Not your usual tire thread, tire gurus welcome!

[shirazdrum]

I?m in a bit of pickles since Pirelli discontinued my favorite dual sport tires. I used to run Pirelli Scorpions S/T but apparently they are things of the past now. I need a strong set of dual sport tires that can handle high speed, bad weather, some dirt and don?t cost an arm and a leg.

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The scorpions were 100 bucks a piece and didn?t last long at all (the rear at least, 4500 miles) but the traction and the performance was worth every penny. I ran those tires on Dempster highway in northwestern Canada, sands of the Oregon coast and thousands of miles of rainy roads and loved them.
The bike is a GS850GZ which takes 120/90/17 in back and 100/90/19 in front. I want a set of tires that I can run and if I like them, buy a few set to be shipped to me wherever I am on the trip. Keep in mind that the bike is 600lbs, plus it?s going two-up, 4 boxes full of crap and a full dry bag in the back. Total weight would be around 1100lbs fully loaded. The tires have to be able to handle such load plus some more for the stress of the bumps and humps.
What tire would you run if you were riding such a beast and why? Any firsthand experience would be great.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[TiberiusM]

I don't have any help for you, I just wanted to say your setup looks sweet. Any details when you have time?

 

[shirazdrum]

Thanks. You can read my journals and see the pics on my website at: www.motorcyclememoir.com . There is a long thread in GS stories section as well that i post the travel blogs but the archive on my website is much easier to catch up.

 

[almarconi]

The front tire is not so much a problem, but the rear is an odd size for a dual sport tire. Heres what I found from motorcyclesuperstore.com

Bridgestone Front Trail Wing 101 100/90-19 73.99 (This is a tube tire)

Bridgestone Rear Trail Wing 42 120/90-17 63.99 (This is a tube tire)

Shinko Rear 705 Series 120/90H-17 59.99

If you feel comfortable mixing brands, the fronts are available in the Metzler Tourance, Avon AM43, Dunlop D207, Bridgestone TW101 and the Continental Conti Trail Attack.

The 130/80-17 is available in more tire brands but I don't know if this size would fit your bike. Shinko also makes a tire in a 5.10-17 which I think translates to a 130/90-17, not sure if this will fit your bike.

 

[Guest]

I'd go with a set of Dunlop Elite 3s. Best bang for the buck in touring tires.

 

[almarconi]

Best bang for the buck in touring tires.

He needs a dual sport tire. Don't think a touring tire would work off road.

 

[Guest]

He needs a dual sport tire. Don't think a touring tire would work off road.

Oh sorry.
With what he's doing I'd go with the Dunlops especially with all the weight he's carrying.

 

[shirazdrum]

130/80-17 is wider and also shorter. Has anyone tried this size on GS850 rim? If it would fit OK, i would have a lot more choices. One brand and pattern would be nice but if i have tpp, mix and matching would be no problem. then there is the Kenda 761 in the size i need but the front tire is not the same. Kenda makes the 761 in 100-90-19 which is the right size for the front but it's a rear tire. i'm wondering if that would be OK. They are cheap and lots of KLR people swear by them.

 

[almarconi]

I would try a set of the Trail Wings. The price is reasonable and they seem like decent tires. It may be possible to run that tire, check the specs and see if it can be mounted in the front or rear. Some Avons can be run either front or rear.

According to the dennis kirk web site, the K761 in 100/90-19 can be run front or rear. But which tire are you going to go with on the rear?

 

[almarconi]

How about the Pirelli Scorpion AT or the Kenda K761? Both are available for your bike. Dennis Kirk has both of these.

$105.99 * Pirelli Rear MT90 Scorpion AT 120/90S-17 Tire
Dennis Kirk Part #: 541088
Manufacturer Part #: MT90
Aspect Ratio: 90
Construction: Bias
Position: Rear
Rim Size: 17
Speed Rating: S
Tire Classification: All Terrain
Tube Type: Tube
Units: Each
Width: 120
Width: MR/MS


$46.99 * Kenda Front or Rear K761 120/90H-17 Tire
Dennis Kirk Part #: 542219
Manufacturer Part #: K761
Aspect Ratio: 90
Construction: Bias
Position: Front
Position: Rear
Rim Size: 17
Speed Rating: H
Tire Classification: Dual-Sport
Tube Type: Tube
Units: Each
Width: 120
Width: MR/MS

 

[shirazdrum]

Trail wings are famous for being called death wings , i never had any experience with them but the name scares the hell out of me. The k761 has the right size for rear which is 120/90/17 and it is actually a rear tire.

 

[almarconi]

How about the pirelli scorpion AT?

Try the Kenda's if you don't like the Bridgestone. I didn't see any negative reviews on the Bridgestones. Here are some reviews
on the tire

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...e-TW101-Trail-Wing-Dual-Sport-Front-Tire.aspx

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...l-Wing-Dual-Sport-Rear-Tire.aspx?sst=RR|14706

 

[shirazdrum]

I wish the scorpion AT's had the matching front but they don't. The wings don't seem as scary as they make them sound, i'll look into that as well. I'll call Kenda tomorrow and ask them if i can run their tires on either end, if so i'll try a set.
Denis Kirk got some good prices, i usually get mine from Motorcycle Superstore but the AT's are cheaper at DK, i wonder about their shipping though.

 

[almarconi]

DK shows the Kenda as a front or rear tire. Shipping with DK is usually free over $100, there is a $5 per tire fee.

Motorcycle superstore has free shipping over $75 with no tire fees.

Pirelli has the scorpion trail in the 100/90-19 for the front. Here is the review

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...lli-Scorpion-Trail-Dual-Sport-Front-Tire.aspx

 

[salty_monk]

If I'm correct then the height of the 120/90 is 108mm. The height of the 130/80 is 104mm.

I doubt you'll notice 4mm it's about 20 thou over 1/8".

I have used Avon 130's on a 1000G rim. I believe Ed has them on a 82 850G. I have also used the Elite III's on the same 1000G rim also in 130 size.

Dan

 

[lurch12_2000]

130/80-17 is wider and also shorter. Has anyone tried this size on GS850 rim? ....

Most of us run the 130/90-17 tire on the stock 850G rear rim, even though the 120/90-17 is closest to the original stock tire size. This would give you a little more road surface with all that weight you're carrying, and still be the same tire height. This would also give you some choice for brands and best price available, between these 2 sizes.
It might be minor, but using the 130/80-17 will lose about 1/4" height which may be a factor with so much weight on your trip at regular tire pressures and cornering without dragging stuff, like the center stand. I know you probably aren't leaning aggressively with being weighted down and with all those varied road surfaces, but still could scrape on normal cornering.

 

[DanTheMan]

Here is the only replacement I could find, and it's at MCSuperstore. I run the same tires you do. http://www.motorcycle-superstore.co...elli-MT-90-Scorpion-A-T-Enduro-Rear-Tire.aspx

This one is 70/30 and 112.99 presently.

I tried the 130 year before last, and with all the slab riding it got real noisy as it squared off. I thought my splines were going out.

 

[shirazdrum]

well, here's the update. I tried calling Kenda a million times but no avail. I called Denis kirk and talked to their tech support and they assured me that the front and rear are the same. I also called Motorcycle Tire.com and got the same answer so it must be somewhat true.

I'm ordering a set of Kendas to use in the states and see how they do, if they do ok, i'll order more and in the mean time try to get some of the name tire companies to sponsor the expedition. Tires are the most expensive part of the bike, who knew!:-#

Chris

 

[almarconi]

If you wouldn't other wise do it, make sure to replace the tubes along with the new tires.

 

[shirazdrum]

I got new tubes too, and i'l take the old ones as spares. Kenda called me and they confirmed the sizes as well. for anyone interested it's official, the k761 pattern is universal and it fits both front and rear.