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shinko 712 review

  • Thread starter Thread starter kdo58
  • Start date Start date
K

kdo58

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I have 2 gs850, I have had bt45 on both always had the recommended size 120/90-17, they worked ok in the dry, but sucked in the wet, and in WA. state i ride in the wet a lot.
What I did not like about them, was when I was going into a curve in the road it felt like I was riding a knife, the bike when leaned over felt like it wanted to fall over to quickly. which was annoying.
So I ordered some shinko 712, they did not have the 120 so I just got the 130. They fit just fine. Went for a ride what a difference, the bike is so much easier to corner, it just rolls into the corner without it feeling like it going to fall over. I have not tried them in the wet yet, suppose to have rain showers the next couple of days. I replaced the front tire with a matching shinko stock size.
shinkotires001.jpg

shinkotires002.jpg
 
Thanks for the review. Most of us have spent a couple extra dollars and gotten the higher-rated 230 Tour Master, it wll be interesting to see how the 712 compares.

If memory serves me, that tread pattern is similar to a Kenda Challenger. I know there is more than a tread pattern to the way a tire feels, but I have never been impressed with the Challenger. Handled OK, but did not last very long.

Please keep us updated concerning wet handling and tire life, if you would.

.
 
kdo58 said:
I have 2 gs850, I have had bt45 on both always

What I did not like about them, was when I was going into a curve in the road it felt like I was riding a knife, the bike when leaned over felt like it wanted to fall over to quickly. which was annoying.
Click to expand...
This feeling was with new tires or the old ones with considerable miles on them?
 
I put a set of Shinko 712's (100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear) on my '80 1000G in June. I've logged 2400 miles in rain, dry, and dirt/gravel roads with no load, load, and 2 up riding and burying the 85mph speedo. Because of their deep tread design they grip well in the rain and very well on dirt roads. They are wearing very little, nice and rounded and I push them pretty close to no chicken strip. I bought them for $70 for the pair, with free shipping and a nice set of 3 tire irons. They were a bargain and I'm happy. The only drawback is they lost traction on hard slow cornering while scraping my exhaust/pegs once. Not sure if it was the tire losing grip or the exhaust and pegs unweighting the rear first. I had to use my right boot to keep from losing it.
You should be happy with them especially if they were on sale. I've used the Shinko 230's too but unless you need a V rating there is not much difference. You're 850G will struggle to do 120+mph anyway.
 
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lurch12_2000 said:
I put a set of Shinko 712's (100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear) on my '80 1000G in June. I've logged 2400 miles in rain, dry, and dirt/gravel roads with no load, load, and 2 up riding and burying the 85mph speedo. Because of their deep tread design they grip well in the rain and very well on dirt roads. They are wearing very little, nice and rounded and I push them pretty close to no chicken strip. I bought them for $70 for the pair, with free shipping and a nice set of 3 tire irons. They were a bargain and I'm happy. The only drawback is they lost traction on hard slow cornering while scraping my exhaust/pegs once. Not sure if it was the tire losing grip or the exhaust and pegs unweighting the rear first. I had to use my right boot to keep from losing it.
You should be happy with them especially if they were on sale. I've used the Shinko 230's too but unless you need a V rating there is not much difference. You're 850G will struggle to do 120+mph anyway.
Click to expand...

Please tell me where you bought both tires for $70, free shipping and 3 tires irons!!!!
 
azr said:
Please tell me where you bought both tires for $70, free shipping and 3 tires irons!!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry, sale is long over. Back in winter Motorcycle-superstore.com had the promo. I bought some gloves and grips also to bring the total up to $100 for free shipping and tire irons. Cost of tires were $70. I didn't need the tires in Jan but hey for that price and all the GSes I have had I couldn't lose and I needed a good set of tire irons.
 
Yes to the keep us posted on them.Just put a set of 712's on my 78 1000 project.Not scrapping pegs so it looks like I'm good to go here!
 
lurch12_2000 said:
Those sizes fit an old GS450 but not the bigger 750,850,1000,1100. So add another $12 for the rears. Still a great deal.
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Those are the size tires on my 1100e right now. :eek: I would have guessed them to be right. My bike has a 19 front and 17 rear. Hmmm:confused:
 
loud et said:
Those are the size tires on my 1100e right now. :eek: I would have guessed them to be right. My bike has a 19 front and 17 rear. Hmmm:confused:
Click to expand...

Your link showed 100/90-18 and 110/90-18? Maybe my cookies changed it since I happened to be looking for these sizes last week on their website?:-k

update...ok cleared cookies and now cart shows empty so I would have to select sizes again. But no matter, they have good deals on these Shinko 712's.
 
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loud et said:
I am looking also. Here are the best prices I have found so far with free shipping over 89$
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/ViewCart.aspx
Click to expand...

can you send a link to the item itself? cart links are specific to the user's computer so when i click on that it just tells me i got nothing in my cart




edit - eager to hear more about the 712 review - i have a pair of bt-45s on my bike now, first tires i've ever rode on the GS so i have no frame of reference to compare them to. wouldn't mind hearing about what else is out there before these wear out.
 
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kdo58 said:
on sale
http://www.bikebandit.com/shinko-motorcycle-tires/n1348-4294964514
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OK, you got my curiosity up, so I just did a quick comparison at Bike BANDIT and Motorcycle Superstore.

I compared the Shinko 712 and the Shinko 230 Tour Master in sizes for my 850, 100/90-19 front and 130/90-17 rear.

At Bike BANDIT's "sale" price:
712 is 110.24 for the pair
230 is 136.06 for the pair

At Motorcycle Superstore's "regular" price:
712 is 106.98 for the pair
230 is 129.98 for the pair

Motorcycle Superstore ships for free on orders over $89, the BANDIT would charge me 8.95 for standard shipping or 27.95 for Express Shipping.

Once again, I come to the same conclusion: there is a reason that the BANDIT has that name.
icon_shrug.gif


.
 
kdo58 said:
on sale
http://www.bikebandit.com/shinko-motorcycle-tires/n1348-4294964514
Click to expand...

Steve's link (M'cycle Superstore) has them priced a bit lower than BB's 'sale' prices. Probably come out even cheaper, once shipping is factored in. The 230s seem to be sporting a much more modern thread pattern....think I'll try a rear, on my bike. One thing I have noticed about the Shinkos, is that they appear to be fatter than most other manufacturers tires, for a given size. Optical illusion perhaps?:rolleyes:

EDIT: I see Steve has beaten me to the price comparison. ;)
 
thanks for the updates on the tires Steve/kdo....I realize now my link was computer specific. For the money, the 230's seem like a great choice.:D
 
I have Shinko 712s on my GS650E. The rear wheel on that model is the skinniest I've ever seen on a 4 cylinder GS or KZ. Stock width is 110, and the only tire I could find in that size was the 712, so I bought the standard 100/90-19 up front and the 110/90-18 for the back.

These tires had about 300 miles on them when I headed off to the Red River Valley Rally this past July. I rode them in a variety of conditions.

Dry interstates at 80 mph - Great
Wet interstates at 70 mph - Great
Dry curves at 20-80 mph - Great
Wet curves at 10-50 mph - Great

Those I rode with that Saturday can attest that they did the job well. Over 300 miles of HARD corner carving, and nary a hiccup. Bike braked well too, and I never ran out of tread while heeled way over.

I like 'em. I see no reason to spend more money than what these cost for a mid size GS. I do question the longevity a bit though. The rear tire now has about 3,000 miles on it, and it looks to be about half worn. I think on a liter bike the rear tire might not last as long as some would like.

When the time is right, I will replace it with another 712.
 
I just ordered some 230's. Expected delivery date 8-30.:D
Currently I have a Kenda Challenger on the rear. Good shape but old. The front is cracked up beyond unsafe.
I rode 40 miles in the rain today and it was NOT cool. When you have no confidence in your tires, it makes wet turns very tense.
I have only been riding 3 years but know from a tire changes on my old bike just what your missing when riding on old junk.
 
Griffin said:
I see no reason to spend more money than what these cost for a mid size GS.
Click to expand...
I think the 230s have a higher weight rating, but don't know for sure.

Since my 850G'K' is probably heavier than an 1100GK :eek: I'll go with the higher weight rating.

.
 
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