Shinko 705 on V7 Special?

[Toecutter]

Time for new shoes.

Living at the end of several km of gravel, dirt and sand, so my daily commute is about 70% pavement, 30% "anything from dry packed dirt to slick-as-snot mud".

Looking at Shinko 705s. The front only comes in a 110/80, though. Anyone run it? It's only 4mm less clearance in radius, but I thought I'd ask if anyone is doing it already. Any clearance issues width or height-wise?

Thanks in advance.

[egschade]

Can't speak to clearance on a V7 but my experience with them on a BMW F800GS was positive. They stuck to the road well and only felt a little buzzy at low speed. Off road they're decent until things get muddy and deep at which point you'll be wishing for knobbies anyway. The 705's appeared to be a little wider than same-size and profile street tires they replaced but I didn't measure.

[Toecutter]

Thank you.

I'm a bit leery of going from the 100/80 to a 110/80... ever since I went from a 130/80 to a 140/80 on my CB750, and wore a hole through my battery box and battery.

I think I'm gonna go ahead though, I've burned through three sets of Sport Demons on this bike, and, quite frankly, as much as I love the tire, I can't afford to keep going this way. Plus, they suck in the dirt.

I'm so annoyed at the lack of dual-sport options in the stock V7 sizes, that I'm think about lacing the front to a 19" rim.

[Sheepdog]

The Kenda K761 is another tire you might consider. It is affordable and long-lasting by all accounts and the tread design is similar to the Shinkos.

[JACoH]

Not sure what year your Special is, but the specifications for my V7 III Special, says stock front tire is 100/90-18 and lists alternate as 110/80-18. So, either should be fine.
In my experience with Kenda tires, they are as good as any other brand coated in grease. Be careful in the wet and the dry, and on the tar snakes. Not worth the money saved.

[redhawk47]

Yes, the 110/80 is listed as an alternative on the V7III so it should be fine on a V7 or V7II.
However, Shinko doesn't make it in a 18.
Consider to 4.10-18 but review the speed and pressure ratings.
I have used 705s on my F800GS and my KLR and have been very pleased.
Choices are even more limited for my V7II Stone for staying with tubeless tires. I am running Avon TrailRiders with a 110/80-18 rear tire, reversed, on the front - it looks like a tractor tire and will probably last for two or three rears.
Dan

[Toecutter]

However, Shinko doesn't make it in a 18.

Well... shit. I could have sworn I found it in 110/80-18, would have bet a beer on it, and of course now... I can't find it at all.

Son of a...

Tire choices for this bike suck, quite frankly.

[Sheepdog]

According to the Shinko site, the 705 front tire is not offered in an 18" rim size. The Kenda is interchangeable front and rear and has a 110/80-18 available. They do cost a bit more than the 705s. Though it has great longevity, Dan is correct that it does not stick on pavement as well as the Shinkos. They do well on dirt, however; as long as it's not too muddy. They're H-rated, too.

http://tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Kenda/k761_dual_sport.htm

[Sheepdog]

The Avon Distancia has an 18" rear that will work if you mount it backward. The weight is within a pound of like-sized fronts and the tread pattern is similar to the Shinko 705.

http://tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/AVON/AVON%20MC/avon_distanzia.htm

[lazlokovacs]

currently running 120s up front on mine, no problems

[lazlokovacs]

hang on...

you're discussing one of them modern guzzis aren't ya?

sorry, thought this was about the original V7speciale (loop frame)

as you were gents, apologies

[egschade]

I prefer a 90/10 adv tire like the Pirelli Scorpions. You can get them in the correct size for the V7 but curiously, the front is bias ply and the rear radial. Not sure I like that mix.

[JohninVT]

705's are the best value in dual sport tires available.  If you're just going to cruise gravel roads 20-25% of the time and the rest on pavement they're perfect.  They won't turn your V7 into a KTM in the dirt but for gravel touring they're a very good tire.  Most people riding heavier ADV bikes get 6-7,000 out of a rear 705 so you should get excellent life on a 100lb lighter bike(with 1/3rd the hp).  They're a little loud during break in, then they quiet down for thousands of miles before getting louder again towards the end of their tread life.  They're not great in the rain but they won't scare the hell out of you either as long as you remember you're on a tire with a blocky tread pattern.   

[redhawk47]

According to the Shinko site, the 705 front tire is not offered in an 18" rim size. The Kenda is interchangeable front and rear and has a 110/80-18 available. They do cost a bit more than the 705s. Though it has great longevity, Dan is correct that it does not stick on pavement as well as the Shinkos. They do well on dirt, however; as long as it's not too muddy. They're H-rated, too.

http://tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Kenda/k761_dual_sport.htm

The Shinko 705 4.10-18 is a front/rear tire. Its speed rating is P = 93mph, if that is an issue.

[MMRanch]

 Toecutter

I'm going with Avon Road Riders , I've run them on one of my other bikes and they last forever.   I use my front brake for 99% of the stopping chores and my first front one still lasted more than 30,000 miles over 5 years before I took it off due to cracking sidewalls , the tread was still 25%.   I've got one now on the back of my V-7II --- the rear Demon lasted 4,300 miles , and when the front Demon dies there will be a Road Ridder up there too.   
Good luck with whatever you pick !

[malik]

I, too, am happy with the Avon Roadriders on my V7s. I've replaced 7 rears & 3 fronts now for an average of 12,000 & 35,000 miles respectively. (They actually did kilometers, but I've converted to imperial for you guys).

They seem to work OK on dirt, but I'm not a confident dirt rider, and suspect that a more appropriate tread pattern for dirt may well make a difference. Good luck.