Metzeler Sportec Klassik

[bobtail84]

Back in mid March this year I placed an order with my local independent motorcycle dealer/parts store who is an all round good egg who used to race GS1000's back in the day and has even raced against Barry Sheene. I payed for a pair or Sportec Klassiks and he said he will give me a call when they come in. Over the next 5 months I would pop in the store for parts and enquire about my tyres and he would chase Metzeler again and he would call to say they are still on back order and could not give me a definitive date and would I like my money back, to which I always said no as I still had a couple of mm left on the back tyre. Today the very nice man in the parts store called to say that Metzeler have said the tyres will not be available till next year... as there is a problem with production.

I've had a hunt around the tyre suppliers here in the UK and they are also out of stock, so what shall I buy inplace of the Metzelers, any suggestions?

 

[Chuck78]

Bridgestone Battlax BT45V (BT45R is what sidewall says, but they are advertised as BT45V).
FANTASTIC tires, rear wears evenly, which is not the case with all of the other tires that give you this good of grip.

I have really wanted to check out the Continental Classic Attack radials for our bikes, but they only come in stock sizes, basically 100/90-19 or 90/90-18 front, & 110/90-18 rear... and I run aftermarket 18" rims several sizes wider.

Avon Road Rider AM26's are the default if lookimg for great treadlife and decent grip. I myself prefer a fast wearing ultra-grippy performance tire over something that wears for a very long time (Shinko 230, Pirelli Sport Demon, Battlax BT45 front, etc). The Battlax REAR TIRES advertised with SACT technology are a dual compound, so the center wears longer/better and doesnt wear flat from highway/city riding, but the side tread lean area is still very grippy / soft for the ultra grip that I demand.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Wow you can't find them in the UK??? I see they're available here in the USA.
If you want Metzeler, ask about the Lasertec availability. Many 4 & 5 star reviews.
We have no idea how you ride, intense cornering or just casual touring.

 

[steve murdoch]

Not sure we know what you ride either.

 

[bobtail84]

Chuck78, I have BT45's front and rear. I am ok with the way the rear has worn but the front has washed out on me twice and worn in a strange way. I have changed the fork legs for new Tarozzi fork tubes with race tec emulators and hagon springs so that might sort the strange waring and wash out issues. I too like the fast waring super grippy tyre so I may see the man about some sport demons.

Buffalo Bill, not to much touring done here but occasional 1/8 mile drags on an air strip near me and general spirited riding. Also due to being old enough to know how much it hurts when you have a spill but stupid enough to have fun I do try not to go over the top, most of the time.. :fat:

Steve Murdoch, my bike has a USA GS1100 frame, UK GSX1100 et fuel tank, swinging arm is from the same bike, 17" rear wheel, 19" front with salty_monk brake conversion and a slightly breathed on GS1000 engine.

 

[bonanzadave]

Metzeler have said the tyres will not be available till next year... as there is a problem with production.

Have you checked a US tyre dealer ? How much to ship (fedex/ups) international ? Seems like the GS riders on this site have been able to get them and like em...

https://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=54800&d=1525196126

 

[steve murdoch]

I was happy with the grip of the Shinko Tourmaster 230s.
They have great reviews.
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/shinko-230-tour-master-tires

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Chuck78, I have BT45's front and rear. I am ok with the way the rear has worn but the front has washed out on me twice and worn in a strange way. I have changed the fork legs for new Tarozzi fork tubes with race tec emulators and hagon springs so that might sort the strange waring and wash out issues. I too like the fast waring super grippy tyre so I may see the man about some sport demons.

Buffalo Bill, not to much touring done here but occasional 1/8 mile drags on an air strip near me and general spirited riding. Also due to being old enough to know how much it hurts when you have a spill but stupid enough to have fun I do try not to go over the top, most of the time.. :fat:

Steve Murdoch, my bike has a USA GS1100 frame, UK GSX1100 et fuel tank, swinging arm is from the same bike, 17" rear wheel, 19" front with salty_monk brake conversion and a slightly breathed on GS1000 engine.

For mo-betta handling; slide the fork tubes up about 25-30mm. Eliminate as much rear weight as you can, and change the rear brake caliper to one than mounts below the swing arm.
You've made some decent upgrades already, you can do these too.
Best 'o luck!

 

[bobtail84]

Buffalo Bill, I have tried dropping the tubes and it caused the collector of the Harris to ground out even if I was dropping down a small curb or bump.

I have also placed an order for a pair of Pirelli Sport demons and only paid 1 of our English pound more than the man had taken for the Metzelers, so they will be in the shop next week.

 

[salty_monk]

I run 1/2" longer rear shocks instead of dropping the fork tubes.... Increases clearance. Needs a block on the side stand though.

Not sure (other than weight) what advantage an underslung rear caliper would bring?

I assume you've checked head bearings & also that everything is straight. A cartridge emulator is a worthwhile fork upgrade so you can play with the damping. Believe it or not I much prefer the cheap Shinko's over the Avon Roadriders (Despite doing a lot more mileage on roadriders as they were my "go to" tyre for a long time).

 

[limeex2]

I used Avon's on the street and for track days. Worked fine. Don't care how long they last as long as they stick and are predictable. I couldn't get Sport Demons to mount properly on the rear. I have D.I.D. spoked rims.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

I run 1/2" longer rear shocks instead of dropping the fork tubes.... Increases clearance. Needs a block on the side stand though.

Not sure (other than weight) what advantage an underslung rear caliper would bring?

I assume you've checked head bearings & also that everything is straight. A cartridge emulator is a worthwhile fork upgrade so you can play with the damping. Believe it or not I much prefer the cheap Shinko's over the Avon Roadriders (Despite doing a lot more mileage on roadriders as they were my "go to" tyre for a long time).

I don't dispute any of your comments, and agree on those I've tried.
Moving the caliper to the underside, maybe a slight improvement in flick-ability in S curves, but all sportbikes have it below the swingarm.
Never tried emulators.
I have put 1.5" extenders on my rear shocks, and would have bought longer shocks if I could do-over. I did put a wood shoe on the foot of the sidestand.
On my 2nd Shinko front, next season due for 3rd Shinko rear, but wish I knew of better tires.
Have not modified the frame of my 1100G, and don't have any intention to do so. Makes more sense to just buy a bike 3 decades newer.

 

[Gorminrider]

Chuck78, I have BT45's front and rear. I am ok with the way the rear has worn but the front has washed out on me twice and worn in a strange way.

There's something odd here..at least per what I do- You have what looks like a BT45 Rear on the front AND it's tread is "going the same way"...I believe usually patterns are reversed front and rear if they are the same pattern. (Avon Roadrider "universal" tires do this and Avon has a little blurb on this somewhere too ). I think you have the rear as correct with it's rotation arrowmark but the front should be opposite? Or, have a look at the correct BT45..https://fortnine.ca/en/bridgestone-battlax-bt-45-sport-touring-front-tire. There's also a Bridgestone Spitfire that I often see on the front with a BT45 probably due to it fitting more rims...oh well, just saying

 

[bobtail84]

There's something odd here..at least per what I do- You have what looks like a BT45 Rear on the front AND it's tread is "going the same way"...I believe usually patterns are reversed front and rear if they are the same pattern. (Avon Roadrider "universal" tires do this and Avon has a little blurb on this somewhere too ). I think you have the rear as correct with it's rotation arrowmark but the front should be opposite? Or, have a look at the correct BT45..https://fortnine.ca/en/bridgestone-battlax-bt-45-sport-touring-front-tire. There's also a Bridgestone Spitfire that I often see on the front with a BT45 probably due to it fitting more rims...oh well, just saying

Well you did make me wonder if I did have the tyre on the wrong way but I just popped out to the bike and the directional arrow is facing the correct way, I think it's just the way the tyre looks in the picture.

 

[Gorminrider]

another way to say what I'm wondering: Did someone put a rear tire on your front? in which case, the arrow should be reversed. But whatever-youre going to change them anyways. I was just curious seeing as BT45s are supposed to be pretty good tires. The set I am looking at has a totally different tread pattern than what you have there...

 

[2BRacing]

My front BT45 looks like bobtail's, and my tyre's direction arrow is also correct:

However, my rear BT45 has different tread pattern to front:

 

[Gorminrider]

aah! thanks,2BR and Bobtail- sorry for the distraction . I couldn't see the cross-hatch in the picture. (and I'm kind of sensitive to bad comments on tires I am thinking of buying!)

Speaking of bad comments, I would be careful of Avon Roadriders on those rims. Mine started leaking at the bead after a year...they went on too easily compared to other tires and didn't make a satisfying POP! when they seated. after trying to reseat them a few times, I ended up putting inner tubes in. Plus, I see some cracking and the tires are not 5 years old. Mind you, when they go slowly flat as I rode on a longish run, that did not help- they cracked around the rim... Might have been a bad batch, might be an idiosyncrasy of these particular suzuki rims... but I am not pleased and won't risk it again.

 

[2BRacing]

I used to use Metzeler ME77 and Lasertecs, and was happy with their handling. However, the front tyres always wore down with "cupping" (high/low spots).

Last tyre change I fitted my first set of BT45's, and am also happy with their handling. The front has worn much more evenly than the Metzeler's.

Gorminrider, over the years, I have seen quite a few reports here on GSR of Avon Roadriders cracking. Supposedly the rubber compound was changed by the factory to correct the problem, but I do not know exactly when that was done, and if that has completely solved the problem of cracking.

 

[fbody_mike]

I replaced an Avon Roadrider last month on the Seca Turbo that was manufactured Sept 2017 and it had cracked in the middle just like all the ones before it. I never had a problem from it, and it usually cracked near the end of its lifespan. I don't think they have it fixed, that bike now wears at BT45V. Those Avons did handle really nice though.

 

[Downs]

I've been running Shinko 712s on my GS1k for a few years. I like them quite a bit and the price is right.

I'm a big Shinko fan though been running them for q long time on many different bikes.