Shinko Tires ??

[bakalorz]

You have a good method for balancing you can link to? When I did the Cheng Shins I think I played with weights until they didn't stop in the same quadrant four out of five spins.

Unless you have an electronic balancing machine like the tire shops, just put your axle through the wheel and support it on two jackstands. Rotate the wheel slowly, notice where it stops. Rotate it about 90 degrees, see where it stops. As you mentioned 4 out of 5 is pretty good.

Try this, it works MUCH better: (its hard to explain, but really easy to do)

Put the wheel/axle on the jackstands as above.
But instead of spinning it and seeing where it stops, leave the wheel stationary.
Now just put the tip of your finger on top of the bit of axle sticking out of the wheel and resting on the jackstand.
Now use your fingertip to roll the axle back and forth an inch or two on top of the jackstands ... back and forth, back and forth, back and forth ...
(go as far and fast as is easy/comfortable; half an inch to an inch, 1 or 2 times a second is good, the distance and rate don't matter within very wide margins)

The axle will be rotating as it goes back and forth, but the rotational inertia of the wheel keeps it stationary. So the wheel bearings are alternately transmitting very slight torque clockwise and anticlockwise to the wheel, regardless of if the wheel is turning very slowly or not. And these torques average out to zero, regardless of if the wheel is turning very slowly or not.

What this does is to reduce the (already low) friction of the wheel bearings to effectively almost zero.

So the tiniest bit of imbalance will cause the wheel to rotate to heavy spot down.

It seems like it couldn't work, or magic or something, but it really does work, and work well. If anyone really cared, its possible to prove it works using math and engineering, but thats way to much work for me ...
Just try it and see if it works for you.

Please note that when you are close to balanced, the wheel will only move very slowly because there is very little weight driving it.
Also, it should be obvious, but you have to keep rolling the axle back and forth the whole time you are balancing.

Using that method makes it easy to balance to within less than the smallest increment of wheel weight they sell (1/4 ounce I think)

 

[Macmatic]

Okay, that makes sense to me. Each little motion of the axle is going to encourage the heavy spot downwards. Or at least down when rolling one way and then the weight will resist motion when rolling the other way. I'll give that a shot!

/\/\ac

 

[gsgeezer]

Just got some from MotorcycleSuperstore.com
Hopefully they'll work out, I had Metzlers the last couple of tire changes.

 

[Roger P.]

A motorcycle journalist who posts on another site swears by Shinkos on his personal Bandit 1200.

 

[danmurphymn]

I have shinkos, not sure if they're 712's but I've put about 1500 miles on them. I bought them for the same reasons, cheap and they get good reviews by everyone but hard core racers. I've been extremely happy with them.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

Trying to find some locally in N.H. MOM's of manchester said we stock that size and would have some in today... I called today early and he tells me sorry we already sold it 130/90-17 Model 712 ... Damm I guess i have to just order it.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

Well I went to my local small motorcycle shop (Somersworth Cycle Center) and was ready to pick up or order (1) 130/90-17 712 Shinko tire for $70.00 + 25 to mount balance, so about $95.00 out the door (NH no tax) and then I told him about what I saw on E-bay (price wise) he called his supplier and told me he would do a front 120/80-16 and a 130/90-17 Shinko 712 for $115.00 out the door including mounting and balancing, I just have to bring them in... NO PROBLEM !!!! What a deal. I also told him my front is a Metzler Laser 120/80-16 with only about 5-600 miles I put on last year and he also said he would put in his shop if i wanted for sale $40-50 bucks or so.. Done deal...

 

[gsgeezer]

mail order shinkos

mail order shinkos

Damm I guess i have to just order it.

I have been ordering tires from motorcyclesuperstore.com for years.
Free shipping and great prices, with recommendations for local installers.
I have had the tires arrive in two days, that's how fast the shipping is.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

[/ATTACH]

Well I went to my local small motorcycle shop (Somersworth Cycle Center) and was ready to pick up or order (1) 130/90-17 712 Shinko tire for $70.00 + 25 to mount balance, so about $95.00 out the door (NH no tax) and then I told him about what I saw on E-bay (price wise) he called his supplier and told me he would do a front 120/80-16 and a 130/90-17 Shinko 712 for $115.00 out the door including mounting and balancing, I just have to bring them in... NO PROBLEM !!!! What a deal. I also told him my front is a Metzler Laser 120/80-16 with only about 5-600 miles I put on last year and he also said he would put in his shop if i wanted for sale $40-50 bucks or so.. Done deal...

Did it........ New Shinkos up front and back 120/80-16 Front and 130/90-17 in the Rear.. $115.00 Out the door Mounted/Balanced (had to bring the wheels in --No Problem) Slapped them on and got ready to test them out right after the rain stopped!! So far they feel pretty good!

That brings me to the NEW METZLER 120/80-16 ME33 Lazer Front tire I just took off! It's for sell $50.00 It has about 150-200 miles on it.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

What it looked like on the bike.

 

[almarconi]

Just placed an order for some shinko tourmaster 230's from motorcycle superstore, $107.95 delivered. The bike has cheng-shin hi max
tires installed on it now, the rear is mfg 2006 and front mfg 2007. Tires have a fair amount of tread on them. I'd just rather put some new tires on the bike while I have it all apart.

If anyone in the baltimore area has any use for these tires let me know. Front is 110/90-19 and rear is 130/90-16. Send me a pm and you can come pick them up.

 

[gsbobber]

ive heard alot of people talk about the pirelli sport demons how do the shinko tires compair to those

 

[gsbobber]

<---bump--->

 

[bwringer]

ive heard alot of people talk about the pirelli sport demons how do the shinko tires compair to those

The Sport Demons are expensive as hell and don't last long (4,000 miles/set for me), but they are without question the stickiest tires on the planet for vintage machines. If you're a rich person who does track days on your GS, there you go.


Personally, I use Avon RoadRiders -- they last a lot longer (6,000 miles rear, 12,000 front for me), they stick 99.99% as well as the Pirellis, and they're a lot less expensive. And they look cooler, I think.


My VX800 is wearing a very nice Shinko dual-sport rear tire, and I've installed Shinkos on other people's bikes. They're great tires for the money.

Keep in mind that even the cheapest nastiest new tire is going to be miles better and safer than the ancient rubber I've seen a lot of people riding around on. If your tires are more than three years old, replace 'em.

 

[Rkt-Rch]

Well I went to my local small motorcycle shop (Somersworth Cycle Center) and was ready to pick up or order (1) 130/90-17 712 Shinko tire for $70.00 + 25 to mount balance, so about $95.00 out the door (NH no tax) and then I told him about what I saw on E-bay (price wise) he called his supplier and told me he would do a front 120/80-16 and a 130/90-17 Shinko 712 for $115.00 out the door including mounting and balancing, I just have to bring them in... NO PROBLEM !!!! What a deal. I also told him my front is a Metzler Laser 120/80-16 with only about 5-600 miles I put on last year and he also said he would put in his shop if i wanted for sale $40-50 bucks or so.. Done deal...

I just put a set of SHINKO's 712's on my 85 GS700ES 120/80-16 Front and 130/90-17 Rear. I paid $115.00 mounted and balanced what a deal. I put maybe 250 miles so far and would say they feel like they are becoming sticker or should i say they like the road. Anyway I havent taken them out in the rain but on dry pavement they run smooth and so far hook up great. JMO... Check e-bay I could get the same tires for $123.95 shipped.

 

[kdo58]

avons

avons

where did you get the avons for that price?
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1035582&postcount=6

 

[bwringer]

where did you get the avons for that price?
http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showpost.php?p=1035582&postcount=6

I haven't ordered Avons all winter, but all last year at least, Dennis Kirk had the best delivered price for a set of RoadRiders:

http://denniskirk.com



Just an update -- I've been using Shinko 705 dual-sport tires on my V-Strom for about 4,000 miles, and have been VERY satisfied. Excellent wet traction (I've had way too many chances to test this the last few months) and plenty of corner carving traction as well in the twisties -- the peg feelers on the V-Strom got pretty beat up on IN45... Not bad in snow, either.

This doesn't have a damn thing to do with GS tires other than it's proof that Shinko makes good tires.