Radial tires on a Tonti LeMans?

[Travlr]

I'll change tires on my LeMans 3 next year.  I'd be interested in the thoughts of someone who has switched to radials.  Also, any recommendations for which to choose.

Thanks!

Mike

[Wayne Orwig]

Probably 100% unrelated, but:
I have a 2004 EV. On a long trip, I had to replace the rear tire. The only thing available was a radial. Installed that to get home, and it would weave around at highway speed. Everyone said to put a matching radial on the front. Tried that, and no change. I over inflated the rear, and that stopped the weaving. But I replaced them soon. I now have two radial tires with low miles that are scrap.

But I have also talked to people that almost call me a liar. Never happened to them.

Who knows why.

[mtiberio]

very few (maybe only 1) radials to fit the narrow 18" rims on a LM3. Look into Conti Classic Attack I believe. Even then you might end up running a front on the rear, or running a rear made for a 2.5" rim, not the 2.15" thats stock.

[mtiberio]

90/90 front and 110/90 rear made for your stock rims
https://www.continental-tires.com/motorcycle/tires/motorcycle-tires/classic-classic-racing/conticlassicattack

only problem i think you will find is getting fresh ones. these came out a few years ago, and I doubt were a big seller. any stock on hand might have old date codes. Oh yea, and they are not cheap.

[LowRyter]

What are the risks vs benefits for this pursuit? 

[moto-uno]

  Check that the tire makes mention of being compatible with tube type rims ! If not , check with manufacturer if they are compatible .
A lot of assumptions are made because most street bikes today are tubeless . Personal experience; dealership that sold me my bike
decades ago recommended and sold me a pair of radials ( kinda new tire types then ) and installed them and promptly found my Le Mans 2
handled really poorly . Contacted importer and was told under no circumstances should their radials be mounted on tube type rims ! The dealer
begrudgingly exchanged them . Lesson learned , don't take just any ones word for it . My tire rant .  Peter

[Chuck in Indiana]

The Kid has Classic Attacks on his 1100 Spot. He also has a Monza (X Chuck) that has them too. They're awesome.

[wicks]

+1 for Conti Classic Attacks. Just put them on my LM1 and the thing handles like my Aprilia RS250. Amazing balance and stick. No tubes necessary. Order the replacement valves to convert to tubeless from MG.

90/90 front
110/90 rear

[Swedemoto]

I am running them on my CX and like them a lot. no racer here, but I think they handle pretty well. I got mine from American Motorcycle Tire and the date code when I bought them was current. AFAIK, tires are less susceptible to the dry rot thing than they used to be. I think if you can find a set of radials in your price range, go for it.

[jas67]

Do the Road Attack 3 come in the proper sizes for the LM I?

[canuck750]

Pirelli Sport Demons and Bridgstones BT45 will fit as well.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Many vintage Brit Bike riders like the Conti radials....A Friend races a 69 650 Triumph in AHRMA road racing and he's quite good...He recently tried the Conti radials and commnented when pushed hard they the traction fades away noticably compared to the better bias tires he was using...Not to say they are not a good street tire......
  The Bridgestone BT45 were mentioned above, I think they are an excellent bias tire...

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Do the Road Attack 3 come in the proper sizes for the LM I?

According to the Continental website, the RoadAttack 3 CR closest they come is 100/90 front and a 110/80 rear. But, both are supposed to be used with 2.50 wide rims.

[pete mcgee]

Many years ago I fitted a set of Bridgestone BT 53 radials on my Lemans 3.
Handling went the way of the dodo, it weaved, it wallowed, it didnt like corners.
I think I changed them at half worn back to BT 45s, life in the twisties became pleasant again.
I have no experience with new radials.

[acguzzi]

I've run radials on my 79 LeMans for years, not had an issue, on tube type rims as well.

[moto-uno]

^ It would be appreciated if you would mention exactly which radials and if as a set . Also did you run them with or without tubes ? It's not a nickel and dime
purchase anymore .  Peter

[acguzzi]

I run the pirelli DOT supercorsa in 17 inch when I race, I have also tried dunlop and the conti attack in 18 inch, I didn't get along with the conti's at all but plenty of others (on other marques) like them. I used another pirelli 18inch front radial for a while on the street but I can't remember what it was. I do think you have to check the diameter of the tire and adjust for it as it changes the geometry. I just don't think the radial vs bias is that big a deal in and of itself. I run without tubes, I haven't run with tubes in decades on or off the street, even with bias ply.

[wicks]

That's a feature of these Conti's I'm running with the smaller diameter front. It doesn't fill the fender as "well" as the tires on my other Guzzis, but it lowers the front a little and reduces rake, making the bike feel a bit more nimble and ready to turn with little force on bars to get it to change direction. Almost like a touch of permanent trail braking. The LM1 was after all a sport bike, so I like it handling more like a sportbike than my V7 Sport or 1000s.

Don't get me wrong, it still happily tracks straight ahead and will right itself quickly if bar input is removed in a turn. The CCAs also benefit from lack of a parallel groove in either front or rear, making her behave properly on grooved concrete roads.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Nice picture.. 

[acguzzi]

interesting picture, certainly a bunch of lean, and number plates? brake lights? Is it a race or a track day?

[Denis]

I ran Michelin radials on my '87 SPII for years until there was some issue getting them in the US, sometime around 2006 or 2007.
Radials were great on that bike.

[Groover]

For what it's worth, the Magni Le Mans 1000, which was some sort of handling-optimized Le Mans 1000 was fitted with Pirelli MP7 Radial tires.

This one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LS7PYfIwh0o&feature=youtu.be

[Tony F]

That's a feature of these Conti's I'm running with the smaller diameter front. It doesn't fill the fender as "well" as the tires on my other Guzzis, but it lowers the front a little and reduces rake, making the bike feel a bit more nimble and ready to turn with little force on bars to get it to change direction. Almost like a touch of permanent trail braking. The LM1 was after all a sport bike, so I like it handling more like a sportbike than my V7 Sport or 1000s.

Don't get me wrong, it still happily tracks straight ahead and will right itself quickly if bar input is removed in a turn. The CCAs also benefit from lack of a parallel groove in either front or rear, making her behave properly on grooved concrete roads.

What rims are on the bike in the picture? The rear doesn't appear to be standard LM.

[mtiberio]

What rims are on the bike in the picture? The rear doesn't appear to be standard LM.

lemans 1-3 2.15" rear
lemans 4-5 3" rear
looks like a 3" rear