K11 Owners Group

Frolicking Otter · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Puget Sound

Greetings fellow K1100 owners. I've been a long time lurker but have not felt I had anything to offer. Thanks to all who post, you are helping and inspiring more people than your probably realize. I have an issue I've not seen on the forum that may be of interest and am coming out of the shadows to question and possibly inform.

The BT021 front tire I have is ready to be replaced after 3000 miles. It has an odd wear pattern: The edges of the tread has worn down while an approx one inch ridge in the middle has plenty. The rear BT021 is designed to have a harder rubber in the center and softer on the edges. The front is supposedly comprised of only the soft rubber. I like how the back is wearing but am pretty dissatisfied with the front. Has anyone else seen a similar wear pattern or had problems early in the life of this tire (or tyre for the English speakers among us)?

I run my front at 32psi solo and 36psi for two up, just like the manual says. I'm fairly religious about tire pressure as I had a front tire roll off the rim in a corner due to low pressure from a puncture. I like to have fun on my bike but do not consider myself to be particularly aggressive in the corners.

3000 miles seems pretty early so I started doing some research online. I checked the K11OG forum and couldn't find a reference. However, members on the FJR and Haybusa forums had seen similar wear problems and had replacements sent from Bridgestone. The Hayabusa site was particularly informative. One of the posters said he talked to the US rep who said there were known issues with the compounds used and that there had been adjustments. Here's a link to the thread on the Hayabusa website: http://www.hayabusa.org/forum/general-bike-related-topics/93397-update-bt021-tires.html

I contacted Bridgestone via their website and sent email to their sales and technical service people. In and exchange of emails I was told there is no problem with the tire and I should increase tire pressure to at least 36psi. This is frustrating as:
1. Bridgestone does not consider irregular tire wear at BMW's recommended pressure a problem.
2. Bridgestone provides no information about this until a customer contacts them. The only reference to pressure I found on the tire is a maximum load at 42psi. If running the tire at 32psi is too low, shouldn't there be an indication of this?

So, if you run these tires, plan on getting these tires, or plan on purchasing any Bridgestone tires you may want to contact them to find out what pressure they suggest running them at. Then you may have to decide if you want to use a different pressure than recommended by BMW.

I am reminded of when Bridgestone/Firestone blamed improper tire pressure for the failure of their tires on Ford Explores in 2000. Some of the resulting wrecks were fatal. Shocked

This begs the question: what are the drawbacks of more pressure than recommended by the motorcycle manufacturer? A rougher ride is one, are there any safety issues?

Assuming I don't get satisfaction from Bridgestone, I intend on putting something on the front that will work for the rear until it wears out. Once it does, I'll go with the rear to match the front. I'm thinking of going with either Metzlers (LazerTechs or ME88's) or the Pilot Roads 2. Any thoughts here? I like the BT021's but not if Bridgestone doesn't stand behind their product.

Sorry about the long post and thanks again for all the help in the past. You folks are great! Very Happy

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'88 K100RS - for sale - pearl white and blue
'96 K1100RS SE

"Two wheels good. Four wheels bad." (with apologies to George Orwell)

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

welcome frolicking otter...

i got one fresh 3 month old dungeness crab that says its a bad radial in the 120 70 17... just like the avon storms...

i wish i had that tire thread to share but its been auto deleted...

if they are going to replace the front... insist on a front rear set... then if it happen again... which i think it will... get something else...

johnny
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yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:41 pm Post subject: tires

I'm new to K bikes, and my 93 K1100RS.

I bought it used with Michlin Road Pilot front, Dunlap BattleAxx rear, couple thousand miles on them both. Lost the rear to a puncture, replaced with a Pilot 2. Good tires, 5K miles since the new rear, so front is at like 7K?
Still looks good. Run 38 PSI front 40 rear just me & the saddle bags.
Wear looks even, handling is very good.

I had a red 94 K1100RS that I bought & rode from GA to WI in the spring. It also had the michlins on it. That's where I got hooked. Did not get an hour out & we ran into rain, then rain, then some more rain off & on. Strange roads, nervous wife, tire & bike were fine. 80 -90 MPH in the rain, solid as a rock. Got totaled by a cager rigth after I got home, HAD to have another K1100RS.
Try the Michlins, I think you will like them.

My ride style consists of EVERYTHING!! I take the bike everywhere I can.
From parking lot scrambles to high speed pass's, still solid rain or shine
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1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

owrstrich · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:47 pm Post subject:

i got 8,000 miles on a set of michelin pilot roads... the originals not the 2s...

im back to the z6s now... cause i coldnt get the pilot roads when and where i needed them...

the front may have had another 1,000 on it and the rear may have had another 3,000 on it... but we were headed to the land of no tires...

limited 1 up 40 front 42 rear... less that 1,000 of it...

mostly 2 up... 42 front 44 rear... more than 7,000 of it...

j o
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Off the grid · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:50 pm Post subject:

FYI Pilot roads are on backorder all around.

Welcome Frolicking Otter!
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Frolicking Otter · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Puget Sound

I hadn't thought about technology changes.

On the other hand the folks on the 'busa and FJR forums were also having problems. Bridgestone also seemed to think it may have a problem. I can't imagine them handing out tires otherwise. I may still work with Bridgestone on this but will likely go with PR2s next.

Run radials on an RS, check.
Run a couple of psi below max, check.
Don't mix radials with bias ply, check.
Order PR2s ahead of time, check.

Good comments all. Thanks.

Would it be stupid to run a PR2 on the front with the BT021 on the back (its still in great shape)?
_________________
'88 K100RS - for sale - pearl white and blue
'96 K1100RS SE

"Two wheels good. Four wheels bad." (with apologies to George Orwell)

Jim · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject: tires

Whatsamatter Otter? Your rider's manual doesn't have the auto update feature? Wink

The letters on the oil containers have changed a number of times since the manual was printed - yet we keep changing our oil with what's available - without giving the matter too much thought. For some reason, a lot of people get stuck on the tire pressure thing - again, without giving it much thought - you're not alone one this one.

Sounds like there may be a problem with the tire - exacerbated by low air pressure. Can't help you with mixing brands too much - I usually don't, but I have -with good results.

Most bias ply tires will wear on the sides when they are run with insufficient air pressure, and will wear in the center when run with too much air pressure. If your front tire is wearing evenly, and you still have a decent amount of tread left, just bump the pressure up and wear the center out a bit.

I've been trying to wear a front tire out for about 3,000 miles - and it's just now getting down to the wear indicators... Guess I'll have to change it next week.
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Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2008 9:22 pm Post subject:

Supposedly, you should chekc with a tire professional before mxing tires to make sure the tread paterns are compatible. But everytime I've asked anyone when mixing tires they've told me it was OK. (Of course they were selling me a tire so what od oyu expect?)

I've run a BT020 front with an Avon Azarro rear and ridden my RS hard (scraped a bag) without ill effects so you'll probably be OK.

Disclaimer: I'm just a shade tree mechanic, not a tire pro so what do I know?

MY first post was done quickly. I left out a few things:

First off, WELCOME to posting here. Very Happy

You're better off posting your "stupid" questions than just lurking. We were all new to K bikes at one point and "stupid" questions is how everyone learns.

Whereabouts in PS is your frolicking base?
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94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
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91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
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Frolicking Otter · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Puget Sound

I'll likely get a PR2 for the front, wear down the rear BT021, replace it with a rear PR2 when it does, and run all at a higher pressure than the non-autoupdating BMW manual suggests.

Thanks for helping me navigate the issue.

Flying Duck: Think VME TT
_________________
'88 K100RS - for sale - pearl white and blue
'96 K1100RS SE

"Two wheels good. Four wheels bad." (with apologies to George Orwell)

CheapJapCopy · Posted: Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject:

BT020's are the way to go. I've been through a few now on the RS and never had a problem.

Hang on, what's that hissing sound? Wink

EDIT: Ah, foot in mouth time - so they're the replacement eh? I might look to another brand this time then.
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1992 K1100RS - Red and gold.

mike toon · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

..."80 -90 MPH in the rain"

Heck, I don't even go outside if it rains.
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Current Bikes
1993 K1100LT
1976 GL1000 Naked
1981 GL1100 Naked
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owrstrich · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject:

ch1t man... rydor was doing 80 in the rain on his monkey balls blue motobrick... and that was on a dert fire road...

... j... o...
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rydor · Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 7:14 pm Post subject:

Frolicking Otter · Joined: 16 Sep 2008 Posts: 5 Location: Puget Sound

A follow up...

I bumped the front tire pressure up to 40psi to see how it would feel. The ride is a bit harsher but the steering is much lighter - esp. in the corners. No indication of how they will wear yet (duh!) but I would run these tires at higher than BMW recommended pressure for the improved handling alone. I might not run at 40 if I had it new, but I will to get more info on wear.

I am going to hold off judgement of the tires, good or bad, until I get a sense of how they wear. No sign of wear indicators so I'm likely good for another 500 miles or so. I would replace now but want to know if there is any basis for righteous indignation. Rolling Eyes

_________________
'88 K100RS - for sale - pearl white and blue
'96 K1100RS SE

"Two wheels good. Four wheels bad." (with apologies to George Orwell)