Tires we run on the 650

[rstnick]

Still trying to figure out which tires to get.

stay with a 120/90 or 130/80 would keep the general diameter right.

Thanks for the info.

Michelin has a 130/80V-18 PILOT ACTIV BIAS REAR, not available through the above distributor (Pete's) in an H rating.
For the front should I go with a 110/90H-18 PILOT ACTIV FRONT or the 110/80H-18. The Z1R wheel takes a 110.

Is it OK to have a V rated rear and and H rated front together?
They just don't seem to carry a H rated 130/80-18.

[H2RICK]

Well, Rob, it all depends on if you're going for handling......or for the catsquasher look.
I, personally, lean (sorry) to the handling side of things, so I'd choose the 90 series profile. In fact, I'd probably end up with a 100/90 size tire rather than the 110 width.....but that's just me. I believe you can get a Spitfire in a 100/80 x 18 for the front or maybe it's a BT45.....

Is it OK to have a V rated rear and and H rated front together?

The CONVENTIONAL wisdom is to have a stickier tire (usually the V rated) on the FRONT in order to keep it planted firmly with the H rated on the rear sliding or doing whatever it wants long before the front can/will let loose.

[GreenZR]

Fresh set of tires yesterday!  Dunlop 404's.  Same as what I have been running for the last several sets.  I got a little bit over 9,000 miles, rear was really in need of replacement, front could have gone a bit farther.  But I feel better knowing all is new.

[rstnick]

Gary, what sizes did you end up using?

Do you find keeping the rims clean a pain?
With the gold rims I have, I find they take a lot of attention to keep clean.
I'm putting on the Z1R 18" front rim, which is black in colour (stock).
I think I'm going to leave it that way and swap on a stock/black rear wheel as well.
The gold rims will end up on my C2 project bike.

[GreenZR]

Rob, for the front it is a 100/90-19.  The rear is a 110/90-18.
The rims have not been to bad yet.  The rear gets a lot of chain lube on it.  I try to wipe it off every other time I lube the chain, (approximately 300 miles).  It comes off decent, I just use a dry cloth towel.  The fresh lube kinda weakens the old sticky stuff, it ain't too bad.  The hard part is reaching in behind the sprocket. 
I mounted them myself at the shop I have been working part time.  It is alot easier with the machine than wrestling them around on the floor at home.

[kawasakifreak77]

GreenZR, your wheels are beatuiful man!

*deep breath!*

With my 17" project going along now, I'm down to racking my brain on which tyres to select. At first I was goin' to Dunlop GT501's (had them on my first C1) Pretty impressed with them on road & mileage wise at least but I've always been a Dunlop guy.

I been hearing a lot of good about this Metzler Lasertec some manufacturers are sticking on. Well the front that is, the rear seems to have mixed reviews with having those three lines down the middle, all squiggly like. Me thinks that'd be no bueno in rain grooves & it just looks really funky.

I really do like the front though, good reviews & it looks the business for a vintage motorcycle so I'm leaning that way for the front. I saw 'em in person while drooling on that new Moto Guzzi V7 classic. (good God man... That is the most beautiful modern motorcycle made!) Anyways, I looked real hard at that front Metzler. Not only are all the reviews I read good on road grip & mileage wise, the small blocky design I think would handle off road well. They make it in a bunch of sizes perfect for my 17x2.5 too so I'm pretty much sold on trying it. For out back though I'm undecided, I'd like something that could handle dirt / gravel better with the same back road grip / interstate mileage as the GT501s. I know, I know... I want it all, lol!

But maybe I can get that... Or close at least. I found this.

http://www.us.metzelermoto.com/web/catalog/moto/moto_catalogo_schedaDescription.page?categoria=/catalog/moto/enduro_street/none&vehicleType=MOTO&product_id=881732&uri=/metzeler/en_US/browser/xml/catalog/moto/EnduroStreet_Tourance.xml&menu_item=/products/catalog/enduro_street

Plus it's by the same company. I've heard all the wives tales about not mixing tires. I rarely have a matching set of tires & have never had any problems, even with cheap ass Cheng Shins. If my memory serves me correctly (which is a rarity) this tire is stock on the Suzuki V-Strom. The purpose of that motorcycle is to do a bit of everything. Commute, light touring, back roads & light off road... Hmm... Maybe I'm onto something here.

They got it there in 130 to 150 sections & they look BEEFY! All good for my 17X3.5" according to Dunlop's site (the 150 prefers a 4" wheel but says a 3.5" will work). So I think I might be onto a better combo than the more road oriented Dunlops, a hard decision for me 'cause when I do spend a ton of money on tires, it's always been on Dunlops.

I've had the GT501s on my C1, loved 'em on road & good mileage. Got Qualifiers on Bobby after I blew a JUNK Bridgestone on purpose that she came with stock. Insane grip, made the 'stones look like a freak'n joke, short mileage but my hooliganism along with burnouts & drifting attempts had a lot to do with that. I got 616s when I lived in the country & had five miles of dirt each day to work. Great all around, even dirt for a sport bike & decent mileage!

My poor six fiddy has to do it all, I take my hat off to the 'ole girl! I'm not looking for MX traction off road & will sacrifice mileage if needed. When I say 'off road' I mean like semi decent dirt & gravel roads at mostly a moderate pace. Poor, sideways dirt track imitations will be executed but then a lack of traction is in store so who cares right!

So, who thinks what? All older / wiser information will be decently considered as long as it's not along the lines of, 'you will wreck & explode & die with those tires you stupid kid!'  Tired of reading yet?

[GreenZR]

GreenZR, your wheels are beatuiful man!

Thanks K77   they could have turned out better than they did had they been prepped better.  I had someone else paint them and he did not clean them very well.  I had planed for him to blast them, all he did was clean some of the grease off and paint.  In a few years I will repaint everything again.  Then the wheels will be prepped right.

[Kawickrice]

I am running Bridgestone Spitfires raised white letter tires. It seems that the RWL tire is hard to find but I like the look so my next set will probably be another set of Spitfires

[squints]

I was going to mount a set of Spitfires... but now I'm being tempted by the BattleAxe BT45s, they arent too much more $$$

Are there a major differences in longevity/quality/handling between the two? 

[rstnick]

Don't know, yet.
I just bought some BT45s.
Got them here in the shop.
Feel good and soft/sticky.
Waiting for Spring...

[H2RICK]

Squints, the BT45V Bridgestones will give you fantastic handling and medium mileage. The BT45H's will give you better mileage (same same as Spitfires) but not as sharp handling. Tires always involve tradeoffs.....
It depends on what you're using the bike for......daily commutes (go with the H rates) or twisty work on the weekends (go with the V rates).
My .02 worth...

[warmmushroom]

Front 100/90-19 duro - came with the bike kms unknown but wearing nicely and very happy with them
Rear 130/90-18 bridgestone spitfire - garbage, wearing after 6000kms, sidewall cracking after 8 months handle alright.

[warmmushroom]

Has anyone found tires with white lettering on the sidewall? I think it would look pretty cool