Dunlop GT501 Arrowmax

[jetmechmarty]

I put these tires on my XS1100SG and my XS650SK in the spring. My first impression was that it was the single best improvement I ever made to either motorcycle. The 1100 had been running Conti Tours and the 650 Avon Roadrunners. Both of which I was content with.

I rode the XS1100 to the West Virginia gathering with my daughter sitting behind me. We rode eight days of twisty pavement. The last day was in continuous rain. Some of it heavy. The tires gave me confidence in all conditions.

On the down side, I'm riding much less this season than is usual for me and the tires are wearing quickly. They'll probably last through October, but not much more. I don't expect to get 8K from the rear tire. They sure do ride nice though.

[gerkenbruce]

YES THEY ARE

HEY Marty
The GT 501 is the best tire I have had on the black and ya know I can get a little XSive with the black .

XSivly
Bruce

[bandet01]

nice info i am going to have to get new tire next spring so i am looking at all tire right now to see whats out there to run

[Pat Kelly]

other end of the spectrum

I have the 501's on my LG and I'm unhappy with them. I know different bikes, even of the same model and make, can handle differently.
My E with full touring set-up and 491 handles better in the twisties than my naked LG with the 501's. Things change at 120 MPH (not that I go 120 very often ). At 120 my E shimmies up to 128 then smooths out. Then you have to go through the 'shimmy zone' when slowing back down. The LG is stable at any speed (going straight).

[bandet01]

so you dont like the tires so what would you recomond since i do alot of drag racing i am looking for a good drag and street tire

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Bandet,

TurboX79....he's the guy that races the XS11 with turbo, do a search for "turbo racing", and you'll find his post about his machine, turning 10's!!!

He uses the Avon Super Venom. Says it gives him good traction for the track for his below 7K launches!

For the track you know you're going to want a softer compound, but that makes it NOT durable for long street use, can't have it both ways! Many of us swear by the Dunlop 491 EliteII's, good grip, and durability!
T.C.

[Pat Kelly]

I was going to put the K491's on the LG but I wanted something "sportier" as the LG is my fair weather/play bike. I wasn't as concerned with longevity.
It very well could be the way the LG is set-up suspension-wise and not the tires.
Both have fork brace, both have original rear shocks (the E has the dampining adj whereas the LG is preload only). The E has progressive springs, the LG has the original springs and air adjustment (holds air for about 3 weeks between 'tweaks').
Maybe the 'squirrellyness' is just too much throttle in the corners (I doubt it). If I had someone following me that could tell me what I can't see that would help.
The cycle tire technology has advanced in the years I was off bikes. Get as much input from as many people as you can on as many different tires as you can (Forum, speak up). Go to the track and see what others are running for tires.
Could be the 501's are better than my LG is currently able to make use of. I do see that on the rear I am using all the tread. On the front I have ½" of unused tread on each side. I have yet to scrape anything hard on the bike (pegs, centerstand, etc) on the LG. The E scrapes things quite often and there's about ½" of unused tread on the back and front tires. Then again, the E is probably 200 lbs heavier (685 lbs with a full tank and all bags/trunk empty). I'll have to weigh the LG someday.

[strom]

I have avon venom x front, roadrunner rear. Works XSellent in dry, not so good in wet, a total disaster on white road markings in almost any weather.
You don't feel the tires slip away in turns... there is just no effect if you want to adjust your angle or something. The bike turns just the same as it did before. In wet offcourse.
But I could reach silly everything scraping agnles with them in dry... total sticky madness. Best dry weather tire I ever had. Surprisingly little wear considering how soft the tires are.
The arrowmaxes... had the old model on my 85 ZX 600R. Nice. Follows the road grooves a bit too much. They are not made for such heavy machines as the elevens are. Hence, the wear. But I could pull a stoppie on any reasonably good surface.
I'll get Bridgestone BT45 next year and see what happens.

LP

[bandet01]

i see well i dont plan on riding in the rain so i just really want a good stick tire for dry and drag racing weather

[xs650mike]

I bought my bike with a new Metzler Lazer on the front...wore it out in 4,000 miles. There is very little tread depth on these tires. I've used them on other bikes and they work great, dry or wet but they wear out quickly. On my 11 Special it had an annoying tendency to follow pavement seams though on my other bikes there was no prob. Recently mounted a CS Barracuda cheapy and it works great, rode in the rain and it was fine. Don't know how long it'll last on a heavy bike like the 11. My rear Tour Elite II is about shot...gonna try a matching Barracuda on the rear and see how that is.

[pggg]

Ditto on the Metzeler on front, mine wore out down the middle way too soon. Had a Barracuda front also, lasted for ages and seemed to stick reasonably. Never had a drama with it when dry, but on wet roads I could feel it SLIDING. Hated that! Ran a Dunlop on front, but it scalloped out on the sides before long. No good. Ran a front Kenda. NEVER AGAIN! They're junk on an XS11. I've got a Bridgestone Spitfire 11F on front at the moment, and it's been the best so far. Always ran Conti Tours on the back. They last forever, but still stick O.K. too.

[xs650mike]

Bridgestone Spitfire is a great tire, used to run those on my CB750K...hard compound in the center and soft on the edges...hard to beat. Was thinking of trying the CS Barracuda V which has the same kind of dual-compound tread. Was recently riding when it started to rain, pavement was really greasy, first rain of the season. New Barracuda on the front stuck pretty well but the Dunlop Tour Elite II kept breaking loose...at least I could still steer!

[motoman]

I'm using Metzlers on my 81H tourer and like them well, ride,wear and tracking. ME33 Lazer front ME55 rear. Only thing, both are discontinued like the bikes. If I was gonna stay with Metzler, I would use the 880 series which are on the same carcuss configuration as the ME's were. The ME33 has always set the standard for all other front tires. Years ago when I first owned the bike new, I used Continentals. They offered extremely good handleing and wet performance, exceptional ride, but the trade off was somewhat lesser mileage. I would still use the ole' traditional Continentals but isn't offered anymore in a 17" rear. Like the totally nuetral handleing of the Metzlers so far, and the wear. What always put the ME33 front above the others was the ability for it to comliment most all manufacturers rear tire......and dat's all I know bout dat'.

[bandet01]

anybody make a good drag tire for the xs1100 or am i going to have to just stay with what i got

[dragxs11]

Dunno about a drag tire bandit... thats kinda funny coming from a handle like dragxs11. Guess drag racing was the plan in the beginning, but I got side tracked on cruising. Anyway, I use the 501 on the front if I remember right, but they don't make it in a 17 for my rear. I liked the BT45, Metzler ME880 wore too fast, and I'm trying a 90h Spitfire currently for a little higher gearing & width. But when it's done, I think I'll go back to the BT45 in a 80H. All three stay glued well for me and handling hasn't been an issue. We switched from a spitfire to an elite II on dads G, and he blames it partially for his fall due to the harder compound.