the Ferret
Road warrior
New tires look nice R4N
Tire Options for our CB1100
- Thread starter Bike #12_imp
- Start date
CptMoustache_imp
First service completed
Last saturday was the right day for an extensive (450 km) test of the new Roadsmart III's I had installed two days before.
Conclusive. I had them on my previous bike (R1200RT) and already found them to be brilliant, having them on a standard (proper ?) motorcycle only confirms my biases. Love them. Happy they could be found in 110 front and 140 rear. Maybe next time I'll try to find a 150 or 160 for the rear ?
(Legends says there's a good looking R NineT hidden between the big BMWs)
Conclusive. I had them on my previous bike (R1200RT) and already found them to be brilliant, having them on a standard (proper ?) motorcycle only confirms my biases. Love them. Happy they could be found in 110 front and 140 rear. Maybe next time I'll try to find a 150 or 160 for the rear ?
(Legends says there's a good looking R NineT hidden between the big BMWs)
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
Nice CptMoustache.
The CB1100 looks small compared to the neighboring machines.
The CB1100 looks small compared to the neighboring machines.
My bike came with BT54's stock. I liked the traction and feedback from the stock tires just fine. The only complaint would be rain groove wiggle from the front tire due to the center open slot in the tread design. I replaced the rear tire last year with another stock BT54, but I decided to try the new T32 on the front because of the great reviews and the fact that is does not have that center open groove. So far I am very impressed with the new tech front tire. On a side note...I experienced something new with the front tire swap. New, different tire noise. Almost a whirling sound coming from the front end. Hard to explain, just different than before. Called my bud who is the most experienced dealer mech/parts dude I know and he told me that new tires of a new tread design can give off a whole new sound when new that slowly goes away as they wear in. I will replace the rear with the matching T32 after the 54 shows some wear.
https://www.bridgestonemotorcycletires.com/en-us/product-results/battlax-sport-touring-t32
https://www.bridgestonemotorcycletires.com/en-us/product-results/battlax-sport-touring-t32
Lord Popgun
Road warrior
I have a 160 on the rear. If I could get it in 150 I’d go with that. That said, I have a spare set now (Angel GTs) and will be 160 next time too 
peterbaron
Road warrior
My previous front was also Dunlop RdSmartIII and I made 37000 kms = excellent tire.
I just replaced set of tires with OEM size, Metzler Z8.
I just replaced set of tires with OEM size, Metzler Z8.
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
My Aprilia had the Metzeler Roadtec Z8. I would say very good road and wet handling tire. Unfortunately, they wore down in about 8000 kms. At the time I wrote them off as the price for good traction.
CptMoustache_imp
First service completed
I does, but at least you feel something when the thing moves. With the XR you don't really feel like you're riding; the bike rides itself. It's an amazing machine but I feel like you need to go too fast for my taste in order to enjoy the ride...GoldOxide_imp said:
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
I does, but at least you feel something when the thing moves. ...CptMoustache_imp said:
I would agree on that.
misterprofessionality
Road warrior
I just got some terrible news.....my current favorite tire has been murdered by the system.
Supposedly Avon was purchased by another company and all production on original Avon tires has ended. The Spirit ST II that ive been using for years now only exists as "old stock" meaning the tire will fade away just like our beloved michelin PR3 did. The real kicker here is that this leaves almost no truly good tire options left for the bike.
The only two currently in active production that you could call a "good" sport touring tire are the Pirelli Angel GT II and the Metzeler Roadtec Z8 M spec. Both of these tires are reported by most people as having godawful mileage. (Keep in mind im used to getting well over 10k miles out of my rear tire, so anything less than that is godawful to me.)
So....im left with a very bad and very unexpected problem. Without good tires the bike could end up being a shadow of its former self. Its a crisis of faith to be sure. I just dont know what my nextset of tires will be.
Supposedly Avon was purchased by another company and all production on original Avon tires has ended. The Spirit ST II that ive been using for years now only exists as "old stock" meaning the tire will fade away just like our beloved michelin PR3 did. The real kicker here is that this leaves almost no truly good tire options left for the bike.
The only two currently in active production that you could call a "good" sport touring tire are the Pirelli Angel GT II and the Metzeler Roadtec Z8 M spec. Both of these tires are reported by most people as having godawful mileage. (Keep in mind im used to getting well over 10k miles out of my rear tire, so anything less than that is godawful to me.)
So....im left with a very bad and very unexpected problem. Without good tires the bike could end up being a shadow of its former self. Its a crisis of faith to be sure. I just dont know what my nextset of tires will be.
@misterP, I had put new Z8's on my EX - front and rear - some 4500 miles ago. At time of installation the front tire had 4.5mm thread, the rear about 6.5mm. Just went down to the garage, and checked the threats. The back tire has almost the same 6 mm it had when new, the front tire lost 1 mm. Fair enough, everybody rides differently and I am not the most aggressive rider in town. But that doesn't look too bad to me in terms of tire life.misterprofessionality_imp said:
The other thing you need to consider, unlike my earlier (OEM) Dunlops, the Z8 doesn't show any sign of jig-saw or any similar signs.
I'd say "they are not godawful at all.
peterbaron
Road warrior
Agree with PR3, the best tire I've ever had.
Had Metzeler Z8..I think this tire is made of one compound, therefore fast and not so even wear IMHO. Would not buy them again.
The Angel GT and GT2 is a two-compound tiere which delivers more even wear and longer miles. Have both GT on my standard and front GT on my DLX, rear is Z8.
Not all are available in stock sizes.
Tested: Pirelli Angel GT / GT II motorcycle tyres review
Let's know your final choice.
Had Metzeler Z8..I think this tire is made of one compound, therefore fast and not so even wear IMHO. Would not buy them again.
The Angel GT and GT2 is a two-compound tiere which delivers more even wear and longer miles. Have both GT on my standard and front GT on my DLX, rear is Z8.
Not all are available in stock sizes.
Tested: Pirelli Angel GT / GT II motorcycle tyres review
Let's know your final choice.
Jonnyteabag_imp
Running like a top
I have always found all the dual compound tyres I've had on my bikes don't last as well as single compounds have...BUT I ride two up on heavy bikes ALL the time.peterbaron_imp said:
The dual compounds completey wear out on the soft sides leaving a nasty lip where the harder compound starts.
Mind you I never ride motorways but always stay on curvy roads.
Just shows how different we all are eh?
JT
peterbaron
Road warrior
I have always found all the dual compound tyres I've had on my bikes don't last as well as single compounds have...BUT I ride two up on heavy bikes ALL the time.Jonnyteabag_imp said:
The dual compounds completey wear out on the soft sides leaving a nasty lip where the harder compound starts.
Mind you I never ride motorways but always stay on curvy roads.
Just shows how different we all are eh?
JT
I always ride by myself, no commuting at all and , lofs of long distance and motorways, not so many curvy rds around here. This can have a significant impact on our rides.
:beerchug:
misterprofessionality
Road warrior
Whats your riding habits like? Deep twisties? Hard cornering? Id have to look and see if the t32 comes in the oversized profiles of 120/70 and 160/60 because the stock sizes are too narrow for me. Id run out of contact patch and it would limit my lean angle significantly.Pauley_imp said:
GoldOxide_imp
Road warrior
All the above here Mr. P. and I never get enough of it. Okay, I could do with less super slab.misterprofessionality_imp said:
1985CB450_imp
Running like a top
Anyone thinking that a 160 rear mounted on the stock Honda 4 in rim is gonna give a better contact patch is sadly mistaken. It’s just too narrow, every tire manufacturer I know recommends a 4.5 in rim for a 160. You can tell just by looking at the pics here of those who have done it as the sides of the tire are pinched closed not allowing full access to the edges. A 150 is doable but I’m afraid mounting a 160 “to get more lean angle” is simply incorrect.
Case in point, people forget the original 86-87 GSXR bikes came with 18 in wheels front and rear. And guess what sizes Suzuki speced for their latest hypersport? How about a 140/70 for the 750’s 3.5 in rear rim and a 150/70 for the 1100’s 4.0 in rear.
Both GSXR’s were advertised as having a 55 degree lean angle capability and in all the numerous publications of the day that track tested these bikes I don’t remember reading once where any moto journalist ran out of contact patch.
The 2nd gen 750’s went to a 160 rear (17 in) but it was on a 4.5 in rim
Case in point, people forget the original 86-87 GSXR bikes came with 18 in wheels front and rear. And guess what sizes Suzuki speced for their latest hypersport? How about a 140/70 for the 750’s 3.5 in rear rim and a 150/70 for the 1100’s 4.0 in rear.
Both GSXR’s were advertised as having a 55 degree lean angle capability and in all the numerous publications of the day that track tested these bikes I don’t remember reading once where any moto journalist ran out of contact patch.
The 2nd gen 750’s went to a 160 rear (17 in) but it was on a 4.5 in rim
