Radial tire recommendations?

[jonb]

Good day folks.  Occasional lurker, rare poster, and two hands full of thumbs.

Is there any preference for radial tires for someone who likes the twisty bits?  I've had the Metzler Lasertec's but they didn't like tar-snakes and the price was rather high for the few thousand miles I'd get out of them.  Currently I'm running Bridgestone BT-45's but they've developed a nasty bit of headshake at about 35-45 mph.  Michelin Pilot's look good but I don't know what is required to fit radials onto the bike.

[frankenduck]

What bike?  What size wheels?

[jonb]

1987 BMW K100RS

Front Tire: 100/90-18
Rear Tire:  130/90-17

Front Rim: 2.50 x 18 MT H 2
Rear Rim:  2.75 x 17 MT H 2

I don't know if a rim swap would allow for radials and if there would still be enough clearance, but these BT-45's aren't working for me.

[frankenduck]

If you switched to a 3x17 rear that was used on later K100s and K1100LTs then you can find a radial in a 140/80-17 and they're won't be clearance issues.

I 've heard (but don't have personal experience)  that you could also run a 4V RS rear rim but you need to install a 4V center stand for clearance.

You can run a 110/80-18 radial on the front 2.5x18.

[frankenduck]

I have a BT23 front and Avon Azaro rear in those sizes that I plan to install on a K75 sometime in the future.  Not sure when I'll get around to it though.

[jonb]

Thanks Frankenduck, will see what I can scrounge up.

[BobZ(IL)]

I always catch a lot of s**t about this, but if you like to experiment, try a PR 2 on the front and leave your BT 45 on the rear.

It's a great combo on my LT. Just ask my R bike riding buddies with their $1000 shock packages and expensive tires that try to leave me behind. They cannot believe I can shadow them, and they're 10 years younger than me.

Since the conversion, I steer the twisties with my knees saving the handlebar press for the tightest of turns.
No tired arms and wrists after spirited runs. 

[frankenduck]

You can't go wrong with the PR2 on the front. (Or PR3 for wet riding.)  That's what I run on my K1100s.  I bought the BT23 because it's a fairly new tire that gets very good reviews.

[mystic red]

Since the conversion, I steer the twisties with my knees saving the handlebar press for the tightest of turns.
No tired arms and wrists after spirited runs. 

How do you get your knees up to the bars?

[BobZ(IL)]

How do you get your knees up to the bars?                                                                       

Well, I kinda drape my legs over the mirrors and................ ;D

[jonb]

So I picked up a Pilot Road 3 in a 110/80-18 for the front,  and am impressed.  I haven't had the chance to do more than a ~150 km on it yet, but the first 50 or so were in a good rain but the front still felt quite planted.  I'd like to try a K100 4V rim in the back (and hopefully a matching style in the front) with the proper sidestand to see if I can get modern radial rubber on the back, but that may will take a while to find.

Thanks guys, I couldn't have done it without ya  :2thumbup:

[johnny]

yes... of course jonb... butts are you steering the twisties with your knees...

j o

[jonb]

Not since I stopped riding a YSR50, I'd have to take off the barbacks and put on clubman bars on the RS for that