Tires !!!!!!

[bikerphil]

One other little note on S-11's. I put 110's on the front of my 79F - sufficient room

The S-11 110 won't work on the front of the Special, too wide, hits the fender.

[dbeardslee]

I thought TC was running a 110 404 on his special. Check this thread.

[bikerphil]

Yep, don't know about the 404, but once I ordered an S-11 110 and it wouldn't fit my Special and I had to send it back.

[dbeardslee]

Phil - did you try a blackwall or RWL?

[bikerphil]

Phil - did you try a blackwall or RWL?

I tried the blackwall on the front. The reason I started using the Bridgestone S-11's is that they seemed a bit wider for their size compared to other brands of tires I've used in the past. This is great for the rear tire (looks better). So, 100/90-19 is the largest size S-11 that'll fit on my 79SF.

[DenyP]

Careful of the Coonti tours Denny, have had reports on the ST site of sidewalls and tread face coming apart

Wow, Thanks for the heads up!

Deny

[jaimes-duran]

I have a bridgestone spitfire's they are great at handling at high and low speeds. I'm not exactly sure what I gave for them but know they weren't too steep. I've been riding a lot on them and they still look new. Love em!

[Dragon Tamer]

I had thought the Dunlop E3's were the absolute top until I put the last one on the front. Got caught in a rainstorm and it tried to kill me. I have been watching several other bike websites and it seems to be a common problem. Ripped them off and put Metzeler 880E's on. Will never look back, phenomenal tires, work well in the rain, don't tend to track the tar snakes or any thing else on the road, pushing 9000 miles on the set and NO sign of wear at all. Friend of mine just went over 14,000 mi on his set and changed them out a month ago only because he wanted new ones on there to make a run out west. I never quibble about the price of a good tire, it is MY butt they are holding up off of the road!!!!

[Montreux_Blue]

I never quibble about the price of a good tire, it is MY butt they are holding up off of the road!!!!

Exactly, you could only have one chance with that butt.

[kirmit77]

Well im looking into getting either the spitfire or the 880. I just cant believe this darn tire didnt last longer. Probably wont go for another dunlop, even the elite 3

[dbeardslee]

Here's a little something else to think about. Although you can balance them on the bike, if you want to do it yourself, one of these might make it a little easier. Available at Harbor Freight for $59.99.



On the rear it'll be much easier if you take it somewhere to have it mounted. If your '79 is like mine, you've got rim locks on the back. I'm pretty sure satan designed those . They're a royal PITA.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I put my own on the rear of my 80 MNS. Went pretty easy.

[dbeardslee]

80's don't have rim locks.

[Codger]

404's

I'm on my second set of 404's- have almost 10k miles on them- the rear still has about 40% of original tread and the front has about 70%. Any time I get 10000 miles out of a rear tire I am happy.

[DenyP]

Here's a little something else to think about. Although you can balance them on the bike, if you want to do it yourself, one of these might make it a little easier. Available at Harbor Freight for $59.99.



On the rear it'll be much easier if you take it somewhere to have it mounted. If your '79 is like mine, you've got rim locks on the back. I'm pretty sure satan designed those . They're a royal PITA.

I have mounted my own on both bikes the last couple of years. The rim locks are a job to work around! I am going tubeless for this very reason. You have a flat on the road, it is just about impossible to make a roadside repair!!

Deny