Tires for Mille

[Testarossa]

The tires purchased with the bike have good tread but are nine years old. The way I ride these days is relatively sedate, esp with Gail aboard, so I don't need soft-n-sticky sport tires. We ride twisty mountain roads on good pavement, 60 to 70mph with the occasional passing burst up to 90 -- on the straight. Try to stay off the superslab.

Over my life with the T, I wore Contis, two sets of Bridgestone Spitfires and Shinko 712s -- about 50,000 miles on five sets of tires. The T makes less power than the Mille, but I was younger and scraped the pegs once in awhile. It is more fun to ride a slow bike fast.

I'm thinking Shinkos again, unless someone can talk me into spending $250 for sexier shoes. And of course I use tubes.

What think?

 

[Don G]

Avon Road riders are a good skin too!

[Guzzistajohn]

I like Bridgestone bt45's but I've been running Michelin pilots lately. Mike carmack swears by the shinkos and he rides like he's leaving a forest fire. Must be something to it <shrug>

[atavar]

For the rider that spends the vast majority of their time straight up and down the Pilots are great with their long wearing center stripe. Living in the dakotas where you can roll a marble down the centerline  to the horizon with one toss they are what I use. 

[bigbikerrick]

I am interested in any input regarding the Shinko 712s.  They make a front tire in the odd 120-80-16 size for the front of my Le Mans. I still need to mount it to replace the seriously cupped Lazertech  on there. I am interested if anyone has tried one of these in front... I have used various shinkos, mostly tourmasters, on my bikes, all with great results in the past, so I hope this one is also good.
Rick

[Triple Jim]

I have a Mille.  My tire observations so far:

* Bridgestone S11 tires have good traction, handle well, and last longer than many.  I think the rear went about 6,000 miles.
* Pirelli Sport Demons stick like glue and handle really well when new, but rear wore out in 3,800 miles.  Front got choppy about that time, and now chatters in curves.

I currently have an Avon Roadrider on the rear, but it's not going to set a mileage record either.  I really like them on my Yamaha DT100 road racer, but at about 2,000 miles on the Mille, the rear is getting near the wear bars.  I think I'm going to try a pair of Bridgestone BT45s next.  They have dual tread compounds, with softer rubber on the sides for traction in turns, but harder rubber in the middle for life.  Or so they say. 

I get my excitement on other motorcycles, and ride the Guzzi pretty conservatively, with little rear braking and rare full-throttle acceleration, and almost never have a passenger, so to have a tire wear quickly on its rear wheel is the tire's fault, not mine.

[kirby1923]

I do like the BT 45 they are good tires for sure. But unless your pushing at track speeds on the street the Yokohoma/Shinko tires are the best bang for the buck out there. (I have actually done a track day with the 009 ravens on my rockster with no drama).
Have run the 712 on the CX. They are neutral and the front doesn't change much with ware.

For what its worth after about 15 sets so far on the CX and beemer  I recommend them.

mike

I also get very good mileage with the Shinkos too.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I've been using the Shinko 230 Tour Master on my '71 Ambassador, several customer's bikes and also bought a pair for on my "Ambovert" project. They're very much like the long discontinued Continental Blitz - one of my favorite tires ever. Very good traction wet or dry, wear very well - 12k miles on the front (so far) and 10k miles on the rear. Mount easily on Borranis, usually little or no weight needed for a perfect balance. No weird cupping like some tires. Around $135 a pair at American Motorcycle Tire.

The Morini has Shinko 712s on it. I don't like them quite as well as the 230 - don't seem to have quite as good traction, wear a bit faster (the rear on my MZ Silver Star was nearly done at 6k miles). Still a good tire considering the $100 a pair price.

[oldbike54]

 Hard to beat the 712 Shinko .

 Dusty

[charlie b]

I had BT-45's on the T5 for a couple of cycles.  Good tires.  THen went to Sport Demon.  Different world.  Sticky.  But, rear only lasted 6k and was squared at 5k.  Front is good for about 10k.

Have used Shinko 712's and like them a lot.  About as good as the BT-45's for my level of riding (not expert by any means).  They last about 8k and suqare off at around 7k.

I have a Shinko 230 on now.  It started squaring off at around 5k.  Never really felt as 'planted' as the 712's.  I will probably go back to the 712's next time.

A Sport Demon is still on the front.  I have thought about putting a 712 on the front but all they have is the 120/80-16 and I need a 110/90-16.

Bottom line is I like the Shinko's, especially if you put them on yourself (cheap :)  ).

[Testarossa]

Thanks for the feedback, folks. Reinforces the decision to buy another set of Shinko 712.

BBRick: I was very happy with the 712 set on the T -- front tire wear was very even, wet traction was good (rarely needed in Colorado) and handling was smooth and predictable.

[Testarossa]

Mille spec calls for 120/90-18 rear, 110/90-18 front. Can't find the 110/90-18 in a Shinko 712 front tire -- looks like they don't make it. The T runs a 100/90 in front -- can I do that, or a 120/90?  Which would be better?

[kirby1923]

Yes they make a 110/90/18 but it is a rear. The Shinko tires run a bit wider than spec. The 100/90 will measure about 105 mm. I think the 110/90 is also too big and have run one on the CX. You just have to mount it to spin against (backward) the arrows and it will work fine. I preferred the 100/90 much better and would never use the 110 on the front again.

100/90, the 120/90 way to big!

:-)