OzSTOC
General Category => Active Polls => Topic started by: spanner on March 27, 2015, 03:32:09 PM
-
So .... what do you use on your ST to keep you on the road going in the right direction? Do you use the "wrong" tyre for your bike? Do some of you use car tyres for the rear? do some of you use the 'incorrect' size? Tell me all your little secrets.
Feel free to add options if your brand / type is not there.
-
Hi Members
Avon Storm 2 Ultra work for me ............ correct size and profiles for ST1100
Great feel on the road - I no complain !!
I ride
:dred11 :rd13
-
Current as of yesterday is Bridgestone T30r OEM spec (160/70ZR17) Rear. Front T30R GT spec 120/70ZR18 which is still on from previous set
Previous rear was a 1300 spec (170/60ZR18) T30r GT spec.
-
Bridgestone T30 GT spec on the rear.
Dunlop Roadsmart on the front
-
My first ST1300 had Bridgestone Exedra Radials in the original sizes. These were recommended & chosen for their durability while riding fully loaded and towing a trailer around Australia. After 15,000km of touring, the front was hardly showing any signs of wear, but the rear was replaced in Perth, as it wouldn't have made it much further than about 10,000km.
The Exedras endured some extended high speed running between Tennant Creek and Pine Creek, as we were following our Police escort vehicles at 130kph for most of that section.
The replacement ST1300 came with a set of partly worn PR3s. They went well in the rain on the Gillies Highway and have been quite OK in the dry around town. I intend to replace them with PR4 GTs. Having a second rear wheel with an Exedra on it for the camping trips towing the trailer, might even be a way to maximise the use of the PR4s, if they wear out much faster than the Exedra.
NOTE: The rear tyre profile wasn't quite as bad as the picture, while it was still fitted to the wheel and fully inflated.
-
I had OEM Bridgestone 20's from new, which I got 13K off, but that was due to not knowing enough about the importance of tyre pressures, especially two up and towing a camper trailer. After the Nat Rally last week the PR3's have got 20K and I have ordered a new set of PR4's to go on with the service this week.
:slvr13
-
I've just fitted a Dunlop RoadSmart, as it was all I could get in Coffs Harbour on the way home from Toowoomba. I'll also fit a RoadSmart to the front shortly and see how they go as a pair. I achieved 20,000 from the old PR3, which was not bad as around 8- 9,000 of that was two up since Christmas.
-
Just put on another pair of Michelin PR4GTs.
Front did 24873 km
Rear did 23940 km
The difference was caused by my destroying the former rear with a puncture after only 900 km. :'(
Having said that, the rear was worn out, but the front still have a couple of thou left in it. Prefer to change them together. Hate to compromise that wonderful "new tyre" feeling- the one where the bike drops into the corner and says "keep going, I've got the grip."
$455 fitted. 1.83 cents/km.
-
I'm running Metzeler ME880's in the correct sizes. Must say i'm extremely impressed so far. They've done 10k to date and one would hardly tell. They have slight graining towards the edge of the tyre, but i push them very hard at times. Blonde Ambition will attest to this haha. What can i say, I must eradicate the chicken strip!
$540 fitted.
-
I'm running Metzeler ME880's in the correct sizes. Must say i'm extremely impressed so far. They've done 10k to date and one would hardly tell. They have slight graining towards the edge of the tyre, but i push them very hard at times. Blonde Ambition will attest to this haha. What can i say, I must eradicate the chicken strip!
$540 fitted.
Are you riding an ST1300 and running a 120/70 ZR 18 Marathon on the front & a 170/60 VR 17 Marathon on the rear?
:blk13
-
The new bike (Elwood) came with Pirelli Angel GT's :120/70/18 Front,170/60/17 Rear.
First time of pirelli's......will see how they go :grin
-
I'm running Metzeler ME880's in the correct sizes. Must say i'm extremely impressed so far. They've done 10k to date and one would hardly tell. They have slight graining towards the edge of the tyre, but i push them very hard at times. Blonde Ambition will attest to this haha. What can i say, I must eradicate the chicken strip!
$540 fitted.
Are you riding an ST1300 and running a 120/70 ZR 18 Marathon on the front & a 170/60 VR 17 Marathon on the rear?
:blk13
No a 1100. Same size front, but a 160/70 rear.
-
I've just fitted a Dunlop RoadSmart, as it was all I could get in Coffs Harbour on the way home from Toowoomba. I'll also fit a RoadSmart to the front shortly and see how they go as a pair. I achieved 20,000 from the old PR3, which was not bad as around 8- 9,000 of that was two up since Christmas.
Since fitting the Dunlop Roadsmart to the rear of my ST1300, I have done just 8,000 and the tyre was down to the indicators. In addition, the handling did not seem as sharp as the Michelins I have been using. Pressure was 44psi, loading was with a pillion for just 2,000km, and riding was at the speed limit. I very quickly noticed a significant flat spot developing in the centre of the tyre, and that flat spot went down to the indicator far too soon for my liking.
Dunlop RoadSmarts are definitely off my shopping list, and I now have a Michelin PR4GT on the rear again, and expect to get my usual 20,000 - 23,000km from it.
-
I have just put on some Angel GT's and they feel good!
-
Just put on a PR4GT rear and Pr3 front. Got 12,500 km from the rear of the same tyre. If no better this time then back to PR3 rear. Pressures were spot on. 36F 42R.
-
I've got PR3's on MYST, about to change front and rear after just under 19000k's on them. Putting PR4 GT's on this time. I'm happy enough with the performance and longevity of the PR3's for my style of riding.
-
Took my beast for a run today....................first in over 3 months.........noticed a nice flat spot on front tyre. Looks like a new front tyre coming up? Not sure just steered a bit funny on turn ins. Might be exaggerated by the rider.....any ways Bridgestone Battelax 023 on it at the moment done 12k on them. Flat spot probably from Adelaide trip in January, was all highway work..................might go and get some prices.. :wht11
-
They tyres may just need some exercise to get the flex back, if they sit too long they stiffen up....
(Just like me really, but I only take about twenty min these days) :-[
-
Flat spot probably from Adelaide trip in January, was all highway work..................might go and get some prices.. :wht11
Normal wear pattern for Bridgestone; at least on mine anyway. If your not down to the tread limit bars you should be ok. My T30 front has just done over 12,000 km as well and I'm looking at replacing soon.
-
Road sports 2 seem better than squirmy pr2 and pr3 to much flex in the walls
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
-
Avon Storm 2 front Std size.
Darkside rear. Early days yet. Little ride to Ballarat and back yesterday. I am very comfortable with the configuration thus far. Around the city ... standing at the lights the ST is happier to sit tall, ie less weight on the inner thighs left or right, I some times notice a bit of rail-roading on road ridges, but it actually feels slightly better on tram tracks. Due to the slightly higher profile its easier to put on the centre stand. Rear braking is stronger, and due to the lower pressure (26 psi) its a more comfortable ride. At 110 freeway speeds - Ascot Vale to Ballarat - return obtained 17.1 km/litre or 48 MPG and 110kph was 3600-3700 RPM in top gear. 100kph was 3300RPM and 80kph is 2600RPM.
-
A little update.
I put on some Angel GTs and I can not express how magnificent they feel.
When I had the Avons on id did not dare lean over very far as I never felt very secure on the road ..... now with these bad boys on I am regularly scraping the little foot peg protector and have started eating away at the side of my shoe sole.
I can honestly recommend these without any hesitations so far.
I will be interested in what sort of mileage they give me considering I ride mostly city and corner and accelerate pretty aggressively.
-
Shagged the front Angel ST on the balranald ride.
I am replacing it next week with a GT to match the rear.
I too am impressed with the pirelli ++
-
Darkside rear..........................Rear braking is stronger, and due to the lower pressure (26 psi) its a more comfortable ride.
:well
What is a "Darkside rear" and who suggested 26psi was suitable for a rear tyre on an ST??
-
Darkside refers to fitting a car tyre to the bike, 26 PSI allows the tyre to flex on cornering, but the stiffer side walls still support the bike.
-
Darkside refers to fitting a car tyre to the bike, 26 PSI allows the tyre to flex on cornering, but the stiffer side walls still support the bike.
Was 26psi recommended for "bike only"...and what brand/model/size of tyre is he talking about, and why not 24psi or 28psi??
-
I cant answer those questions..
-
I have a mate who has gone "Darkside" on his Suzuki Boulevard 109 Cruiser. Simple experience has shown that 26 psi works best. Higher than 26 and the tyre wall does not flex enough, and the flat contact area profile tries to lift the bike as it turns, which strongly resists the turn. Less than 26psi and side wall flex is excessive and the tyre looses too much shape across the flat contact patch. I have followed him closely through some twisties to watch his rear tyre, and could see that in the turns the side wall would flex, and about 75% of the "flat" contact patch of the tyre remained in contact with the road.
Cost caving was huge, as the Boulevard rear is over $600, and a Commodore size radial cost him $120.
-
Hi JC, I previously posted some of the info you were asking about. Check out this link. http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=9271.0 (http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=9271.0)
It has the details of the tyre I purchased and some great video's that Diesel posted re darksiding.
I am happy to answer any questions but on the 30th I am off to Dubai again and will be away for a month. I am not sure how much time I will be spending online while over there.