The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => Totally Off-Topic Discussions, Rants, Tire & Oil Threads, Etc. => Topic started by: Tony Smith on January 06, 2017, 06:18:12 AM
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I'm just about due for tyres, the front is well worn and the rear barely legal - they have done about 3,500 miles and if I could find Pirelli City Demons I would fit them again in a heartbeat, the trade-off for the short life is that they stick to the road like $hit to a blanket.
Sadly, nobody has got a 3.50 front or rear (I'm running a 3.50 rear reversed on the front of the wife's R65/80. I can get another 3.00-18 front which is what I have at present, but I do recognize that the 3.00 is just a little narrow.
So, I'm investigating other brands.
Does anyone have experience with Mitas? the seller I've found who has both 3.50 fronts and 4.00 rears tells me they are the best thing since sliced bread. I'd appreciate other's comments.
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You know, despite my 30 plus rears of experience in the automotive industry I had never heard of Mitas tyres until I read your post, Just goes to prove that every day is a school day (doesn't help you at all, but just thought I'd share).
I'm interested to hear some feedback on the tyres though, as I will be replacing mine after winter so may consider these.
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You know, despite my 30 plus rears of experience in the automotive industry I had never heard of Mitas tyres until I read your post.
Don't feel bad, i've been riding a little longer than you and have never heard of them until today.
From their website:-
"Mitas is a Czech-based manufacturer of off-road tyres (agricultural, industrial, motorcycle). The history of Mitas dates to the 1930s, when tyre production started in Prague, then the capital of Czechoslovakia, and in the Moravian city of Zlin. Mitas currently operates three plants in the Czech Republic, one in Serbia and one in Charles City, Iowa. Besides these production facilities, Mitas has an extensive international sales and distribution network operating in 14 countries, including the United States. Mitas manufactures and sells tyres under three brand names: the company’s own Mitas and Cultor, and Continental under licence. ".
I think i am going to pass as I can't find any reviews of the tyres they sell in the R65's size range -- I'll harass the Pirelli importer and see how long it will take to scare up some city Demons or Highway demons.
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I've really been liking the Avon Roadriders, I'm running a 90/90 in the front and a 120/90 in the rear. Think I've got over 5k on the rear but am close to replacement, the front is fairly new with only a couple k on it.
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I'm going to be have a similar problem when my Michelin M45's wear out as they have stopped making them in 3.25 and 4.00 sizes. No metric equivalents either.
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I've been a fan of the Bridgestone BT45 tires on my R65 for years, and have been through 2-3 sets. I may never change unless forced, but another tire that I might consider trying is the ContiGo All Around tires - they have decent metric sizes for the front and back, but also do advertize a 4.00" rear. Back in the early 80s, a number of guys and I ran the old Continentals - they had soft rubber and stuck to the road OK but wore out very fast for us. The BT45 tires I use generally get me about 6K miles - I wish it was more, but they stick to tarmac very well in all conditions. Not perfect on gravel roads, but not terrible either.
I've heard of MITAS tires before and seen them on several bikes when I was in Europe, but I have no personal experience with them.
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My front Avon Roadrider has over 16K miles on it with another 2k left in it
I have been getting 6k to 7k on the rears
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Loving my Shinko's, way better than the Spitfires I had previously.
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I am running a set of Shinko's also. I don't ride hard so max performance is not a concern for me but these tires are 1. the right size, 2. Durable- I have around 2.5-3k miles on this set and they look almost new., 3. they meet all my requirements for a tire., 4. They are a great buy, I spent less than $100 (US) for the set I am running. Another $40 to have them mounted and I couldn't be happier.
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I am running a set of Shinko's also. I don't ride hard so max performance is not a concern
Hard to beat a "hundo" per set.
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I've run the 3 Shinko types in my size range - the 712, 110 and 230. Currently have a 110 on the front and a 230 on the rear. The 110 is more sporty, and the rear has a kevlar belt same as the 230.
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I've owned my '86 R-65 since new and always used Metzlers. They are getting pretty expensive and the wear seems to be going down so I'm trying Michelin Pilot Active tires. So far I like them better than the Metzlers as far as ride compliance and grip and they seem to be wearing very well also. A little cheaper than Metzlers but not $100 a set! Just another option.
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What sizes did you get Don? I am gun-shy over the lack of space in the rear for anything much wider than 4.00 inches.
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90/90-18 front, 120/90-18 rear. This is an '86 R-65 with the single sided swingarm and I have about 3/8" clearance between the tire and arm.
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I too replaced my 22 year old Metzlers on my '87 R65 Mono with the Michelin Pilot Active in the 90/90-18 and 120/90-18 sizes.
I have 2K on them and find them very forgiving and compliant in different conditions and they STICK!
Don't know about the wear but they haven't lost any tread depth.
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90/90-18 front, 120/90-18 rear. This is an '86 R-65 with the single sided swingarm and I have about 3/8" clearance between the tire and arm.
Ah! Mine's an 84 so I can't fit "big' width tyres.
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There is a difference in swingarm clearance on the monolevers versus the twinshock as far as tires go, but I haven't owned both types of airheads at the same time to give a good numerical analysis.
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Tony,
For what it's worth I just measured the mounted rear tire and it measures 4 9/16" or 117mm at its widest point. That's at 33.5psi or 2.3bar where I run the rear pressure.
Stock rims MTH 2.50 x 18E...whatever that means??
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117mm isn't so bad.
That would just about fit in my early model twin shock and the early ones I think are least accommodating.
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I've ordered my new tyres.
Pirelli sport demons - 100/90 front and 110/90 rear.
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Pirelli...good tires! Let us know how they work out.
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Pirelli...good tires! Let us know how they work out.
Will do - I am currently running Pirelli city Demons but they no longer make a 4:00-18 rear or any metric equivalent.
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Pirelli sport demons - 100/90 front and 110/90 rear.
I got super excited and went to look... Pirelli doesn't offer a 90/90 18 size. They have the 120 / 90 I'd prefer to run on my monoshock but even though I rarely have matched tire wear I occasionally like to have the same model on the front and back. The one time I tried a 100/90 in the front I disliked how it changed the steering. Luckily my front tire is practically new.
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I got some Bridgestone Spitfire's, pretty good so far!!
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And they are on special at jakewilson.com
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I'm running Ribaldi Wild Horse on/off road tyres, 4.10 rear for my twinshock, 3.50 front. They're made in Brazil, on my 2nd set after going through two sets of expensive Metzelers too quickly and trying Dunlop Arrowmax, which I was quite happy with but severely shortened the life of the rear doing a couple of burnouts :-[ :-[
I'm impressed with the Ribaldi's stickyness once they're warm and the first set I had the rear lasted 9K km. Another good thing is they cost only $80NZ each, about $73 Aus dollars. Being semi knobblys (with road bias) they are noisy on smooth roads though. I ride the poor thing reasonably hard and the Ribaldi's stick well.
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I bought Shinko tyres front and rear - thanks to all those who commented favorably on the brand.
The front is now fitted to the K100 front wheel that will be going onto the R65, the rear is waiting for the LS rear wheel, axle and spacer I've bought to arrive - this is a cunning plot on my part to keep it all looking OEM, the K-bike front pattern looks identical to the LS pattern unless you look very closely. I got the wheel for cheap as it has a pretty big flat spot in it, however a local business has looked at the photos and reckons they can roll it out.
If they cannot I will be tempted to fit an R80 subframe and the R80 monolever I have in stock.
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I can't find Ribaldi Wild Horse tires on Google, is that worded right? I just wanted to see what they looked like. I bought some Dunlop K70s for my Triumph, they look like they'll be good at least for gravel roads. Not available in an 18" front though.
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I can't find Ribaldi Wild Horse tires on Google, is that worded right? I just wanted to see what they looked like.
I just had a search Ed and (ahem) you're right, I got the spelling wrong sorry. Rinaldi WH21, available in 18 inch front and back. I've got a 2.75 front (70mm, narrow!) and 4.10 rear (104mm). Still I haven't found them much different riding corners, perhaps the bike tends to dive in to the corner a bit quicker.
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/633-rinaldi_trail/6478-rinaldi_wh21_trail_tyre.aspx
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This page lists a 90-90/18 but says it's not available right now. They look like an interesting tread pattern.
https://www.varellamotos.com.br/pneus-para-motos/off-road/rinaldi-wh21/m?dep=000001&art=000015&sessao=000032
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Michelin Pilot Activ 100/90-18 on the front K100 2.5 inch rim and 4.00-18 rear on the R65 LS rim.
After all these years sees no reason to change.