K11 Owners Group

RobWheatley · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:46 am Post subject: Tyres AGAIN

Hi all
Im on a very tight budget at the moment (aren't we all) and need new rubber, Been looking at Continental ContiForce and wondered if anyone had used them and what they are like, I can get a pair for £155 where im being quoted silly money for bridgestones.

Rob
_________________
1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

Flying Duck · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:31 am Post subject:

Don't know anything about them but I'd recommend checking out reviews in other places.

Try Googling "contiforce review"
_________________
93 LT (x2)
94 RS
86-97 K75F(K75/100/1100 Frankenbrick)
86 K75C w/paralever, hi perf cams,TURBO!
91 & 92 K75Ss
91 K1
86 custom K100
14 WR250R
IBA #17739 (SS1K, BBG, 50CC)
Buy parts HERE

Wrigsby1 · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 3:31 pm Post subject:

Seem to be fine for my rear tyre so far. I am of the "round and black" mentality so usually go for whatever is a deal. Done 1000k miles so far without any drama and not much wear. Shetland roads are abrasive due to lack of traffic which wears tyres quickly but this looks better than my last K11.

I had one of the longest threads when I Q'ed tyre wear last time on this forum!!

Give em a go as many of the other tyres are not up to much.

G

chrisk1100rs · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:36 am Post subject:

Rob

my experiance of Conties has been good on other BMW like the F800 never had them on my K1100RSallways Bridgestone just moved up to the 021 on my K1100RS and it is very Good. Have you tried Watling Tyres they are good on price in your area. Your nearest should be Gravesend.

ChrisK1100RS
_________________
Stelth

RobWheatley · Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 5:34 pm Post subject:

Hi Chris
There is a Watling tyres about 5 miles from me and they are quoting £230 for a pair of 021's plus fitting.
I did have 021's on my RS and was impressed with the grip but didn't have them long enough to see how they wore, the ones fitted on it when I bought it were very out of shape though making filtering extremely hard.

I think I will try the Contiforce as a the reviews I have read give a glowing report on them, I will let you all know how they are.

Rob
_________________
1999 K1100LTIC Smooth and Quiet Smile

Cruise, BFD & HID
1996 K1100RS. dead but not forgotten.

chrisk1100rs · Posted: Mon Oct 19, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

Hi Rob

Looks like Watling s have got exspensive since I was living in Kent that about £40 more than I paid for my last pair for my K1200s this year. They have now done 6000 miles and the front is just going out of shape. Look forward to seeing your comments on the Conties.

ChrisK1100RS
_________________
Stelth

Karlos11 · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 12:21 pm Post subject:

Any feedback on these tires, Continental ContiForce, Rob? You or any other member that has tried them, for that matter.

I'm about to buy a new "pair of shoes" for my K. I've had Metzeler Z6 and Bridgestone BT021. No complaints, although I tend to think I liked Metz a bit more...

Now (like Rob two years ago), I have a tight budget. I've read positive reviews of ContiForce, but would like to hear from fellow K11 OGers' experience.

Thanks in advance!
_________________
Carlos
'95 K1100 RS

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 3:10 pm Post subject:

Not sure what's available in you area, I have had decent mileage and handling with the Pilot Road 2's on my LT.
_________________
Ride safe.

1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
Garmin StreetPilot 2820
Garmin Zumo 550
Garmin Zumo XT
"One who does not ask questions is ashamed to learn" Danish proverb
1997 K1100LT 0302488(R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)

BMGraeme · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 4:35 pm Post subject:

Tyre choice is very much a personal thing. I have Dunlop Roadsmarts on both the K1100RS and R1200GSA and rate them very highly especially for grip wet & dry. I don't worry too much about mileage - get 5K on the rear riding "briskly".
_________________
1980 CB900FA
1994 K1100RS
2008 R1200GSA

granth · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 5:30 pm Post subject:

I have a '93 K1100RS on Continental Road Attack 2s since last August,,and I find them superb.
Grip in the dry and wet is first class and wear rates are looking good.
Tracking is rock steady on all surfaces and they have never given me any cause to lose confidence in them. Very Happy

Earlier versions did not get good reviews but the R A 2s are said to be much better,I have certainly never had a tyre that inspired so much confidence in all settings.
_________________
1993(94 MODEL) K1100RS IN ASTRAL BLUE
2006 URAL 750CC DALESMAN SIDECAR OUTFIT,
RED AND CREAM.

Karlos11 · Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 6:27 pm Post subject:

Thank you all for your feedbacks, guys.

Availability won't be a problem, Scott. I'll probably buy the tires through the internet - it seems to be cheaper. Right now I'm comparing prices and feedbacks. Thanks!

For what I' seen, a pair of Michelin Road Pilot 2 cost around US$ 430! Around 5 dollars less than the Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart, Graeme. I wouldn't like to sacrifice grip, since I ride around 60 miles commuting - mainly highway and fast lanes. For the same reason, mileage is also important for me.

Granth, that's a nice feedback on Continental's. Basically, that riding confidence is common to Conti Force's, as far as I've read. Interesting. And Road Attack 2 cost a bit less, around 400 dollars. Humm...

Oh boy, everythings' a fortune, these days!... Shocked

But maybe this tire/ tyre choice will end up to being what Graeme wrote: very much a personal thing. Any more feedbacks?
_________________
Carlos
'95 K1100 RS

Karlos11 · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 11:28 am Post subject:

Just to illustrate my need for tires, here are some photos. Both are more worn in the the left side, although it's not as easy to see in the front tire. This is causing vibrations in the handlebar between 70 and 80 kph.

Front (Bridgestone BT021)

Rear (Metzeler Z6 Roadtec)

Obviously, the rear tire has more kilometers and is dangerously in the limit. To replace as soon as I can!
_________________
Carlos
'95 K1100 RS

E T · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject:

Karlos11 · Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject:

merlin geikie · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 9:17 am Post subject:

Yup Karlos in oz too we pay through the nose for tyres.

Reckon it's some sort of tyre Mafia...

In the US folk get stuff so cheap compared to the rest of us..... guess it's scaling and infrastructure.

We pay similar to you for top end tyres and you can't beat PR2s for durability and surefootedness.

Oh yeah your tyre wear,.... check your shock n forks for wear plus wheel and head stem bearings Wink

Forks of course you can recondition and reload with oil and your rear shock may be rebuildable.

All the very best with the belt tightening, Oz is experiencing consumer slump at the moment.

My belt is always tight, but I don't mind, keeps me on the ball Wink

Karlos11 · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 2:23 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the advices, Merlin. I'll check all that.

I replaced one fork seal of a couple of years ago. It had started to leak... Maybe this has something to do with that. I also put a new tyre in the front (BT021), while keeping the Z6 in the rear. I have the feeling that all this started back then. That's why I'm replacing both tyres now.

merlin geikie · Posted: Fri May 06, 2011 9:36 pm Post subject:

Howdy Carlos Smile

Yes ... thanks for the insightful videos.

Worldwide we will all be doing that belt tightening in one way or another, I think.

I am glad your health care, education and minimum wages did not get slashed. Our last government here did all that and put up the retirement age.

I noticed your fuel economy was very good at 5.2 l, you must be riding very carefully, that will also save your bike n tyres Wink

.

The leaky forks may well be some grit in between the fork and fork seal and may be removed by sliding a feeler guage, in up n down motion, around the full circumference of the fork tube.

Check carefully for gouges in the chrome and sand off with 1200 grit sandpaper or very very very fine sandpaper.

The removal of grit will remove fork leak in many cases.

Once forks are good, fit fork gaiters to protect from dust. A rack n pinion steering boot will do the job nicely for minimum cost Cool

How old are your shocks, if original and your bike has more than 50K km, they will be well worn and will affect both ride quality and tyre wear.

Shock wear is hard to detect as very slow.

Even if unrebuildable, they will be rebuildable by dirty bike shops, who rescue shocks all the time.

Check steering stem for notchiness, if there it will likely be dried grease blocking up the bearing. Many a steering head bearing has come good with a good clean in-situ and a thorough regreasing.

All the very best with belt-tightening, it builds resourcefulness as you say.

When we go in economy mode, often appreciate our lives more and are fitter and healthier due to restrictions on what is not necessary Laughing

All the very best,

Chin up

Merlin from downunder oz Wink

Karlos11 · Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 6:03 pm Post subject:

Hi Merlin. Thanks again for your kind and helpful post.

Our goverment slashed in several areas, as can you imagine. Regarding the minimum wage? Let me just tell you that, one year ago, the next step was to raise it to 500 euros... Embarassed

I have no memory of things get so dificult. Unemployment, taxes, fuel prices, etc. It's hard, but I totally agree with you: this situation builds resourcefulness and that's a good thing.

Did you know that our spanish neighbours reduced highway speed limit from 120 to 110 km/h, in the beginning of March? Thanks to that, they've already saved 95 million euros in oil imports. Me? I'm already doing my own speed control since some three years, maybe. That explains the rather nice fuel economy. Smile

Thanks for the advices regarding the suspensions and steering of my K. I'll take the chance of changing tyres to check its conditions.

Kind regards from sunny Portugal. Wink

_________________
Carlos
'95 K1100 RS