Where do you buy your tire?

[cybergost1]

i was able to use a 130/90/17 tire on my 79 xs11f with no problem. it cost me 69.00 plus 12 to mount

[Geezer]

I scored 2 new 130/90 17" Avon Roadrunners from a guy in Canada off eBay for $50 each shipped. I wish now that I had bought 3 of them. When the 16” rear wears out on the Mongrel I’m going to put a 17” on it if I have to swap out the whole rear end to do it.

The sad part is not one of my parts bikes had a used front tire that was worth a crap.

Geezer

[cybergost1]

same here my front tire is worn out bad but not as bad as my rear it had a major gash in it but i still test rode it until i got the new rear tire. lol love my xs11
bad tire spungy brakes rideing like a bat out of hell
just put on my grave he loved his bike lol

[Douglas Money]

I used to just take the bike wheel to the dealer and let them put it on. Now with the internet things have changed. I am overwhelmed at the amount of tires and vendors. I would just like some simple advice about who has run a standard (1979) and what tire they ran that they liked. Not too expensive, but not garbage. I appreciate any advice. Thanks,

Doug

[DiverRay]

Douglas,
I just ordered a pair of Dunlop Elete II tires for my '79. I didn't shop much, just went through a local shop, mounted, balance, new stems, as I've now got the '80 tubeless rims, and it was about $250. I know I paid too much, but the convienence factor was worth the money. I've run other tires, but the Dunlops seem to hold the road well, wet or dry, and last a LONG time. I've got well over 10K miles on the rear tire, and about 20K on the front. The rear is still good for about 4-5K, but I'll be putting on more than that shortly.
Ray

[Douglas Money]

Thanks Ray, and we're just south of Chicago. Honk as you go by or stop by for lunch.

[81XS1100-2006]

Inspired by this thread and my need for a rear tire, I located an inexpensive Dunlop: D404 130/90/17 for from $57-60 + various shipping. Looks like a good deal to this guy.
Bikebandit was cheapest w/ shipping too at $6 flat.

[DiverRay]

Just watch out for some of the tires, the load rating isn't what the XS11 needs! Some of the cheap 130/90/17 tires are only rated at 600lbs, and the XS should have the 800lb rating, just so it will last. IMHO
Ray

[xschop]

metzler 880 marathons

I really like the feel of these ones, however i will try the dunlop elite II's i keep hearing about here on my next set. the shop (cycle gear) wouldn't put the tire on without a tube because that particular rim didn't state suitable for tubless. Can somebody chime in here and expound on this situation, the guy at the shop said that the older rim could be made of more pourous alloy....hmmm

[DiverRay]

The older rims ARE tube type, and after about '80, they changed the bead design on the rim, and they are tubeless. You can put a tubeless tire on the rim, but you will need a tube as well. The rim of a tube type MAY NOT hold the tubeless tire on, and you can have a MAJOR blowout!
I always put a tube in my older rims, and just got lucky and picked up a tubeless rear rim.
Now after $78 worth of bearings and seals, it will be ready for the trip.
Ray

[xschop]

thanks

thanks ray, I will be on the lookout for a tubeless rear rim also. I have one for the front already

[Douglas Money]

Gee, my 79 has tubeless tires. I didn't think about it having a tube in them. Can someone let me know where to look on the rim for the tubeless designation? Not sure if the rims are original. Thanks.

[randy]

Doug,

The factory changed rims during the 79 model year, so you may have tubeless rims. I wasn't so lucky and had to find a set of rims to go tubeless. look at the spokes, if you see the phrase "suitable for tubless tires" well, there you go!

[DiverRay]

The rear rims are easy to identify. Tubeless rims have the flat spots for the rim locks, tube type rims have the holes in the flat spots for the locks.
All the tubeless that are stamped, have the stamp on a spoke near the "size" casting. This is on both front and rear rims.
Ray