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**ratbyk** · 03-24-2004, 06:48 PM

Tires

When I got my 78E it had Michelin Macadam on it. Was very pleased with their performance. When I ran the originals off it I bought a new set exactly the same.
Works very well wet or dry. Have never broken the back loose wet or dry and am getting good life out of them. I do ease the power on gently in the wet though. Don't like surprises.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"

**kevxs1100** · 03-24-2004, 07:04 PM

Thanks ratbyk, I am not about the speed either. My buddies have smaller and more agile bikes. I can catch them in the straights (I have much more power actually, it is a XS1100 after all), but they just blow me away in the corners. I don't mind throwing it in there. I just want to feel confident about my tires (and I need a new set).

**scalded dog** · 03-24-2004, 07:42 PM

I run Dunlop elite 470, great life and hndles well for me. Later 'Dog

**kevxs1100** · 03-24-2004, 08:02 PM

I like Dunlop tires!

**ratbyk** · 03-24-2004, 08:23 PM

Weight/Motorcycles

kevxs1100, weight turns a motorcycle into a pig. All the tricks in the world only marginally help. An XS1100 is heavy at 600 plus lbs. Your buddies on their 350 to 500 lbs. bikes will aways out run you in the tight twisties. Try and run them where you have big sweeping corners. The kind where you can crank on full power as you clip the apex and let it romp out all the way. You can wave good bye in a situation like that. In the tight ones, let them go. They will wait for you or stop for a smoke soon enough.
Keep the shiney side up.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500"lilRat"

**kevxs1100** · 03-24-2004, 08:33 PM

That is way too funny... All the guys I ride with smoke, but me. I guess you are right, I will catch them at their next smoke break! And I will give up a little in the twisties for what my 1100 gives me in pure performance any day!

**TopCatGr58** · 03-24-2004, 08:36 PM

Hey there Kev,

I, too, have a Special, and I believe there is a little more room width wise in the rear vs. the standards. Several years ago(decade) I put a Dunlop MU/140/90/16 491 Elite and then last year replaced it with an Elite II, same size, and it fits nicely. Get black wall if you can, the raised white lettering rubs a little on the shaft side!! They are a little wider (at 6")than the MT/130/90 that is recommended!!! Good traction and decent wear life, many on the FORUM run them.

In Ga. and Tenn. at the last fall rally, I was throwing it around in the twisties at Deal's Gap(Dragon), scraping footpegs and mufflers, no worries!!

**kevxs1100** · 03-24-2004, 08:43 PM

That is good info! They were the tires I was looking at. I was just waiting for somebody to tell me that they were running them. Now I am pointed in the right direction. I just won't get the ones that say Harley-Davidson on them!

Thanks,

Bob in SE PA.

(They would cost me 3 times as much if they said HD on them anyway!!!!).

**kevxs1100** · 03-24-2004, 08:51 PM

Front tire...

Here is another dumb question! Can you go wider in the front or should you stay with the stock OE tire size???

**Phyxius** · 03-25-2004, 06:16 AM

Can you define 'decent wear life' for me TopCat? The guy I bought my Special from had mostly bad things to say about Dunlop tires: too expensive, wear out too fast, etc. Me, I'm a blank slate when it comes to this area, so I followed the recommendation of a bike shop in my area and am running a set of Conti Tours. Like you, I enjoy a good set of twisties and I could chase them for miles on end.

Keep us (especially me) posted on wear and performance kev. I always perk up a bit more when I see a post from a fellow '79 SF owner out here. Mine is going to be my project this year: new exhaust, top trunk, passenger floorboards (have to make the missus comfortable), new paint over the winter, etc., etc., etc., on and on, amen. Like they say in the hot rod circles, if it's finished, it's for sale, so mine may never get done................

**jetmechmarty** · 03-25-2004, 06:59 AM

I ran OEM DUNLOPS on my XS650 for many years. I think they are F11 and K627. They handle very well for my riding style both wet and dry. I rarely went much over 3.5K miles before the rear tire was worn out.

I repaced them with AVON ROADRUNNERS last time. They will last me triple the mileage on the 650. They seem to grip just fine for me as well. Wet pavement doesn't seem to be a problem.

I bought my XS1100SG with CHEN SHIN HI-MAX tires on it. I hated them. They scared me on wet pavement. They wore out fairly quickly.

The XS1100 is now riding on CONTI TOURS at the recommendation of others. I am comfortable with them, but the jury is still out.

In the long run, I think tire preference will depend mostly on riding style. This is not a sport bike and I don't try to ride it like one. I do enjoy a spirited ride through the twisties.

**scalded dog** · 03-25-2004, 07:53 AM

I agree the first Dunlops I ran, wore out pretty quick, but the elite is entirely different, it's like a tire all by itself, I was wearing out tires right and left, including dunlops til I bought the elites, 4000 miles and still don't look worn . Later 'Dog

**Pickman** · 03-25-2004, 08:53 AM

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
...Several years ago(decade) I put a Dunlop MU/140/90/16 491 Elite and then last year replaced it with an Elite II, same size, and it fits nicely. Get black wall if you can, the raised white lettering rubs a little on the shaft side!! They are a little wider (at 6")than the MT/130/90 that is recommended!!!...

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire...tire.asp?id=10

I just hoped over to Dulop's website, and was checking out their Elite II tires, and I don't see a MU/140/90/16 listed. There's a 140/90B15, but I have no idea what the damn numbering means so I don't know the subtleties. I took a look at the tire recommendation for my 81' XSLH (midnight), and they say I should go with the MT90B16. Seeing as this lists a 3" rim, the widest I can see fitting is the 140/90B15. Bad part is that it's MAX load is 739lbs. My XS is already ~575lbs, and me a few inches over 6' and in the 260lb range, I'd be over.

Now there is a MV85B15 MC that is 6.02" wide, and carries 910lbs- but it's listed for rims that are 3.5" wide, not 3". I'm not sure if the half an inch would make a difference of not, that's why I'm posting all of this.

Anyone out there a tire expert, or at least fluent in tire-eese? Would you care to comment on rim width considerations and max load?

P.S.- It's a common misconception that HD stands for "Harley Davidson" on a number of products. Actually is stands for "hundered dollar", as in the cost mark up.

TIA,
-Pickman

**Jerry** · 03-25-2004, 09:47 AM

Goodie, another tire thread...

Dunlops are excellent tires. I run the K491 Elite II series front and rear, but these are set for touring. The K591 series claims to be "stickier" for cornering better, but wears quicker and has a higher initial price.

The 140-90-16 rear tire is a Harley size. Look at the D402 series for specs.

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What tires to run???

What tires to run???

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