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Go to inexpensive tires for spoke rims

garyS-NJ

garyS-NJ

Forum Mentor
I have a '77GS 750 restoring for sale (I have a '79 GS1000 and '78 CB750F for old sport bikes) and need tires for the wire spoke rims. I like tire shopping but sometimes it's tireing. recommendations much appreciated
 
I just got a set of 712's from Amazon for a Little under $130. Free shipping also.
 
Either the Shinko 712 or, for a few bucks more, the Shinko 230 Tour Master.

Even though they are among the least-expensive tires that fit our bikes, they are really quite decent. Until recently, we had four GSes here, they were all wearing 230s. I have another 230 to put on the back of my bike rather soon, because the one that's on there now will not last until we leave on our little ride later this summer.

Just be sure to get tubes, too. :encouragement:

.
 
Probably the only choice that is less expensive than the Shinkos.

Do you keep them long enough to evaluate longevity?

.
 
I run Dunlop K70's on mine. They look cool and have performed well for me so far. I'm on my second set.
 
Yep, Shinko 712 or 230. Cheap and good. They work in all conditions. The only tradeoff is that they don't last as long as some more expensive tires.


Those archaic Dunlops are much more expensive and only available in a few sizes.


The other cheapie brand that pops up sometimes is Kenda, usually the Challenger -- I would definitely avoid these. Not great when dry, disastrous in the rain.
 
The only bike I ever had a matching set of tires on was my brand new off the showroom floor Lowrider. The Kenda K761's are due to arrive tomorrow and I probably would have gone with different set but the sizes are really odd on this bike and my brain kept telling me to get a matching set. Hopefully I'll be able to get out on them Thursday or Friday and give a report, for a shade under $100 a pair it seemed like a no-brainer.
 
LAB3 said:
The Kenda K761's are due to arrive tomorrow ...
Click to expand...
What bike are these going on? had to look up the 761, as I am not familar with that model. Seems to be a dual-sport tire.

Hope they work better than the 657 Challengers. Actually, just about ANYTHING will work better than the Challengers, so let's say that I hope they work a LOT better than the Challengers. I won't even push a bike with Challengers across the garage floor, let alone ride anywhere on them.

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Steve said:
What bike are these going on? had to look up the 761, as I am not familar with that model. Seems to be a dual-sport tire.

Hope they work better than the 657 Challengers. Actually, just about ANYTHING will work better than the Challengers, so let's say that I hope they work a LOT better than the Challengers. I won't even push a bike with Challengers across the garage floor, let alone ride anywhere on them.

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Click to expand...

They're going on the gs450. The main reason I went with a bike this small in the first place is to be able to get off the pavement a good ways to camp out. The bigger bikes are nice for going down the road no doubt but are cumbersome at best on two tracks or any kind of loose stuff.
 
Thanks, was just wondering what GS might be going off-road. The 450 should do OK on some hard-pack, but it's definitely too heavy for any serious stuff.

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Steve said:
Thanks, was just wondering what GS might be going off-road. The 450 should do OK on some hard-pack, but it's definitely too heavy for any serious stuff.

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Click to expand...

It's lighter than anything else I've ridden the last 35 years, that's for sure! At 400lbs I can lift it one end at a time and with a big honkin' roll bar should do what I need. If not, I should have no problem breaking even should I decide to sell it, I'm quite tall and will have to see how the riding position works out for me for longer runs. Am considering hitting the length of US 2 across the northern tier. Without a schedule to follow I don't care if it takes a few weeks and if I find a cool spot along the way, I can stick around awhile.
 
you'll have to be careful where the roads get rough. The backends of mufflers can hit in deep holes and a rollbar will catch hummocks in ruts. Any rollbar I've had bends back too, including the three point ones (mine snapped at welds at the aft lug) though they do save the engine even so.I guess I'm thinking I'd take it off if the roads are soft and muddy but useful if I were expecting to dump in rocks or hard pan at higher elevations
 
I'm looking at the roll bar as a way to keep from getting pinned underneath if I dump it. There was someone here on the forum a week or two back showing a pic of his scrambler style exhaust on his. Like I'd mentioned, I'm still not quite convinced this will be a long term bike for me just yet. I'm not an agressive Rider and don't need a lot of power, it takes a lot more effort to bounce back from stupid mistakes at my age.
 
I've been under my 400 (and a yamaha 650 once too) -it was not too bad. even in soft ground I was able to push and shove and get my leg out .
However, if it had been my 4 cyl...
check these out-Peace of mind search "fallen motorcycle jack" or the like. I made one because I could :) be sure to watch the funny videos. especially the last one
http://www.motobikejack.com/
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/a-portable-jack-for-picking-up-a-bike.930670/
[url]https://www.advmotorrad.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=531
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbbWfpLz08
[/URL]
 
Last edited:
Gorminrider said:
I've been under my 400 (and a yamaha 650 once too) -it was not too bad. even in soft ground I was able to push and shove and get my leg out .
However, if it had been my 4 cyl...
check these out-Peace of mind search "fallen motorcycle jack" or the like. I made one because I could :) be sure to watch the funny videos. especially the last one
http://www.motobikejack.com/
http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/a-portable-jack-for-picking-up-a-bike.930670/
[url]https://www.advmotorrad.com/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=531
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbbWfpLz08
[/URL]
Click to expand...

We used to run around on Honda Trail 110's at work (surveying) 30+ years ago. Imagine the humiliation in a burly 6'4" 235lb biker kid that was built like an NFL tight end being pinned underneath in a weird position not able to lift it off. Not a proud day, I can laugh about it now.
 
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