The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: bjamesw on July 06, 2009, 11:20:02 AM
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I searched and only found one reference to these that is more than a year old. I've been very fond of my Macadams. Everything that I've read elsewhere on the net indicates that these are an improvement. Dennis Kirk stocks every size imaginable. Great prices. Anyone using them? What not to like?
Right now my macadams are 100/90-19 and 4.00-18
Underseat specs suggest 3.25-18 and 4.00 - 18
Understanding that tire threads on these boards can get very opinionated.. nevertheless can anyone comment on any 'ideal' numbers settled upon for tire replacement? Just stick to the original specs? Dennis Kirk does not list a 3.28-18 front but does have 90/90 and 100/90 stocked.
Thanks so much.
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The 100/90 is the metric equivalent to a 3.25 inch wide tire specification .
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My neurotic research confirms 100/90 ...I mean +1 on what Bob said.
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I'm quite happy with the 100/90 Bridgestone BT45 on my front wheel.
SLightly slower turn in than the 90/90, but hardly enough to notice, but definitely a bit more stable on the highway, and the R65's steering geometry is quick by airhead standards...
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I know there are quite a few, even recent, threads on tires. What I was most curious about is the Pilot Activ. Michelin states that this is the new version (replacement) of the Macadam.
They've been phasing it in now for about four years. But i still see the Macadam widely available. All the reports I've read about the Pilot Activ are very positive. Michelin claims improved performance and 20 percent better tread wear than the Macadam.
I was hoping that there might be some R65 owners with direct experience.
Another interesting thing I noticed while researching these tires were the observations of three or four riders who went from Metzler to another brand; in these cases Avon, Bridgestone BT45, and Mich Pilot Activ. Seemed to be a bit more than just coincidental comment on the reduction or elimination of widely reported high speed head-shakes or 'wobblies'. A couple of times these shakes seriously scared the $hit out of me on my R65.
Seems like a decade or two ago 98 percent of these bikes were sporting Metzlers. Mine was. I don't think therefore that the tire was looked at very closely as a contributing factor. In fact, it was my experience as well that going to the Macadams nearly eliminated this problem. Mine originally had the Metz ME33 Laser. Maybe there's something to this?
Incidentally, the little bit of instability that still remained after installing the Michelins was taken care of with bar end weighting and installation of a steering stabilizer OEM from Suzuki (28 USD from EBAY). I described all of that in an earlier thread.
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Ive got new Michelin M45,s F..3.25 x 18 R..4.00 x 18 they seem pretty good alround classic look with plenty of grip.
Lou