K11 Owners Group

jimbenge · Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2012 11:19 pm Post subject: LT Tires ?

Hi All;

About 6 months ago I purchase a low mileage 1995 K1100LT. The bike was fitted with Dunlop Sportmax D205 radial tires. I have put several thousand miles on them and they seem to be holding up well. They are 11 years old though and they are no longer made. I have read thru most of the tire threads and see several possibilities for radials but am not really interested in changing out the wheels at this point. One tire that I found on the Internet that has not been mentionioned on this forum is the Bridestone Battlax BT45V. I don't know if these are new tires or not but they are using the Dual Tread Compound (on the rears only I think). These are Bias Ply tires. Motorcycle Superstore has them in the correct sizes for the K1100LT at a very good price. i.e.:

Front 110/80V-18 ($92.99)
Rear 140/80/-17 (108.99)

Has anybody tried these tires ? and if so how did you like them ? or should I just look at doing something in radials ?

thanks in advance...... Jim...
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Jim Benge, San Diego, CA.

1995 K1100LT
1993 K1100RS & Getaway trailer
K100RT with 1985 EML sidecar & Kwik-Kamp Trailer
2006 Harley 1200R Sportster

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 7:52 am Post subject:

You can put radials on an LT without changing your wheel sizes.

You probably wont find both tires by the same manufacturer, but it's not critical. Very few make both sizes that are stock for the LT.

I am running a Mich PR2 on the front 110/80-18 and Mich PR2 150/70-17 on the rear.
This year I will go back to a 140/80-17 for the rear. Most likely will be an Avon Azero for the rear and either the Mich PR2 or PR3 for the front.

The reason to go back to the 140/80 for me, a little easier to put the bike up on the center stand, and better accuracy for the speedo. More important to me than same mfr "matched" tires.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

Finn · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:30 am Post subject:

I bought my -94 LT last summer and it had non-radial Michelins. Those tyres were meant for lighter bikes and I hated the vague handling.

I went through the net for different tyres and finally bought a set of Metzeler Lasertecs. The handling is now what it is supposed to be and I predict I should get close to 10k miles out of them.

My BMW buddies have tested also the BT45 - no bad comments of them - but they still seem to come back to Metzelers for one reason or another.
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K1100LT -93 | ex K1100LT/SE -94

BMW_Mick · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 12:08 pm Post subject:

The BT45's aren't new at all, they've been out for some years. I have had them on my LT and they are ok. 14K miles on the back and 18K on the front. The grip is good in the dry and wet, but I recently changed to Conti GO! tyres and they do seem to be better grip wise.

I guess it all depends on how far and how you ride. I have no idea about prices in the US but when I worked out the cost in Sterling they were cheap. If that's the case I would quite happily put them on my bike. Particularly if the other tyres are more expensive.....
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'93 K1100LTSE, ABS1 in Black 'Connie'

drikko · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:29 pm Post subject:

The BT45s are good tyres. They seem to be the tyre of choice for the Laverda crew as 18" tyres are hard to get in some brands. Good grip wet or dry as mentioned and reasonable mileage. I don't think you could go wrong with them.

I wish you people would learn how to spell tYre!!! At least Mick and Finn have figured it out Laughing

_________________
K1100RS '97
Laverda RGS 1000 '84
Jim Young Trailer Sailer 5.7M WB

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

'Bigamy is having one wife/husband too many. Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde

mtnroads · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 1:08 pm Post subject:

I had the BT-45's bias ply on my LT until last year when I switched to an RS rim and the new BT-54 radials. They made a significant improvement in handling and stability. The BT-45's weren't that bad but I got nowhere near the tire life Mick did - more like 8K - but I ride pretty fast, which eats them up.
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2012 R1200RT Midnight Blue
95 K1100LT Graphit (sold)
01 R1100RT Black (sold)

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 10:59 pm Post subject:

The Bridgestone BT023 is another front radial worth considering. It's Bridgestone's latest radial with lots and lots of good reviews. I run LT wheels on my K75 and that's what I'm going to run with an Avon Azaro Rear.
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93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

E T · Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 1:05 pm Post subject:

When i bought my bike it had the Pirelli sport demons on it, stuck like glue, but not that good of mileage out of the rear, Not sure how many were on the front one when i changed it out, but it also lasted a Metz ME-880, then i stayed with the Metz on rear on the next tire change, but put on the Metz Laser tech with it as Metz Recommended, but the life of the Laertech was poor as i had to replace it at the same time as the rear (approx 8000 miles) This time i went to the Michelin PR2's in the same size as Scott Anderson did, I am very happy with them and so far I have about 4,000 miles and really showing very little to no wear. I do not notice any difference on putting it on the center stand..
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1993 K1100LT
2005 Honda VTX 1300c---Passed

micky77

I was asking my local shop about Mich PR2 tires for my LT and they said you cannot use radials due to load requirements? I am not a tire guy, so some enlightenment would be helpful. Currently running Metz. 880's

old guy old bike

molerat · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 11:41 am Post subject:

Is there a problem running a bias tire in the rear(Lasertec) and a new radial in the front? I bought the bike a month ago knowing I would need a new front tire, back is fine. I want to switch to the BR-023 or Pilots but don't want to buy 2 new tires, I will if I have to.
Are there different size tires I can put on the stock rims? If so is there a chart with the possibilities.

Still learning about my new bike and new to the BMW's

Thanks
_________________
Brian

1995 K1100 LT
1952 HRD Vincent Black Shadow, Series C

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 5:46 pm Post subject:

Others may chime in with their opinions,
Me, personally, wouldn't mix bias/raidial on a bike.
I have 2 LT's I fitted one with radials soon after I got it in '08, and then kept the bias tires to use on the other bike, as to not just throw them away.
In the mean time one of the bias take-off's managed to be used as a tire swing before I could get it on the bike. Now there is some recycling for you... Rolling Eyes

_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

molerat · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:45 pm Post subject:

Thanks Scott

That's what I was thinking as well, guess I will break down and get 2 radials, I was thinking a Pilot Road 2 or Battlax BT- 023 for the front and Bridgestone Battle Wing for the rear, fairly descent reviews on all these tires. Not much choice for the rear, could go Avero or some Metzler.

I have spent hours researching tire threads here and other boards so as not to start another.

Any thoughts on this combo?

Finally will these radials fit on my stock 3 spoke rim?

Thanks again,

Brian
_________________
Brian

1995 K1100 LT
1952 HRD Vincent Black Shadow, Series C

552255 · Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 10:25 pm Post subject:

Mich PR2's with the wider RS/R bike rear rim made a huge handling difference on my LT. Radials will grip much better.
_________________
1997 K1100LT-SE
1996 K1100RS-SE
"Black & Silver Duo"
Lincoln, NE

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:00 am Post subject:

I can't speak much to how different brands of radials will handle, or last.
I've only done a couple of combinations.

110/80-18 pr2's on the front and a 150/70-17 pr2 on the rear. Gave me a lower profile on the rear(very slight) but I have had more dificulty getting the bike up on the center stand.

My prefered combo to this point is the same 110/80-18 pr2 front with the Avon Azero 140/80-17 rear. This was the 1st combo I tried. I did the matched pr2's last year to just try the wider tire on the rear.

I have been able to get +12K miles out of either combo, or a set a year.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

BobZ(IL) · Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:06 pm Post subject:

I run PR2 radial on front with a bias ply on the back and think it's great.

My suggestion to you is try it and if you don't agree that it's transforms your bike's handling and turn-in like magic, then you can go ahead and fit a radial to the rear as well.
_________________
'93 K1100LT
'78 R100S
'05 R1200GS
BMWMOA, CRBMWOA, ABC, K11OG #997

Live well, do good work, enjoy the ride.

Sonu · Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 12:29 pm Post subject: Re: LT Tires ?

molerat · Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2012 12:58 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the replies, for the sake of saving $$$ for now I will put a PR 3 on the front and see how it handles, if I like it I will run it till the rear tire runs out then put a radial on there. If I don't like it I will order a radial soon to match.

Thanks again for all the input, this truly is a great forum and I wish I could contribute but my lack of knowledge tells me nobody would listen but I will contribute how I can.

If anyone is ever in Colorado give me a shout.
_________________
Brian

1995 K1100 LT
1952 HRD Vincent Black Shadow, Series C

CerebralKnievel · Big Brick Rider Joined: 02 Jun 2012 Posts: 62

I have just put a set of Michelin pilot actives on my bike & was wondering if anyone has had any experience with these tyres. The bike came with a new rear on it so i figured a matching front would make sense.....

Alan Walker · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 11:08 pm Post subject:

I had the Macadams on mine when I bought it last year, I recently switched over to the Activ's just to get a good baseline before going radial next year. So far the Activ's are quite hard, Tulsa is known for its rough roads and I sure feel it even more with these tires. As for cornering I've found it's quite easy to push the front thru corners, not something one looks for in a new tire at all. Even with the acient set of Macadams I wasn't doing this, which is strange cause the Activ feels softer so you'd of thought it would stick better. I've had no issues with the rear though even in the rain it sticks fine. Will try to burn off as much tread as possible so I can talk my wonderful wife into letting me switch to radials asap. Cheers
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95 K1100LT Current ride
05 Suzuki DL650 sold
86 Honda Nighthawk 450 sold
76 Honda CB400F sold