirelli recommend a max pressure of 40 P.S.I. for these although I use 38 P.S.I. front and 36 P.S.I. rear for a bit of comfort. At these pressures I get 17,000km to 22,000 km per set depending on the quality of road surface. I haven't noticed any degrading in the handling as they get towards the end of their life. That's one of the things I like about them they have always maintained the same rate of feedback and performance from start to finish which means you actually get better value for your money than a cheaper tyre that drops off in performance as they wear and need replacing. cheers.

I love the consistent feedback from Sport Demons too. I only get 5000 kms out of a rear and around 7000 kms on each front. You must be riding good surfaced and straight roads to get 17000 - 22000 kms out of a set of SD's!!!!!

 

[TheCafeKid]

Yes the Avons "check". I've had a few sets that have. They stayed on the bike and I rode the hell out of em. Never had a failure, never had one so much as even whimper, wet or dry. I think the checking issue is a non-factor to be honest. Should it happen? Likely not. Is it a true safety issue? I've logged roughly 40K on various sets, never had a problem with them. Not leaking, no structural failure, nothing.
Yes they absolutely DO need to be run at higher pressures. If you run Road Riders or their venom X counterpart (only available in the front size anymore but the combo IMHO is better than the Roadriders on both front and rear, the venom bites a little harder which gives that "on rails" feel in long fast sweepers) at the factory suggested pressures they will not last. They'll check worse, they'll saw tooth, and they'll flat out the center. I'm not light by most measuring sticks; 6'4 down now to 245lbs but was up to 280 at one point!! And I ran one up at 38 front 40 rear. Two up or with luggage add two pounds each end.
They are pointy as Brian said, which removes the slow tractor like feeling from the comparatively long wheel-base GS models (KZs had a bit shorter wheelbase, and while that made them feel more nimble, they could be a bit scary at speed and headshake was an issue when rolling on throttle out of the apex...this issue is still a Kawasaki trademark as evidenced by my ZRX) At speed however, the Avons pointy profile does not take away from the GSes nature to generally be rock stable at high speed runs. I've tested this thoroughly Pointy, aggressive steering tires (or I guess tyres since we are talking Avons here) can sometimes lead to skittish behavior in long corners, the bike not wanting to stay on the desired line...never have had such a problem out of these.

I've never tried the sport demons, as I felt I would go through way too many tires a season, and the added "sticky-ness" didn't outweigh the added hit to the wallet, as the Avons had never let me down in fair comparison at high lean. (Though, chuck sand or gravel under any tire and they're likely to squirm a bit )
But I have tried BT45s. Didn't like em. Tried a couple of Cheng-Shin. Didn't like em. Dunlops, nope. I always came back to the Avons. My last GS I didn't keep long enough (either time I bought it...heh) to go through the Kenda Challengers it had on it. Those were the single scariest tire I'd ever ridden on. In the dry when pressed not even as hard as I would normally press a tire (and there are many guys on here who would press harder than I, I'm not saying I'm Joe Racer, but I like to push it when the mood's right) they felt greasy...in the wet? They felt downright dangerous. Definitely NOT confidence inspiring at all.

I damn near low-sided a GS1000G with those fitted to it, with Rose on the back. Bless her heart, she said afterwards she knew we were in trouble when the bars were pointed the opposite way we were going. But she never grabbed me up or freaked out. She said she just hunkered down behind me and tried to stay as centered on the bike as she could. She said she knew I'd either pull it out, or we'd try out the new gear we'd just picked up over the previous winter Man I got an awesome wife!! Hahaha! Somehow, through sheer muscle memory and instinct, I kept it up, stayed on the gas and worked the front wheel back on line, it was over before I could even process what happened. But I'll never put those tires on my bike, nor will I aid in spooning them onto anyone else's.
They might be ok for a Sunday rider who putts around, but if you ever get frisky, there are a slew of other tires out there that are tens of hundreds of times better suited for the job that cost the same money or so. Kenda Challengers are probably worse than some of the mediocre tires that our bikes could be outfitted with when they rolled out of the showroom. And I mean that sincerely.