The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

General Category => Totally Off-Topic Discussions, Rants, Tire & Oil Threads, Etc. => Topic started by: Andrewsteward on March 13, 2015, 01:22:50 AM

Title: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Andrewsteward on March 13, 2015, 01:22:50 AM
I am sure this topic had been exhausted but I cant seem to find any Threads via the search. I need to replace rubber, R65 81'.
I do a very small amount of gravel road travel but mainly road.
Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Andrewsteward on March 13, 2015, 01:50:12 AM
Ok, I have since found some threads.

Has anyone tried the Heidenau K60 scout? The rear being 120/90 x 18, I was wondering if it will fit OK.
Front looks fine.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Barry on March 13, 2015, 05:08:30 AM
According to the attached spec sheet, If I'm reading it correctly your suggested tire has a max. width of 131 mm. Anything over 120mm becomes a problem so I doubt that would fit even with the optional wider spacer that's available.  Looks to me like they also do 4.00 and 110/90's though.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Ed Miller on March 13, 2015, 02:39:34 PM
The 4.00 x 18 would be great for the rear, but what would you put on the front?

Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Andrewsteward on March 13, 2015, 03:58:13 PM
Hey Barry, they also do a 110/80 x 18. Would it be a stupid idea to have a lower profile rear?
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Andrewsteward on March 13, 2015, 04:12:56 PM
Ok, so the Scout 4.00 – 18 M/C 64T TT for the rear and Scout 90/90 - 18 51S for the front might work?
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: nhmaf on March 13, 2015, 08:03:08 PM
If I was looking for that style of tire, those would be sizes I would try.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Tony Smith on March 14, 2015, 03:53:22 AM
For what it is worth I had some difficulty in finding tyres to suit an R65 when I wanted them a few months back.
 
I ended up buying a pair of Pirelli City Demons and thus far I am very happy with them. They seem very "sticky' and to the limited extent that I have pushed the envelope, they seem to be predictable to to give lots of feedback. They are also quite resistant to "tram-lining" on both grooves int he road and genuine railway lines.
 
To be quite honest, the amount of wear showing after only 1500 miles tells me that they are not going to be a long life tyre, but then I am happy to trade grip and predictability for a shorter life.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Tony Smith on March 14, 2015, 03:55:39 AM
Sorry forgot to mention, the other nice thing about the Pirelli City Demons is that they come in "proper' sizes - 4.00 * 18 rear and 3.50*18 front.

They are a "slim" fitting tyre so next time round, if such things are available I might up the sizes to 4.50 and 4.00 respectively.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Barry on March 14, 2015, 12:21:33 PM
Quote
Hey Barry, they also do a 110/80 x 18. Would it be a stupid idea to have a lower profile rear?  


It would as there is a difference of 44mm in diameter between a 110/80 and a 4.00.

110/90's are better and lots of people use them but they are still generally smaller in diameter than the proper 4.00 tire. E.G. a typical 4.00 tire is 671mm in diameter and a typical 110/90 is 655mm in diameter. It's a small difference and no big deal but one reason why I stick with the original inch tire sizes. I'm talking typical road tires here and enduro style tires tend to be a little bigger.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Semper Gumby on April 20, 2015, 09:54:53 PM
Michelin Pilot Activ 4.00H18 rear.  For the front I would go with the Stock sized tire 3.25 -18 from Hiedenau.  Continental is now making Radials for Classic bikes.  I might try a set of those...

http://www.conti-online.com/www/motorcycle_de_en/themes/motorcycletires/conti_classic_en/classic_attack_en.html

Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Ed Miller on April 21, 2015, 02:23:03 PM
Those would work for your BSA Semper G, but not an R65.  
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: wa1udg on April 21, 2015, 07:44:56 PM
I've been pleased with my Shinko tires.  Of course I'm not into "head scraping".  
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Semper Gumby on April 21, 2015, 09:02:26 PM
Quote
Those would work for your BSA Semper G, but not an R65.  

Hi ED - I e-mailed them and asked and they said AOK for the BSA.  Curious - Why not the R65?
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Ed Miller on April 22, 2015, 02:40:10 PM
Quote
Quote
Those would work for your BSA Semper G, but not an R65.  

Hi ED - I e-mailed them and asked and they said AOK for the BSA.  Curious - Why not the R65?

No skinny (3 1/4 x 18) for the front.  Not even a close metric, like 100/90-18.

I actually bought some Dunlop K70 tires for my Triumph.  That's the factory tire, I don't know if BSAs used them.  I can't even remember what they are like or if I've even ever had them on the bike.  They look like they'll be good on gravel.  I hope to have it out on the road before the end of summer.

Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: MikeFossl on June 26, 2015, 09:45:05 AM
I just installed a set of Avon Roadriders; 4.0 rear and 90/90 front.  They replaced Pirelli City Demons 120/90 and 100/90 tires which only lasted 15k.   They look pretty skinny but the bike feels great transitioning through corners.  I managed to get the rear tire changed using the stock tire levers but had trouble with the front and had to bring it in to get the last stretch onto the rim.  Turns out I didn't fully clear the tube at the valve stem.  I will be getting a longer lever to save my hands.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: nhmaf on June 26, 2015, 08:31:46 PM
15K ?   I'd say that is good wear/lifespan, even when you factor in that you're talking in kilometers, not miles.

Any tires I've every gotten more than 10K miles out of have generally been too hard/didn't handle well, particularly on these relatively light bikes.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Barry on June 27, 2015, 01:33:45 PM
I got 12000 miles out of a City Demon. They had a good deep tread when new. Something like  8 mm on the rear

Easy to fit too I seem to remember being able to walk the rear on without even using levers. Front always seems harder due to the narrower well. No use battling against a tyre bead unless the other side is sitting deep in the well and that's much harder to achieve on the front.
Title: Re: Tires (Tyres)
Post by: Tony Smith on June 30, 2015, 12:08:43 AM
Quote
I got 12000 miles out of a City Demon. They had a good deep tread when new. Something like  8 mm on the rear

Easy to fit too I seem to remember being able to walk the rear on without even using levers. Front always seems harder due to the narrower well. No use battling against a tyre bead unless the other side is sitting deep in the well and that's much harder to achieve on the front.

I hope I get that sort of mileage out of mine, also agree that they were the easiest fitting tyres ever - walked the rear on and one flick of the lever for the front. I do however wish I'd tossed the Pirelli natural rubber tubes that came with them, they leak down at the rate of about 5 psi per week til they get to around 20 psi and then they stay there.

Oh, and I love them, they were a forced choice purchase (nothing else available) but I will happily put the same on again when they are due for replacement. In fact I am so impressed I am going to give Pirelli dual purpose tyres a run on the KLE when I finish puttin g it back together.