K11 Owners Group

Jnclem · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 4:20 pm Post subject: More Tires

I've been reading thread after thread, and it looks like the two winners for a 93 K11LT are the Road Pilot 3, and the Battleaxe T30. This will be my first trie swap from some Dunlops that were on it when I bought it last year.

Is there enough experience with both brands to tell me if its worth the extra $50 for the Michilens? Are they that much better in either performance or durability? I'm generally riding an R100GS, and this is my first road bike, and I know little about road tires, so any info would be helpful.

Thanks
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'93 K1100LT, '89 R100GS

Flying Duck · Posted: Sat Feb 06, 2016 5:06 pm Post subject:

Get the Bridgestones.
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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

wvoutpost · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 12:00 pm Post subject:

I have ridden both. The PR3's are on the K11RS which I ride mostly 2 up, and the T30's are on the VFR. Both offer great feel in the lean transitions of the turns and have great traction in the dry. Only difference I found was better wet road feedback with the PR3's. That is not to say the T30's don't have as good traction in the wet, but I'm not pushing hard enough to test the ultimate traction limit!

I think for the K's it is a toss up. I wouldn't hesitiate to put T30's on the K next time.
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93 K1100RS (2up)
98 VFR800 (Reddog)
06 GSXR1000 (Gixter)

Jnclem · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:03 pm Post subject:

So one other question. I noticed that there are still a number of good quality cross-ply tires in the correct size available. So now I'm wondering if might just go with one of those - still leaning toward radials though. Anyway, how much difference does the 150/70/17 seem to make on your speedometer?

My bike currently has some Dunlop radials that were made in the correct size - NLA. So, my speedo is actually quite close to correct. Having the speedo run a bit high isn't a deal breaker, just part of the decision process.
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'93 K1100LT, '89 R100GS

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 11:18 pm Post subject:

Unless you have adjusted it, the BMW speedo's run approx 5-10% high already from the factory.
I've looked at some of the on-line tire converters and the 150/70 tire adds about another 2% of variance.
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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)

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 1:11 pm Post subject:

As noted by underscore, you can calibrate your speedometer. If you're putting on new tires of a different size then do so after the new tires are installed.

http://www.kbikeparts.com/classickbikes.com/ckb.tech/0.ckb.tech.files/speedocal/speedocal.htm
_________________
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

Grunter · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 3:26 pm Post subject: Tyres

Just to throw another metaphoric spanner in the works. When I bought my K1100LT 16 months ago it came fitted with Bridgesone BT40's and to be honest they were dreadfull! They picked up on any grooves, depressions aor other deficiencies in the tarmac road. They made the back end wriggle about like a snake having an epileptic attack!

I replaced them fairly quickly with Michellin Pilot Active's back and front. They were from the other end of the spectrum as far as handling was concerned. Wet or dry, smooth or uneven, they were never found wanting nor did they give any hint of instability.

So for they have done over 7000 miles with at least 2.5mm of tread on the back and 1mm on the front. I ran them with 2.3 bar in the front and 2.5 in the rear as per the Mitchellin website. They were actually cheaper than a pair of Continentals for my K75s.

But I am sure they will have increased in price since the last time.
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1997 K1100LT
1994 R1100RS

N41EF · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:48 pm Post subject:

I bought the RP-3s a year ago, love them. I'll never go back to bias tires again.

I did notice they are more sensitive to tire pressure, Duck has a thread about radial tire pressure. I initially used the pressure in the manual and it wandered behind 18 wheelers and such. Was flat out scary!. Using Duck's pressure it's rock solid.
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2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

jay k. · Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 11:18 pm Post subject:

I've got PR4's on 3 different bikes...including my 96 K1100RS that also has a 5.5" rear wheel.
Great road feel.
Great wet grip.
Put 8000 miles on the set on my Ducati...obviously a far lighter machine...but with 145 horsepower the rear tire also gets abused.
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'20 R1250RS - The RS
'96 K1100RS/SE - The Bagger
'05 R1100S Boxer Cup Replica - The Boxer
'14 Ducati Monster 1200S - The Duc
'84 Kawasaki GPz 1100 - The Gypsy

atlantaboblutz@live.com · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 7:44 am Post subject: trying for a bit more tire life

having been dedicated to BT-23's and subsequently T-30's on the K11...based on Mr. Duck's always sound recommendations ... I really became frustrated with the lack of tire life. (7K - 8K) I might run a bit faster than some, but am not a wild man either.

I now have a PR-4 up front and PR-3 on the rear. Hoping for a solid 10K miles to justify the higher cost of Michelin. Cornering feels similar...maybe a tiny edge to the Bridgstones.

Too early to tell about tire life, so I can't comment yet about that. the Michelins were easier to mount (although that is not a decision factor for me) since the BS really seem to have a very stiff sidewall.

PS... get my re-built ABS pump and controller back today...very excited about that.
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Thanks,
Bob
Atlanta GA

'94 K1100 LT
'76 R75/6

Jnclem · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 4:57 pm Post subject:

Thanks for all the input. I settled on the PR3’s front and rear. Haven't ordered them yet, but it's about 3 degrees with snow packed roads outside right now anyway. The speedo isn't a big deal either way to me. I have one bike that has been calibrated, so it's accurate, but none of the others are. I just ride with my iPhone set on GPS for a few rides, and from then on I know how far off it is and adjust mentally. I just wondered how much difference it would make.

Good tips about the inflation. I'll have to find that thread.
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'93 K1100LT, '89 R100GS

N41EF · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 5:54 pm Post subject:

Duck told me....

No brainer:

BT-023 front 110 80 18 35-56 psi

AV46 rear 140 80 17 40-42 psi

What I run on a few of my Ks
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Being the Nuke I was, I run 36 front and 42 rear and love the radials. I run LT rims.

I did it in June 21014:

http://www.k11og.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12292
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2014 R1200RT Water Cooled
2001 R1100S Light
1993 K1100LT. Nissan Ice Blue.(Gone)

rbm · Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2016 10:10 pm Post subject:

Jnclem, get the latest version of Kdiag and play with different wheel sizes and tires. It will tell you automatically the % deviation in the indicated speed for a set of wheels relative to the stock configuration.
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- Robert
1987 K75 @k75retro.blogspot.ca
2011 Moto Guzzi V7 Racer

mnb · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 1:52 am Post subject:

I've been running a Michelin Pilot Road 2 front and Avon Storm rear on my 1996 K1100LT for several years and I'm quite happy with that combo.

While it's not a 'matched' set, it is about the only radial tire combo that meet factory tire size spec.
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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
2014 Ducati Multistrada Pikes Peak MNB Edition

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2016 5:06 am Post subject:

I agree with M N B about the Avon Storm tires, but I had them mounted F & R a few years ago on my K-RS.

They felt very similar to PR3.
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John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Jnclem · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2016 2:50 pm Post subject:

Jnclem · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2016 7:24 pm Post subject:

The PR3's are on and look great. Hopefully I'll get to try them out tomorrow. What kind of pressures do you guys run in those tires on a K11LT?
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'93 K1100LT, '89 R100GS

Corkboy · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 9:55 am Post subject:

I run 36 front, 42 rear on a Bt023 front and avon azzoro rear.

Works fine for me.
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'08 K1200GT
'87 K100RS 0140995 (Gone)
'97 K1100LT 0188024 (Gone)
'08 Transalp 700 (Gone)

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2016 4:52 pm Post subject:

Jnclem · Posted: Wed May 04, 2016 6:54 pm Post subject:

Thanks. I've got a few hundred miles on the PR3's now, and I like them a lot. It's too bad about the speedo change, mine was actually quite close before, but I'll live with it. No way I'm going through all that to adjust the speedo - I can just do it in my head. The bigger issue might be the odometer, which is probably reading 10 - 12% higher milage now. I'll have to adjust to check gas milage, and for service intervals I guess.

I haven't found it too hard to put it on the center stand most of the time, and i thought the bike leaned over way too far before on the side stand anyway. For 1up riding I've settled at 36 F, and 39 R. The tire's cold max is 42, so I won't be able to go up much for 2up or loaded, but it should be OK. I thought that anything below 36 up front felt too soft.

Thanks for all the advice. - Oh, I had them installed by a shop, and they had a hard time seating the rear tire too.
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'93 K1100LT, '89 R100GS