Suggested tires for an '84 K100RT

Hi Folks,

This'd be my first post here pretty much ever, but it was suggested I'd get
faster/better answers here than my usual ocau.mc posting place, since I need
to know by tomorrow..

I've just sold my ZZR1100 due to health problems (messed up my hip a while
ago, when I dropped the bike doing a u-turn (how embarrassment), which
resulted in any ride on the zzr longer than 10 minutes making me limp pretty
heavily..). I've just bought an '84 BMW K100RT with 90k clicks on the
clock.. MUUUCH more comfy ride and doesn't make me hurt when I get off.. Oh,
and the throttle is so much less twitchy

Anyway, on to my question.. I phoned up the local bike store, figuring I
could just shove a BT014 on the front and an 020 on the back, as I've been
doing with my ZZR, but was told that the 014/020 don't come in the small
sizes that the beemer takes (100/90V18 on the front and 130/90V17 on the
back), PLUS apparently they dont' take radials.. I'm told the suggested
tire is the BT45, but I'd like a second opinion, as I went through quite a
number of tires on the ZZR before I found something that had the right mix
of traction, and longevity (I was getting 18,000km out of the 020's on the
rear of the ZZR which was quite nice compared to the Sportec M1's I had on
at the start that got just on 3000km - tires were costing more than fuel!).

So, is a Bridgestone BT45 front and rear a good choice? Bear in mind that I
wont' be riding the K100 one the highway much - most of the time will be
to-from work, and living i canberra, it's all roundabouts, bends, and lots
of quick takeoffs, so I want something sticky that won't slide out from
under me like the Pirelli Diablos I tried for about 1000km and then threw
out..

Any thoughts/experiences MUCH appreciated

Thanks,

Damien


--

 

The BT45 is pretty much the standard recommendation for anything that has
narrow rear tyres these days (like your K100 and My Yamaha Diversion),
and is very much the easiest to obtain.

Having said that they are not my favourite tyre on heavier bikes... they
seem to combine sports touring wear life with touring grip.

Alternatives I've seen so far include the Cheng Shings and the Chinko's
which I haven't used so can't comment upon really (but are somewhat
dubious about).

Another possibility is Metzlers... they make a tyre called a Lasertec
which comes in sizes suiting your (and my) needs, but I haven't been
able to find a shop local to me with stock.

Let me know how you go... I'd be interested in the outcome.


G-S

 

In my opinion the BT45's are too light in construction for the K's. I had a
set on my K1100LT and found a dramatic improvment when I replaced them with
Michelin Macadam's.

Boxer

 

BT45's worked just fine for me, on a K100RS, gripped well, wet or dry,
and lasted reasonably well.

regards,
CrazyCam

 

Continental , used to OEM fitment on BMW's years ago, they still make a
good tyre. Ron Angel imports them.

Mick Chester

 

What do you mean by too light in construction?

While I'm not planning on riding the K as hard as I rode the ZZR11, I am
planning on having it scraping the panniers through corners (I'll be putting
rubber sliders on the corners ), and when I go on holidays I tend to pack
a good 70-80kg of gear on the back of the bike, so I dont' want a tire
that's going to let go on me.. - hence me wanting BT020 and 014's on it,
since they've proven to be great on the ZZR..

I'll see what the bike shop has in stock tomorrow, and take whatever the guy
at the shop suggests as good (He's never led me astray so far - I've spent >
15k in parts and accessories there in the last 5 years so he does good by
me..). I'm in a little bit of a hurry, as the bike has to be ready to ride
to Sydney on Sunday arvo for Maddy's Funeral (Driving up for Boky's memorial
on the friday, but wanted to be in the ride from road warriors on the
monday)

Regards,

Damien

 

That would be the girlfriend then?

Theo

 

I wish

That'd be the tent, sleeping bag, clothes, 3mx3m tarp+poles+ropes to go over
tent+bike if it's raining for quick/easy packup in the morning, small tool
bag, 10L of fuel, 4L of oil, etc etc.. Yes, I was a boy scout

Some chuckle pics:
http://echelon.pinegap.net/~damien/stuff/bike/camping.jpg
http://echelon.pinegap.net/~damien/stuff/bike_dec2003.jpg
http://castlepantsoptional.net/gallery2/main.php?g2_view=core:ShowItem&g2_itemId=252



Cheers,

Damien

 

I don't carry that much stuff in my trailer!

Theo

 

The sidewall construction of the tyre is not designed for heavy bikes.

Boxer

 

Ahhh, gotcha, thanks

Regards,

Damien

 

Michelin Macadams are readily available here in narrower sizes. Both my Beemers have Avon
rear tyres (different, but still narrow widths). And Metzeler's ME33 Laser for the front is
staggeringly popular in the manor, squire.


Gary

--

"This is truly the face of 21st century warfare: disparate cells of armed guerillas
disrupting critical energy supplies that sustain the global economy."

Mike Whitney

Then, the very next day:
"Insurgents burn 19 fuel tankers north of Baghdad"
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-01/04/content_4009250.htm

 

Way too much crap. But you're not the worst:
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=107923

-----sharks

 

I love BT45s.
I heartedly recommend them.

 

Paging Johnnie5, Johnnie5 to the white courtesy telephone please.

big (What is it that you people need beyond a creditcard and a toothbrush?)

 

I do... how do you possibly camp without just the basics Theo


G-S

 

Thanks all, will have a good talk with the guy at the bike shop before I
decide what to put on.. Went and picked the bike up tonight, beautifully
smooth ride, though the vibrations through the main footpegs at 100k/h were
a bit much - hoping that's to do with the very square rear tyre..

And my VERY first mod is going to be a third spring on the sidestand - thank
god i park 30cm from the garage wall, (we have seven other bikes in the
garage, so me being the left-most bike was a godsend tonight), as I kicked
the sidestand down, then leant the bike over expecting to drop it onto the
sidestand, only to realise the stand had dissappeared back up into it's
normal 'up' position! Gotta fix that so it'll stay down if you kick it
down.. grrr

But yes, very hapy

Now to figure out what it is you have to do to get that red warning light on
the dash to turn off... took about 1km of riding for it to go out...

Cheers,

Damien

 

Heh heh; welcome to the "new to K-series club".
As a recent inductee I can tell you that it's the brake-light warning
light.
It goes out if your bulb is OK and you've activated both the foot and hand
brakes.

 

Heh heh; welcome
to the "new to K-series club".

Ahh, I thought that's what it was, cause that's how i got it to go out when
I test-rode it a few weeks ago.. must be a dicky brake sensor on one of the
two, will check it before i take it in for the roadworthy inspection in the
morning

Thanks,

Damien

 

The fuel and oil seem somewhat excessive, or is that how you get your
camp fire going?

regards,
CrazyCam