Tire Recommends for OEM Wheels -- '79 XS Special?

[trbig]

lol. Just bustin' your chops a bit Ben.

It's not always easy, but with all the tires we go through, it's a necessary evil. The cost for someone else to mount that many would cut into my motorcycle madness a bit. I hope your surgery goes well for you. I'd hate to see you show up to an XS rally in a convertible. You think I give the trailer queens heck? Just try THAT once! lol.

[madmax-im]

Ha ha ....Its ok Tod I'm used to it...at the moment steroids are keeping things under control but surgery is coming in May...hate to say it but a certain rally i wanted to be at...well timing aint good anymore...
However since I have your attention what do you think of this tire?

http://www.amazon.com/Michelin-Pilot...in+130%2F90-17

[BA80]

Ha ha ha ha.....Tod, you showed up to an Arkansas ride with YOUR bike on a trailer once I can remember. Hell, it wasn't even Arkansas, it was SE OK.

[madmax-im]

Ha ha ha ha.....Tod, you showed up to an Arkansas ride with YOUR bike on a trailer once I can remember. Hell, it wasn't even Arkansas, it was SE OK.

LMAOoooooo

[jetmechmarty]

I'm not ready to rob a bank just yet -- though some of those tires look pretty amazing(!) -- what is some good tread for a poor white boy these days? And where do you get them?

Jim,

You asked for it. Now, what are you going to do?

[BA80]

Sooooooo...........what kind of oil do YOU use?

[motoman]

Gotta agree with Tod on the D404. I had one on the rear of my green SF. Made one trip to Wisconsin and back. It was done.

+3 on the Dunflop 404.........just a 'get buy' tire. Had them on both ends of bike. Pushed XSessively with corner loads, handling became an issue.

Ben, may give the Conti-Go's a try. Continental tires and XS11's always played well together in decades past using the dis-continued RB2(front)/K112(rear). The Conti-Go tread design plus Continental tires are a taller and wider center section than alot of manufacturers. The front 100/90 fills fender and rear 130/90 gives paper thin shaft housing clearance. Have only done some 1300 miles on them last yr., ALL highway miles, no local riding. Superb ride and handling, even thru a couple rain soakers on twisty roads.
With that, both still show the center mold mark around them. So far, having used several different manufacturer's tires(even Shinko/Kenda when young/broke) over the decades, the Go's are impressive, so far. Hopefully their longgivity is decent.

[jetmechmarty]

Conti-Go reviewers at Motorcycle Superstore complained that they were worn out at 4,000 miles.

PRETTY GOOD TIRE, BUT NO TREAD LIFE!

I commute 22 miles round-trip, 5 days a week on my XJ750, and after less than a year with these tires, it's already time to replace them. I'm not really a sport rider, so I was hoping to get more than 4-5k out of these tires. Great tires while they lasted.

CONTI GO! - AWFUL TIRE

I bought this tire for my F650GS because it was half the price of a Metzeler Tourance. Upon fitment, I immediately noticed less grip than the Tourance, especially in the wet/cold. Less than 4,000 miles later, the tire has reached the wear limit indicators. I'm not a hard rider, the bike is not heavy but to wear out in 4K miles is poor. A Tourance approx 10K miles. The worst tire I've used just about ever. Never again.

CONTI GO! REAR TIRE

I mounted a set of Conti GO!'s on an airhead BMW. I was disappointed with the tread wear, getting only an estimated 4k miles on the rear (I actually replaced it after 3k miles due to an upcoming trip). With that exception, I have no performance-related complaints. It's a good performing tire.

[TopCatGr58]

Ben,

READ the stats on the tires....their load weight ratings....you'll see that the 404 isn't rated anywhere near as heavy as the 501 or the E-3's, and that's part of why they wear out so fast on our HEAVY BIKES. I've got the E-3 on my rear, it's been there a couple of years now, but I don't do much riding, may 1-2K a year( Shut up Tod ), so it'll last me several years if I get 6-8k miles out of it...right up to the ~5-6 year age limit that we should observe so that we aren't riding on old hard rubber!

T.C.

[DiverRay]

Time for my $0.02.... as I'm also on the correct coast.
The E3's on the Special will go for a long time! I need to replace the ones I put on my MNS because of age, not wear. Granted, it's only got about 6K on them, but they are only about 1/2 down. I DID go up 1 size front AND rear. The problem I have with that is I can only put about 38PSI in the rear, or it rubs the shaft side of the swing-arm.
I just bought the Shinko's for the '79 Standard, and I'll need to see how they do. I DID get the touring tire, as it has a larger weight load. No, I don't remember the exact model number, but they were from motorcyclesuperstore.com, and wer about $145 for the pair delivered!

[madmax-im]

well crap I paid 100 bucks for the dunflop...I am going to return it and try to find something else...The reason I went to the 404 was because of things I had herad from other locals that were more favorable in their assesment than the folks on here... Why cant I just change rim sizes so I could fit and E3?...I know it aint that simple...
Dunlop doesnt make a size for the 501...the closest I see is 130/70-17 tell me this will fit pls......

[madmax-im]

Ben,

READ the stats on the tires....their load weight ratings....you'll see that the 404 isn't rated anywhere near as heavy as the 501 or the E-3's, and that's part of why they wear out so fast on our HEAVY BIKES. I've got the E-3 on my rear, it's been there a couple of years now, but I don't do much riding, may 1-2K a year( Shut up Tod ), so it'll last me several years if I get 6-8k miles out of it...right up to the ~5-6 year age limit that we should observe so that we aren't riding on old hard rubber!

T.C.

TC my tire choices are limited due to the 17" rear wheel....kinda sucks

[Prisoner6]

Hey, Jim -

Asking for tire recommendations is like asking which oil to use ... everyone has an opinion and you'll get a lot of different answers.

See what I mean, Jim?

Three full pages already ... and these threads can end up going in any direction!

[jetmechmarty]

...the closest I see is 130/70-17 tell me this will fit pls......

That will be significantly lower profile. I don't think I'd try it as your rim is very narrow.

[Prisoner6]

Marty,

Don't know if you saw it, but Ben started his own tire question thread ...

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43837