Time for a new rear tire!

[Matt Chapter]

So I currently have Avon roadriders, 90 / 90 in the front and 120/90 in the rear.  The front has low mileage, but the rear is toast, and I'm considering 4 different tires.

The same tire again is 125$.. pro: matches the front
A Conti go rear is 100$, but I've never had Contis
A Michelin pilot activ would be 130$, never ran Michelins either.
Or, I'm really intrigued by Continental Classic Attack Radials.  The question is, would they be worth the 165$ price tag, and give 25% more performance / life than the Avons?

I also think it's likely, based on the low mileage on the front Avon, that the new rear tire will wear out before the front.  Should I wait to experiment until the next replacement?

Links to each tire on revzilla below.
https://www.revzilla.com/product/avon-roadrider-am26-tires
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/continental-conti-go-tires
https://www.revzilla.com/product/michelin-pilot-activ-rear-tire
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/continental-classic-attack-vintage-radial-tires

[Billmc]

Hey Matt,
I put Michelin Pilot Active on both ends last year when I discovered that the Metzlers that came with the '87 were 20 years old!
I love them, probable the best tire I've ever ridden on!!

[DonC]

+1 Michelin Pilot Actives! Wonderful handling, wearing better than Metzler Lasers, and compliant ride. Original owner of a '86 R-65 mono that always ran Metzlers.

[marcmiller001]

I am planning on the Continental Classics for my R65. I have read a lot from people who have tried them and they are well received... but I am also biased. I race on Continentals and have a Conti family.. my bicycles, svooter and family vehicles are all Conti and they are a great company with a great product line. 

[Matt Chapter]

I put Michelin Pilot Active on both ends last year when I discovered that the Metzlers that came with the '87 were 20 years old!

I've worn out several pair of Metzler Lazer / Lazertec tires and I found them to be sticky, but not the most long lasting.  I definitely like the Avons better, although I also suspect my newish rear suspension improves the grip more than I realized.

[Soeren]

I know I'm bumping an old thread, but did you get a pair of ClassicAttacks marcmiller001? If yes how are they?


Im tempted even though the sizes (90/90 R18 front, 110/90 R18 rear) seems a little off. 90/90 front seems a little small and my BT45 4.0-18 rear just barely fits, and it makes me worry that the rear classic attack is too wide.

This is what Continental says:
"90/90 R18 M/C 51V TL (Replaces 3.00/3.25-18)
110/90 R18 M/C 61V TL (Replaces 4.00-18)"

Can I trust this for my R65?

[Matt Chapter]

This is what Continental says:
"90/90 R18 M/C 51V TL (Replaces 3.00/3.25-18)
110/90 R18 M/C 61V TL (Replaces 4.00-18)"

Continental is basically correct.  Tire widths for a size actually vary by manufacturer to some small degree, but the 120/90 is (generally speaking) too wide for the dual shock R65.

I have run a 100/90 on my front, the difference in handling is quite noticeable.  I would go with a 90/90.

You might also look for actual width data to compare.  Someone here catalogued a bunch of tire data, but I don't recall the classic attacks being listed.

[tiggum]

Looking further for the R65LS I recently found, I've been shopping for tires.  Found that Avon makes a 90/90-18 and a 110/18 in the AM 26 (Roadrider) series and Bridgestone makes the same sizes in their H-rated BT-45 (but not in their V-rated BT-45 (Battleax).  Prices are similar.

But please advise me about tubes:   What do I buy' "Natural" or "Butyl" rubber, and who has the best valve stem for our wheels?

[Tony Smith]

I am about to try Shinko tyres out on my "Frankenbike" ex-R65.

I already have a 100/90 fitted to the front (on a K100 front wheel), and in the next day or so I will attempt to fit a 110/90 to the rear. I did check the supposed inflated width before I bought, but looking at the wiidth of the 100/90 on the front I am just a little worried that the rear is going to be a problem.  I do still have the offset spacers made up to fit a 120/90 to the wife's R65/80 a decade or so back, but I suspect the drive splines on my bike are a bit far gone to do that to and I don't want to fit the R75 final drive until I really have to.


Photo is of the front tyre mounted. BTW it was close to the easiest tyre mount I have ever done- just slipped on beautifully and the beads seated nicely and popped into place at quite low pressure.

[marcmax]

I have been running Shinko tire for the last two sets of tires. I am NOT a performance geek (no offense intended) but they stick well enough for my needs, last a good while and are reasonably prices. All pluses in my book.

[Tony Smith]

I have been running Shinko tire for the last two sets of tires. I am NOT a performance geek (no offense intended) but they stick well enough for my needs, last a good while and are reasonably prices. All pluses in my book.

No offence taken.

I don't go as hard as i once did, and if I do decide to play the GSA or even the KLE is far, far better suited to "spirited" riding.

Everything I read about Shinko tyres pointed to them being a fairly good tyre, whilst not perhaps on the bleeding edge of grip. They are particularly well regarded in the Yamaha XS750 group and in fact the 100/90, 110/90 combination is marketed as a pair by the local distributor for XS750s and early Honda 75-0/4s.

If they do not prove t be as good as I hope, they were cheap enough that throwing them away will not be the end of the world.

[marcmax]

When Yokohama went out of the motorcycle tire business, Shinko bought all their molds, technology and formulas and set up a factory in South Korea.

These are a set of Shinko dual sport tires, that look clunky but are actually pretty comfortable on the highway. They get interesting when you start to get up on the sides when cornering though.

[wilcom]

I am about to try Shinko tyres out on my "Frankenbike" ex-R65.

I already have a 100/90 fitted to the front (on a K100 front wheel)

Tony....... I read here where you were going bite the bullet and go tubless. Is that front Shinko mounted tubless?

I just ordered Avon Roadriders in 90/90 & 110/90. I was going to go Shinko but I couldn't get a 90/90 Shinko,  so I dug a lil deeper and went with the Avons. Still under 200 delivered from Bike Bandit. I'll wait til you have yours on and tubless and query you on the valve stems you use and if any machining needs to be done to have a flate surface for the stem to seat.

[Tony Smith]

Tony....... I read here where you were going bite the bullet and go tubless. Is that front Shinko mounted tubless?

The front Shinko is mounted tubeless - I used the bolt-up valve already fitted. To do the rear I've ordered a pair of K100 early model bolt-up valves from Motobins. They will not arrive in time but a local workshop that has a couple is going to spot me one that I will replace when mine arrive.

[wilcom]

The front Shinko is mounted tubeless

Well I guess you would mount the front tire tubless, since it is a tubless tire on a tubless wheel! I'll take a Mulligan on that one.

Thanks for the tip on the valve stem