New tyres for my '77 GS750

[nickjtc]

It's getting closer and closer to the time when the bike will be back on the road for the first time in 27 odd years. The next question is: what tyres to bung on?

The manual says a 3.25 19 on the front and 4.00 18 on the back, which equate to 100/90 19 and 110/90 18 in new money.

So now the question is, which brand?

Suggestions?

 

[allojohn]

Let the fun begin!...
Avon Road Riders (don’t mention cracking) and Pirelli Sport Demons are the two I know and I’d ride both again.

 

[Big T]

Avons for me
you can still get the 4.00-18, I think I got the last 3.25-19 a few years back

 

[Brendan W]

I'm on Continental.
Used TK11 and 12 front and back.
Have a ContiGo on the back at the moment.
No complaints.
I think they list a 3.25 19

 

[bwringer]

The Avons, Pirellis, and Contis are fantastic but spendy.

If you need to save more than a few pfennigs, the Shinko 712 is fantastic for the money.

I've found them very sticky but somewhat short-lived, at least under my abuse on my much heavier bike.

 

[nickjtc]

Thanks for the input. I assume that if tubeless tyres are used then it is OK to put tubes in them...??

I doubt that 1977 rims will be suitable for the conversion to tubeless-only by sealing the spoke nipples and valve stems. Did that on my '96 Triumph Tiger and it worked fine. The rims had the moulded in lip around the bead which held the tubeless tyres safely.

 

[allojohn]

Thanks for the input. I assume that if tubeless tyres are used then it is OK to put tubes in them...??

Correct. Now, shall we talk about balance beads?

 

[bwringer]

Correct. Now, shall we talk about balance beads?

Troublemaker...

 

[nickjtc]

Correct. Now, shall we talk about balance beads?

Aha, I suspect the proverbial "can o worms" is about to be opened. I have used balance beads in the past. They seem to work, but take away from the satisfying "4 beer job" of spinning the wheel on a balancing spindle and using wheel weights.

 

[Rich82GS750TZ]

Aha, I suspect the proverbial "can o worms" is about to be opened. I have used balance beads in the past. They seem to work, but take away from the satisfying "4 beer job" of spinning the wheel on a balancing spindle and using wheel weights.

After 4 beers, I can only imaging that my wheel would be even more unbalanced than myself. But I’m a lightweight and the beers I drink typically are heavy with a high ABV.

 

[rphillips]

Some of my tires have beads, others have weights. I really can't tell the difference, other than the beads make the wheel look better.