K11 Owners Group

poccer · Joined: 19 Jan 2011 Posts: 15 Location: United Kingdom

I`ve just had fitted by mistake an Avon Roadrider AM26 front tyre
Does anyone know if this is a recommended fitment for the K11RS?

I`m a little concerned at mixing Radial Rear and Bias Ply on the front
Seems to work OK but what i really wanted was another AM23 Radial which as pair worked brilliantly

Cheers and thanks for any suggestions

Nick in Sussex UK
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R100RS
K1100RS

m1ks · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 7:40 am Post subject:

Radial rear, cross ply front is ok, not the other way round though. Should be fine, I have a roadrider front on my k11lt, (not done many miles on it but seems fine), will be fitting a rear v soon too as the old macadamia is nearly at minimum.
The roadriders are excellent tyres, one had them on a few bikes now and they wear well.
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BobZ(IL) · Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 11:17 pm Post subject:

robert85 · Joined: 25 Oct 2011 Posts: 22

The parts for my BMW K1100LT bike were purchased from http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-K-1100-RS-and-LT/, they guys that work there are incredible, know every product they sell in and out and are willing to spend time with you figuring out what's best for your application. Smile

Bob T · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 10:39 am Post subject:

I don't have an expert opinion on the mixed bias ply/radial question...

But I do know that the Avons are excellent tires...I run them on my GS1100E...
They are well liked in the old Suzuki community...
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Bob T.
'96 K1100RS
'95 K1100RS - Totaled
'01 Triumph TT600
'83 Suzuki GS1100E

mnb · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 11:46 am Post subject:

Ask any tire professional and they will tell you not to mix radial and bias ply tires. Ask them why and I doubt you'll get an answer. I think there's a lot of fear/uncertainty/doubt about it, but no real data to prove that it's good or bad.

I'm sure it affects handling since the two types flex differently, though.
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M N B
1997 BMW K1100LT ABS Special Edition
2003 Husqvarna TE610e
2007 Harley Davidson Road King
2009 BMW F800GS
2011 Husqvarna TE310
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Jim · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 2:14 pm Post subject:

m1ks · Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 3:54 pm Post subject:

Don't ask why cos I don't know for certain, though I have theories, but all fitters,, fact sites etc etc will say same front and rear = ok, radial rear, bias/crossply front = ok, bias rear, radial front = not ok

I suspect that radials having more flex in the walls give too much squish and grip on the front when combined with a hard walled bias rear increasing the risk of digging in and catching while losing rear traction? Just a guess mind you but I can day I've run radial rear, bias front on my zxr ok and a front roadrider on the K, they're a good tyre
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I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, de-briefed or numbered!

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 12:45 am Post subject:

On my K with the radial front/bias ply rear, I get much improved turn-in ability probably because of leverage generated from the bias ply rear on the radial front.

I like the combination well enough that I went with another bias ply on the rear rather than trying a radial.
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'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

drikko · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:20 am Post subject:

If they offer to swap it out do so, not because of the bias/radial thing but I've had some real issues with the Avon Roadriders I had put on my Laverda. The centre tread has split now on 2 of them, granted Avon and the dealer replaced them twice for free so I am looking at what is now the 3rd Avon RR that's been on it in the last 3 months. I'm not over loading it and keeping it at the right pressure etc buit splits have appeared in the centre tread groove after about 500 miles on each. Call me paranoid but I don't think it's safe to ride on a split tyre!

The first one split terribly, see photos below, the second one I took back as soon as I saw even small splits.

They were different batches and the front one hasn't shown any sign of doing the same. I am disappointed as they handle brilliantly, I just can't fault them! They grip like the proverbial to a blanket. I can take corners on the Laverda at higher speeds than I dare on the K11, boots dragging at 180kph stuff on some local corners that are awesome so I can't fault their on road performance, just wish they'd stay together.

Anyway have a look at the photos which are a bit frightening, I'm not putting any pressure on the feeler gauge, but the rounded end goes all the way in!:-

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Laverda RGS 1000 '84
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DISCLAIMER:- Anything I say may have been when I was drunk so please don't take it personally.

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m1ks · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 9:24 am Post subject:

That is odd and you're right to worry over it, I can only assume you just got a couple bad ones. I've run roadriders on my z650 front and rear, both fine, on the front of my zxr750, fine and the front of my k11, vfm is great and grip is very good too.
Don't discount it till you've tried it.
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poccer · Joined: 19 Jan 2011 Posts: 15 Location: United Kingdom

Thanks Guys for all your words of wisdom,
I reckon I`ll keep a close eye on things, have managed to scrub tyres in now with one dry day in the last week on the daily commute
Will write up good or bad in due course

Cheers Nick
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R100RS
K1100RS

Tim (Midland Section) · Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:35 pm Post subject:

Interesting, Specially since I recently fitted an RR to the Norton's rear.
FWIW a mate did run his K radial front, bias rear with no problems. My tyre fitter refused to do this so the K ended up Michy PR2 front & Avon Azaro with which I am happy.

Not read any negative comments re RR's on UK fora. But will keep an eye on mine & report if I find anything untoward.
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Tiff · Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2012 9:54 am Post subject:

You guys in the UK do know that it is an MOT failure to have a radial on the front and a bias belt or crossply on the rear? OK the other way round though...

4.1 Tyres Information Method of Inspection Reason for Rejection 1.
Examples of unsuitable tyres:
a. side car tyres or car tyres on a solo machine
b. Motocross or similar tyres, i.e. tyres where the space between tread blocks is substantially greater than the size of the blocks themselves; which do not have MST (multi service tyre) with an ‘E’ in a circle or an ‘e’ in a rectangle moulded into or on to the tyre wall
b. incorrect seating in the wheel rim
c. valve condition and alignment
d. recutting of the tread e. fitment in the correct direction of rotation
b. a tyre not correctly seated in the wheel rim
c. a seriously damaged or misaligned valve stem which could cause sudden deflation of the tyre
d. a tyre with a recut tread
e. A tyre not fitted in accordance with the direction of rotation marked on the sidewall (see information column).
3. Check that there is a visible tread pattern around the complete circumference of the tyre. Ensure that the tread depth meets the requirements using a depth gauge.
3. (i) the tread pattern is not clearly visible over the whole tread area. (see information column) (ii) The depth of tread is not at least 1 mm throughout a continuous circumferential band measuring at least three quarters of the breadth of the tread. (see information column).
c. tyres designated by their manufacture as unsuitable for road use e.g. racing tyres or those marked ‘NHS’ or ‘NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE’ on the sidewall.
d. a tyre specifically designed for front wheel use fitted to the rear wheel;

e. a bias belted tyre fitted to the front with a cross-ply tyre fitted to the rear wheel
f. a radial tyre fitted to the front and a cross ply or bias belted tyre fitted to the rear wheel