BMW K bikes (Bricks)


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colinijohnson

colinijohnson
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I had radials fitted last week - the roadholding is SO much better than bias..can really drop into bends now (after 100 miles of wear of course)
However - if I touch 100mph, I feel the bike is prone to wobble with the slightest movement. So I had the balancing checked (ok .25g added), slight improvement - but just not "planted" at a ton as before. I set the pressures at 36psi front, 42psi rear, the bikes a 1989 2 valve LT.

Incidently, I had progressive springs fitted 3 years ago, these were getting "bouncy", so I had the fork oil changed, and spacers fitted. this reduced the springyness, but not as good as new. I didnt get the 100mph wobble with the bias tyres.

Has anyone else experienced this issue fitting radials? - I dont want to revert to bias as otherwise all is much better - I wondered if anyone uses different pressures at high speed.

Ps - steering head bearings changed last year

Thanks for help anyone??
Colin


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k100lt 1989 abs
    

Two Wheels Better

Two Wheels Better
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Welcome to the wonderful world of radials, I think! An improvement all around was and is my experience when fitting radials to my K bike.

What size tyres did you have fitted, which brand/model, and are they on Y spoke wheels or the three spoker version?


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"A long ride is the answer to a question you will soon forget!" ~ Anonymous
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '93 K1100RS, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, 2 x '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT
    

3Back to top Go down   help ! handling issues with radials Empty re 18/05/14, 09:54 pm

colinijohnson

colinijohnson
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110/80/18 Bridgestone BT023 front
Avon Azaro ST AV46 - 140/80 ZR17 
Y spoke wheels not 3 spoke


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k100lt 1989 abs
    

Two Wheels Better

Two Wheels Better
Moderator
Moderator
That's a proven combination of brands, although I'm not the biggest fan of mixing brands, and those sizes are just what the doctor ordered for your wheels. Duck, here in the Seattle, Washington area, uses them, as well as many others. The first thing I would look at, and we assume you've had a competent workshop do the work, is to be certain the tyres have the direction of travel arrows (look at the sidewalls) facing the proper direction. I use 38+ psi in the front and 41 or 42 psi out back, but 36 psi is pushing just barely sufficient. With speed (and weight) comes heat and too low of an initial pressure will raise the tyre's pressure very quickly.

The other things is, the rate of speed. 100 mph will turn all manner of irregularities in road surface, camber and slight misadjustment to bearings, shock and front fork issues into much bigger issues very quickly. It's fun to do the ton, however. I can't accurately answer the why regarding your old bias ply tyres in comparison to the radials. Perhaps they're simply exacerbating a hidden problem because they're so well-planted at 'normal' speeds, otherwise.


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"A long ride is the answer to a question you will soon forget!" ~ Anonymous
1977 R75/7-100, '93 K11/K12 Big Block, '93 K1100RS, '95 R100 Mystic, '96 K1100RS, 2 x '98 K1200RS, '06 K1200R & '09 K1300GT
    

92KK 84WW Olaf

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I run the BT45 front at 38psi. Feels very planted but I got a new rear on last week, also BT45, was not too impressed initially, did 150 mile round trip and a few 22 mile round trip commutes, then rechecked pressure and went to 42psi. Vast improvement. I cant say how it compares with what you have put on other than to say the K seems very sensitive to tyre pressure and to tyres.


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1992 K100LT 0193214 Bertha Blue 101,000 miles
1984 K100RT 0022575 Brutus Baja Red 578 bought 36,000 now 89,150 miles
1997 K1100LT 0188024 Wotan Mystic Red 689 58,645 now 106,950 miles Deceased.
1983 K100RS 0011157 Fricka 606 Alaska Blue 29,495 miles Damn K Pox Its a Bat outta Hell Now 58,200 miles. 
1996 K1100LT 0233004 Lohengrin Mystic Red 38,000 miles currently 51,800 miles.
1983 K100RS 0004449 Odette R100 colours 58,000 miles. Sprint fairing now 63,390 miles

Past:
1968 Yamaha 80 YG1
1971 Yamaha 125 YAS-1
1968 Honda 125 SS
1970 Honda CD 175
1973 Honda CB500-4
Honda CX 500
    

6Back to top Go down   help ! handling issues with radials Empty Re 18/05/14, 10:38 pm

colinijohnson

colinijohnson
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22:37:04
Thanks for that very helpful advice, I'll check & feedback. So pleased otherwise Smile


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k100lt 1989 abs
    

ReneZ

ReneZ
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I know this doesn't answer your issue, but I used to run BT45's with great results on my old K100RT (36/42). As said before, you're using a proven combination, so I'd look elsewhere. Enough oil in both fork legs? Opened them up/cleaned them out?


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Greetings from Florida Australia! Having a 'new' K     Surprised-o: 

Rene


BMW K100 - 1985 (0030029) Scotland help ! handling issues with radials Rain
BMW K1200GT - 2003 (ZK01223) Florida
BMW K1200GT - 2004 (ZK27240) Australia
    

AJ.Valente

AJ.Valente
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Good choice of tires, and welcome to the club man.  :afro: 

1) Before switching to radials I put the bike through its paces on the old bias plys (I have more than one set of rims for this purpose). The reason being I wanted to check the suspension and make sure everything was set-up properly since it may otherwise be hard to tell any difference between suspension problems and tire problems (if you know what I mean).

2) One thing I noticed is that radial tires are a bit "swarmy" at high speed until they are completely and totally broken-in. Consider running through at least two tanks of gas before attempting any high speed riding.

3) I've not gone back and looked at tire pressure, but probably will in a short time. Right now I'm running the standard 35psi front and back, and the ride is just fine.


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'98 K1200RS Marrakesh Red

My old K100 RT Pics and Mods
    

ReneZ

ReneZ
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Life time member
So what are you using? That might be handy knowledge after such an endorsement.


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Greetings from Florida Australia! Having a 'new' K     Surprised-o: 

Rene


BMW K100 - 1985 (0030029) Scotland help ! handling issues with radials Rain
BMW K1200GT - 2003 (ZK01223) Florida
BMW K1200GT - 2004 (ZK27240) Australia
    

charlie99

charlie99
VIP
VIP
have to say ...against all advice  the Pirelli sport demon (crossply )  on the front of a big sucker rear redial, feels far more planted at speed and everything else, than the matching radial (110 x 80x18) for the front  and  (160 x60 x 18) Pirelli angel st on the rear .
as aj says the whole thing felt always squirmy  down the highway...and even after being well worn in  ...for me at least ...tings like being sucked into , and pushed away from trucks traveling the same direction  just typifies he stability challenge that I had noticed .

yes that mismatched offsets on the rear and y spoke on the front ...but what I found that works well for me ...at well over 8000 (you know the rest )

 I guess you have to find a good match for the typical handling characteristics of the machine and your riding style ...or maybe have to make some changes to suit .

perhaps later forks with that bridge across the front might tighten it all up ....or move to k1100 stuff up front ...I have a feeling the shorter angle (rake ) of the forks than standard makes for a different feel to radials on the front ....of corse there were models that came with factory fitted radials .....for many back in those times it was quite an amazing change to feel and grip

but with the new tyre technologies that we have now ...almost all good "current" brands out perform the "as supplied" originals from the distant past (thank hevens !)

I had originally Dunlop arrowmax tyres fitted as at purchase ...what a load of shite those things were ...but I found here and the "good suggestions " things are very different from then ..

just my thoughts


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cheezy grin whilst riding, kinda bloke ....oh the joy !!!! ...... ( brick aviator )

'86 K100 RT..#0090401 ..."Gerty" ( Gertrude Von Clickandshift ) --------O%O
'86 k100 rs.. #######..  "Fred " (f(rame) red ) ( Fredrick leichtundschnell ) - -
bits and pieces from many kind friends across the k100 world ...with many thanks ..
1987 k100rs ########   "Red"  - (red sports rs TWB style )
1989 K100rt #009637   "Black Betty"  (naked rt ala Nigel , now sporting an rs main fairing )
    

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