K11 Owners Group

hirschhs · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 11:56 am Post subject: tyres again

Just back from germany, before leaving I changed the front tyre to match the rear: Bridgestone battlax 020. You'd think that matching tyres would feel stable and balanced, but no. I find the front skittish and difficult to manoeuvre compared to the Michelin I have always had on the front. I've even felt the front end sliding away a couple of times on tight bends.
Just thought I'd share this.. anyone else had this experience?
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Cheers, Steve H _______________________________________
K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'

Milton · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:16 pm Post subject:

I don't know about the Bridgestones because I'm pretty impressed with the Michelin Pilot Road 2s, which I feel hold the road very well. Was doing a hard right turn on Saturday when the back tire hit the white fog line paint. Let me tell you that woke me up as the bike jumped about 4 inches before grabbing again.
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Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick!

1992 K100RS 48K. Dead for now.
1998 Triumph Tiger 43K->56K. Doin it in the dirt.
1978 Honda CB400T 32.5K. For my boys.

WAS/SAW · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Toston mt

So why bridgestones? all that I read says stay away. UNless that is all you can get. what i want to know is...... do U FK up the integrity of the suspension if you put on a 120/80- 18 on the front??? seems it would not follow road ruts or ridges as easy as a 110. it is only ... and maybe iuf i 'm reading rite a.25 of an inch wider, low profiles or radials are the same size in width as the 110.. but then i've not rode on radils that much.
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DONT KNOW HOW FAR IS TO FAR TILL U'V GONE 2 FAR????or til it bleeds????

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:24 pm Post subject:

I had a BT020 front cup on me after about 3,000 miles.

Changing the front tire size to something with a different outside circumference might make the ABS brain unhappy.
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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

WAS/SAW · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Toston mt

abs reads the tire not the brake? ps drake left a word on meetings for you guys at th dungee feed. wish I could make it..
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DONT KNOW HOW FAR IS TO FAR TILL U'V GONE 2 FAR????or til it bleeds????

Flying Duck · Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 5:52 pm Post subject: Re: tires again

WAS/SAW · Joined: 23 Feb 2008 Posts: 7 Location: Toston mt

I will not do that then, thanks!
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DONT KNOW HOW FAR IS TO FAR TILL U'V GONE 2 FAR????or til it bleeds????

John S · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 4:54 am Post subject:

The ABS doesn't give a rats arse about the wheels rpm or even any difference in rpm's between the back and front. All it its concerned about is change in acceleration. When the brain decides a wheel is slowing down too much (preset parameters) it does its release/reapply thing. If you think about what's happening when you do a wheelie this makes sense. The ABS does not activate when you pick up the front wheel. Or a stoppie but never had the guts to try.

Cheers

John Clauss · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 8:40 am Post subject:

I get excellent wear and riding from Bridgestones BT-021. I ride "spiritedly". I get good traction and decent wear, but I understand that there is a trade-off and that is hard to get both in one tire.
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1997 K1100LT
1975 R75/6

It will bring you so close to nausea, it will make you sick! - Big Al

Flying Duck · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Good luck getting an ABS bike to do a stoppie of any length.

Here's a link to a guy doing stoppies on a R1150GS. Guess what? His ABS is disabled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEooXYL5g7k
_________________
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

PHIL1601UK · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

Always thought Michelin Macs were the best bias-ply tyres for standard wheels on this bike - got radials at the moment, a softer ride, great grip, but found I need to run them several psi up even for solo riding, 36F/42R, maybe because radials have a softer tyre wall, and it's a heavy bike. Mich Pilot road 2 front, Avon Azaro Rear.
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1996 Aspen Silver K1100LTSE - acquired 23/03/07

chrisk1100rs · Posted: Wed May 13, 2009 11:26 am Post subject: Tyres

Steve

Interesting to note that Brigstone 020 do not work on your bike. I have K1100rs and have only ever run Bridgestone as they are very good As your bike is a K LT could be that the heavy front end and different wheel size do not agree with the Bridgestone 020

ChrisK1100rs
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Stelth

hirschhs · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:34 pm Post subject:

Now.. don't want to fire up a controversy here but my K guru Garry Webb (well known to BM UK members) who does 99% of my work says that a radial on the back and crossply on the front is the way to go for the KLT. He can't explain why this configuration works best despite BM advice but my experience is that he's right.

This is just a view and not intended to be advice.
_________________
Cheers, Steve H _______________________________________
K-less in Bucks
2001 ST1100A

1994 Yamaha 600 Diversion 'Hers'
2006 Kawasaki Z750s 'Hers'

Mystic Red · Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

RobWheatley · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 7:38 pm Post subject:

Thought mixing radials and bias ply was illegal in the UK...
I have changed the wheels on my LT for RS ones and have BT20's on them, what a difference, no probs at all with the ABS & wheels sizes 17 front & 18 rear now 18 front & 17 rear standard LT.
Feels like my old RS did and a lot less white lining.
Rob
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1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

PHIL1601UK · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

RS wheels? I think that's my next move. So many people have said what a difference it makes to this bike, it feels a lot more stable and planted....
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1996 Aspen Silver K1100LTSE - acquired 23/03/07

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:17 pm Post subject:

PHIL1601UK · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:34 pm Post subject:

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 8:43 pm Post subject: Re: tyres again

RobWheatley · Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

I have a spare RS rear wheel, I bought one with a brand new BT20 on that i used, then to get the front i ended up buying another rear with the front.
Could do with a clean up and will need a tyre but if you want i could send a couple of photos.
Rob
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1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.