I like Avons,Been running them on the bikes I really use like my 1971 Yamaha R5b and my Moto Guzzi 850T . For the older stuff I use the Cheng Shins because they are like what came on them in the mid 60's. and they don't see much action.This being said I'm wondering what guys that travel long distance loaded with camping gear and all the other crap we need use on their K bikes.I used the Avon Roadriders on my T when I rode loaded all over North America.They worked well but I only got 7000 miles out of them so I had to replace them half way thru the trip.Now that I'm going thru this nice K100 I have I am wondering if I should try something different.I was looking at these Metzeler Lasertec's Front is an H rating the rear is a V not that I am going to be going over 100 mph but you know,you never know so be prepared right.Anyway,what I am wondering is what others who do long distance loaded up like me use on their bikes and why. Thanks.

I am running Shinko Tourmasters on my K75RT.  Fully loaded for touring one-up I get about 9-10,000 miles on the rear, a bit more on the front.  Running at 42 psi rear and 38 psi front they handle well in the twisties and will run happily all day at 85-90 mph whether it's wet or dry. 

Best part is that they cost about $160 for a set.

Forget the Metzlers - I can wear a pair out in around 3000 miles. I use Roadriders but I can only guess at the final mileage as I usually get a nail through the rear tyre before they're half-worn (already had the first one this year). My guess says I'd get between 8-10,000 from the rear and slightly more from the front, so your mileage sounds right for long straight roads. Bridgestone BT45s give the same grip but less mileage IME. I run at 38psi front and 40psi rear - for such a small increase over recommended I find it tightens up the handling considerably.

Thanks for the input.I'll probably stick with the Avons since I know exactly what I'm getting with them.If I don't like them I'll change brands after I use them up which should only be a year or so.

Both of my Ks came with Lasertec tyres on......hated them.

I now use BT45 but I seem to get better mileage than average, rears good for 10-12,000 miles and front a bit more. Very high pressures needed, 38 front 42 rear for solo travel.

I guess Guzzi riders get a bit less for some reason......I did hear the wear rate is affected by adrenalin. Although Dai is not too far from me motorrad road surfaces are considerably better in his neck of the woods.

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Although Dai is not too far from me motorrad road surfaces are considerably better in his neck of the woods.

Not the roads I'm on... see comment re. nails!!

Dai wrote:

92KK 84WW Olaf wrote:Although Dai is not too far from me motorrad road surfaces are considerably better in his neck of the woods.

Not the roads I'm on... see comment re. nails!!

I did travel the roads up in the Mournes, up around Dromara and a few more places. Still better roads up your way.

Nails we get here too, like when I took of a rear tyre last year because there was a nail in it. When the guy in the shop gave me back the wheel he told me he took the nails out and showed me quite a few in his hand. Seems now one ends up with tyres full of metal bits. Car, bike, always pulling the darn things out, especially slab nails and pozis as loved by the guys fixing plasterboards.

Now thanks to eBay I have 2 K wheels sitting in my shed as of this morning with decent tyres on them ready to swap over at any time. With the mileage I do they wont go out of date.

Dai wrote:I use Roadriders but I can only guess at the final mileage as I usually get a nail through the rear tyre before they're half-worn (already had the first one this year). My guess says I'd get between 8-10,000 from the rear and slightly more from the front, so your mileage sounds right for long straight roads.

I tried a Roadrider on the rear and got less than 6000 miles out if it despite the huge depth of tread a new one has. I also found it wobbly, I really wasn't impressed.

I've also had a pair of Conti Go!s that did 6000 miles (so don't bother with those) and am currently wearing through a Metzeler Sportec Klassik which didn't have much tread depth to start with and is balding almost as quickly as I am.. I reckon it'll be toast by ~4500 miles.

Metzeler Tourances come in 140/80-17 if you're looking for serious mileage..?

Tried Metzler M88 & 880 combo sets & handling wasn't very good. IMHO
Tried Dunlop & seemed same as Metzler's. Really noticed when cold and or wet.
I was riding year round in rain or shine, snow & freezing rain with temps ~10-90F average.

Am currently waiting on delivery of a set of AM26 Road Rider tires to install on my recently acquired 85 K100RT.
MY Airhead R100 Cafe bike performed most excellently with the AM26's.
Last couple of sets were mixed, AM26 front & Perelli Sport Demon rear.
I had excellent traction and handling wet/dry hot/cold.
Odd as it may seem, at least to me anyway, with the much lighter stripped down cafe bike I needed to inflate them to 36 front & 38 rear.
And if only doing short trips to the market (<20 miles) or whatever, then upping inflation to 38 front & 40 rear was better.
Which I believe is a little more than the recommended tire inflation spec's from BMW.
I was amazed at the difference just a small inflation adjustment made.
Had always inflated per manufacturer's instructions. But began running on track & fellow rider's convinced me to experiment.

Decided to go with Avon's front & rear on the K simply because they are on close-out pricing from Motorcycle Superstore at this time.

As always YMMV,

Troy

I've had issues with both Metzler and Dunlop in the past but only good experiences with Avon and Michelin. I used to not like older Bridgestones so much but have been impressed by them recently.

YMMV.

I've had my Brick twenty years. I tried Michelin Macadams no grip and unpredictable. Avon Venoms better grip better wear but stated cracking in the bottom of the tread. Bridgestone BT45's better grip but shorter life 10,000 K's
Now on Michelin Pilot even better grip predictable handling and wearing well. However I'm thinking of giving Shinko's a go I have read a lot of good things about them, good grip and very good mileage.
Regards Martin.

I've settled with Bridgestone T30 for my K1100RS and Pirelli Sport Demons for the K100's. They've both performed very well.
I'm up to about 15,000klm on the T30's so far with about 1 or 2 thou left on the back and about another 5 or 6 on the front.
The Sport Demons are great performers but being a softer single compound cross-ply the wear a little quicker. I get about 13,000klm from a rear.

I've used Avon - GREAT
I've used Metzler - CRAP

Dai wrote:Forget the Metzlers - I can wear a pair out in around 3000 miles. I use Roadriders but I can only guess at the final mileage as I usually get a nail through the rear tyre before they're half-worn (already had the first one this year). My guess says I'd get between 8-10,000 from the rear and slightly more from the front, so your mileage sounds right for long straight roads. Bridgestone BT45s give the same grip but less mileage IME. I run at 38psi front and 40psi rear - for such a small increase over recommended I find it tightens up the handling considerably.

New guy so I'm REALLY sticking my neck out here...IMHO Metzler Marathons are amazing!  Granted, the rubber is hard so the tires are like gripless slicks when cold but on a hot summer day - excellent and fine in the rain, just don't hammer the clutch from a stop sign when cold(!).  I bought my R12C with 19K kms on it, had Marathons (ME-800's) front and rear.  Quickly racked up the kilometers (25K the first year) and with the saddle bags on, didn't notice the condition of my rear tire until I happened to catch a glimpse of a double row of white 'stripes' (yes, the ply's showing) at 38,000 kms!  Not lying, really happened!  Of course I don't recommend that level of risk but still, that tire is hanging on the wall in my garage with a blue ribbon on it!

I've been riding since my first Honda CB750 in 1974 so I'm not THAT wet behind the ears - still, say what you will but I will continue with Metzlers (ME-888's now)