Tire Choice

1403 Views 15 Replies 8 Participants Last post by sullivanjay, Jun 4, 2009

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · Jun 3, 2009

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Hi, Time for new tires. After 3 sets of tires I did not like, OEM and two sets of Continental's (old Triumph guy) I put on Metzelers. I put a ME88 Marathon on the rear and a ME33 on the front. Heaven. Now I drive in the rain confident. I have used up my second set and it's time again. I see the ME33 is now called Lasertec Bias Sport. (just from tread pictures) The ME88 Marathon Tour suggests the Lasertec for the front. This is the setup that I’m using now. I also see I can get a ME880 Marathon Touring tire for the front. So the question is has anyone had experience with the ME88 rear and ME880 front? I'm happy with what I have but very curious on my choice here. I'm 60 years old and don't drive like I use to but I have had to add a fork brace to stop front fork from twisting. Also I have no bags or fairing on this bike. / Thanks for input / J

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Bagmaster

· #2 · Jun 3, 2009

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You should get a lot of miles out of those with the lesser weight of riding a naked Wing. I am currently trying out my first set of Dunlop Elite 3's and I love them, getting good mileage and wear on them too.

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 3, 2009

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Thanks for input. I have Dunlop's on my HD. I like them and have no complaints. I think I will switch the HD to Metzeler's also when the time comes. Better in the rain. (Metzler makes white wall's now) Anyway I'm leaning towards the Marathon front and rear. Was just trying to see if anybody had that combination in use.

rcmatt007

· #4 · Jun 3, 2009

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oh no.... not another:shock:

fastest oil

synthetic tyre

longest wearing best riding colour thread:cooldevil::cooldevil::cooldevil::cooldevil:

mdbauer1962

· #5 · Jun 3, 2009

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SJ - I have a 1980 GL1100 that I still am still bring back to life from a 17-year deep sleep. I put on Dunlop D404's and they seem OK, but I have only ridden 300 miles or so between repair/rebuild/renew sequences. You mention fork twist on your GL1100. How do I identify fork twist when riding? Note: I have a Vetter full fairing bagger setup.

Thanks !!!

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 3, 2009

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Sorry I asked a specific question about a specific model tire. Someone may have done what I asked. If you prefere I can remove the post or:

Oh no.... not another

stupid repley

waste of time

get a life

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jun 3, 2009

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I'm no expert in handling but as I remember it if you turned into a turn hard you would feel a twist in the front end. It took an extra moment for the tire to do what you wanted it to. Maybe some else can explain it better. The fork brace worked very nice for me. I think you would know it if it where happening to you. If you don’t lean in hard into a turn you may not experience it. I do see they are still available for the early 80’s bikes. I’m 60 and suffer from double vision. ( I ride and drive with one eye closed )I probably don’t need it anymore. / J

mdbauer1962

· #8 · Jun 3, 2009

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Thanks SJ - I too am a very conservative pleasure rider, and do not expect to do any "sport riding". I'm sure my tires will have wider than average "chicken strips"

Wikipedia definition: "chicken strip is a sometimes derogatory term used to describe the width of unused tread on the edges of motorcycle tires, typically a sport bike."

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rcmatt007

· #9 · Jun 3, 2009

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sullivanjay wrote:

Sorry I asked a specific question about a specific model tire. Someone may have done what I asked. If you prefere I can remove the post or:

Oh no.... not another

stupid repley

waste of time

get a life

wasn't meant that way.... sort of an ongoing joke on the forum....

questions of tyres, oil type and bike colour seem to always come up....

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #10 · Jun 3, 2009

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Ok I guess you could say I'm a bit testy today. I often wonder why some comments are made at all on some of the websites I visit. I'm not a chatty person so it beyond me. sorry for jumping. Let's Ride...

Stecker1100

· #11 · Jun 3, 2009

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I have an '82 1100i with ME880's on both front and rear. They have 13,000 miles on them. The rear looks like it has about 1/3 of the tread left, and the front looks like it canstill go another 13,000. I have noticed recently that the rear is starting to get a little "loose" if I go into a corner hard enough that I have to scrape the floor boards to make the turn.

rgbeard

· #12 · Jun 3, 2009

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How about this for each new oil and tire thread:

All in good fun, OF COURSE, you silly people!!

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peterbilt

· #13 · Jun 3, 2009

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i run firestone/bridgestone spitfire's they work just fine for what i use cheap too... im sure you can spend alot more on dunlop 404's or something but its whatever your comfortable with and what ever you've had the best luck with if it aint broke dont fix it is what i say

sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jun 4, 2009

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Stecker1100, Thanks for info. I would love to run the ME880's front and rear. Metzeler does not make the ME880 in my rear tire size. That in itself is an issue, not a great deal of choice. (130-90-17) The front tire is a bit more common. (110-90-19) That's why I was looking for someone who matched the ME88 and ME880. I think I just might stick with what has been working. Metzelers website is no help. It will not go back to a 1980 Wing. I just missed by a couple of years. No suggestions there.

mdbauer1962, Never heard "chicken strip" before. Mine is getting biger every year. / J

Peterbylt

· #15 · Jun 4, 2009

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I have an 81 1100 and have been running an ME880 on the front and an ME88 on the rear for over 16,000 miles and have been very happy with them. They perform especially good in the rain and on wet pavement (We get a lot down here in Florida)

I like them better and they have lasted longer than the Dunlops on there previously, I also paid a lot less for them than the Dunlops.

They look to be about 2/3 of the way worn out at 16,000 miles and I am just now thinking about replacing them. The rear tire seemsto have a lttle more wear than the front.

I recently put some IRC Durotour RS-310's on my 75 GL1000, it runs the same size tires. I have not been as happy with these tires. I especially notice the difference on grooved or uneven pavement the bike jumps around and it does not seem to hold as good in the twistys.

Peter

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sullivanjay

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jun 4, 2009

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Wow, Great. This was what I was looking for. I will switch to the ME880 for the front instead of the ME33. (Lasertec) The millage sounds good also. Always fun to try something new.

I looked at the IRC Durotour RS-310's on some website. What I learned from my experience on my 1980 was that it would handle just as you described if you ran a tire with a grove down the middle of the front tire. So any tire I buy for my wing will not have a grove in the middle. Just rubber. That's what I liked about the ME880. The pattern also is not as "busy" as a ME33 / Lasertec.

Thanks Again Peter!!!

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