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Author Topic: tires - Radial or Bias ply's  (Read 3363 times)

Offline Dan87

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tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« on: December 10, 2020, 02:09:42 PM »
My previous bike had radial tires and I see I can runradial's on this 87 K100LT but a shim may be needed.
Those of you that run radials how do you like them, what kind of mileage do you get on the tires and, where does the shim go that I read about?

Do any of you prefer the bias ply over the radial for these K bikes and why?
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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT

Offline Laitch

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2020, 02:18:41 PM »
Which type of wheel is on your moto—Y-spoke or tri-spoke?

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  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline Dan87

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2020, 03:18:02 PM »
I'll take a guess and say a Y spoke. I'm new to the K100's.
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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2020, 04:47:54 PM »
I've found that the only radials readily available in the sizes our K bikes use are dual purpose "adventure" bike tires.  Since it's crazy to me to take a K75 0r K100 off road, it doesn't make sense to sacrifice highway performance and mileage for some extra grip in the dirt. 

The only bike I have radials on is my 16V K100RS which has wider wheels to take more modern tire sizes.  On my other bikes I have embraced bias ply tires and found that other than a little wandering on rain grooves they perform quite well for me.  As far as mileage, I get anywhere from 8-10,000 miles from a rear, and about 12,000 on a front. 

As far as brands, I like Shinko Tourmasters for my RT, and 712's on my 1988 K100RS.  On my 16V K100RS I am currently installing a set of Bridgestone Battlax radials.  I think they are BT-45's. 
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  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Scott_

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2020, 05:23:31 PM »
Dan, how heavy do you intend on loading the bike down.
You will find that Radials will have a lower load capacity rating, than the same size Bias ply tire.
Part of the issue with availability is that as our bikes get older, there are fewer of them on the road, so there will be fewer bikes needing new rubber.
Newer bikes aren't using the same size.
Manufacturers are in business to sell product and make money, they are going to make what's going to sell, not set on the shelf.
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Offline Dan87

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2020, 09:30:08 PM »
Based on what I'm readying I think it's best that I go with the bias ply. With me, my co-rider and gear at times I could be over 400 lbs.
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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT
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Offline K1300S

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #6 on: December 11, 2020, 11:27:49 AM »
Bias ply tires today are outstanding.  You will be very happy with tires like the michelin pilot Activ's and others.  I would not worry too much about the construction. 
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Offline boxer.randy

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #7 on: December 11, 2020, 06:21:10 PM »
I put a set on my 75S last year and liked them so much that I put them on my 98 Guzzi EV 1100 this year. Great tires. Doubt that you could tell a meaningful difference between these bias and radials.
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  • Prescott, Arizona
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Offline boxer.randy

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #8 on: December 11, 2020, 06:22:17 PM »
Sorry, the tires are the Michelin pilot active
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  • Prescott, Arizona
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Offline Martin

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #9 on: December 11, 2020, 06:43:06 PM »
I've only ever run bias belted on any bike. However I've had both front and rear rapid deflation at different times and was able to bring the bike to a safe controlled stop. I have wondered whether the softer sidewalls on the radials would make it  harder to stop the bike safely.
Regards Martin.
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  • North Lakes Queensland Australia
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Offline mw074

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #10 on: December 11, 2020, 07:37:41 PM »
 I liked the the Michelin Pilot Activs. The only issue that I had was riding on metal grating. An almost total loss of control when riding across the five mile long Mackinac Bridge into the Upper Peninsula which has metal grating.
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Offline Dan87

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #11 on: December 11, 2020, 08:18:20 PM »
K1300S and boxer.randy. It looks like the Michelin's tires are the one's I'm going with. A number of years ago I had a 96 GL1500 which had bias plies and I was very comfortable with them.

Martin, in a situation like you went thru I can see why you were glad you were on the bias plies, they do have a stiff side wall.

nw074, the grating can be a lit unsetting. I've learned to loosen the arms a little know the bike will want to go straight but...I also learned to keep an eye on what is going on. :)
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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT

Offline milq

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #12 on: December 13, 2020, 11:54:47 PM »
I bought my K75S with a newly added set of ContiGO! tires, so far they're pretty good but I haven't pushed the bike in any corners yet.
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  • Southern IL
  • 1988 K75S

Offline Dan87

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #13 on: December 16, 2020, 05:35:47 PM »
Quote from: milq on December 13, 2020, 11:54:47 PM
I bought my K75S with a newly added set of ContiGO! tires, so far they're pretty good but I haven't pushed the bike in any corners yet.

I'm not familiar with the ContiGo tires. I checked the date codes on the tires of this K100 I recently picked up and one tire is 6 years old and the other is 10 years old. I'd say it time to replace them and I think I'll go with the Michelin pilot active for this set.


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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT

Offline milq

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #14 on: December 17, 2020, 01:07:10 PM »
For those looking for various tires, check chapmoto.com. They've been running a sale and I just bought a pair of Dunlop Trailsmart tires for my GS/A for $104.95 shipped.
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  • Southern IL
  • 1988 K75S

Offline Brad-Man

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #15 on: December 20, 2020, 01:49:21 PM »
BT45's are bias ply...
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  • Marietta, GA
  • '85 K100
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Offline Dan87

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Re: tires - Radial or Bias ply's
« Reply #16 on: December 21, 2020, 04:03:02 AM »
Thanks Milq and Brad-Man. Everyone likes to hear about sales. LOL
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  • CT
  • 1987 K100LT
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