K11 Owners Group

Hobieone · Joined: 16 Mar 2009 Posts: 19 Location: Keweenaw, Michigan

I've clocked over 2k on my first beemer (93 k11LT) in a summer in the northwoods that just ain't summer as of yet -- and time is growing short.
I see the back tire (a pair of Mich Macadams) is virtually bald up the center, and if the sun is right both the front and the rear look a bit "scalloped".
The bike just turned 42k mi and I don't know the age of the meat that's on there.
I've been digging thru the site looking for hints on the best way to go and am ending up a bit confused -- so I'll toss out the dumb questions;
are the Mich's I have radials ? I'm assuming so.
I learned not to mix bias and radials on car once, (poor sollege student) and I won't even THINK about chancing it on 2 wheels.
The front has some life left in it, but rear is due. I only have 4-6+ weeks until we see snowflakes and may push it till the end of the season, but would like to clock a few more miles.
What is the general recomendation for new treads ?
You guys have been a veritable wealth of good stuff, and I'll take it all to heart.
Many Thanx

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 10:39 pm Post subject:

they're radials if there is an "R" in the tire designation. The age can be determined by reading the four numbers in the box at the end of the DOT number - first 2 digits is the week of manufacture, last two is the year of manufacture
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

As far as your tires being radials - not necessarily - I have Macadams that are not. Apparently you can mix radial and bias ply on the LT - some of the guys across the pond have - and some of the BMW GS bikes come from the factory with bias ply on the front and radial on the rear.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:07 pm Post subject:

Radials make a HUGE difference in handling performance. Yes, HUGE! They make it a whole different bike.

If you stay with the stock wheels I think the only radials you can get for both front and rear are Avon Azarros.

If you use a K1100RS rear then you can switch to Michelin Pilot Road 2s, an EXCELLENT handling tire with great mileage. That's what I've done on my LT and it's the best money I ever spent.
_________________
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

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

Actually, if I recall correctly, on the LT you have to use a Pilot Road 2 on the front and Avon Azaro on the rear - Avon doesn't make for the front of the LT.
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Flying Duck · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:10 pm Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:12 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm. I thought Scott_ had a PR 2 and an Avon...
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Off the grid · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:25 pm Post subject:

Jim · Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 11:46 pm Post subject:

Thanks OTG - I was being to lazy to go look for the other thread...
_________________
Jim
1997 K1100LTSE 94,000 - still has gremlins!
1995 R100RT Classic 16,650 crashed - repaired!
1992 K75RTP 46,000

"We shall not all die, but we shall all be changed."

Phil Marvin · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 1:00 am Post subject:

Hi,
The Michelin Macadam 50 and 50E tires are NOT radials. I run them on my K75's and ran them on my K1100LT's pre-deer meet. I would normally get 12k or so from the rear and close to 20k from the front (that's miles, not km's).
_________________
Ride Safe,
Phil Marvin in El Paso, TX
'94 K75A/3
'95 K75RTP

max · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:59 am Post subject:

Hey - off topic, sort of - but this is the 1100th topic in Tech.

Laughing

It's an OMEN, I tell ya. Laughing

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 am Post subject:

I replaced front and rear this spring with Mich Mac 50s, being unable to make a decision on radials and needing to act. Yours sound way farther gone then mine were. I'm happy with the Macs but have nothing to compare to. The original tires on the LT were bias ply Metzlers.
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Scott_Anderson · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:55 am Post subject:

Having 2 LT's I can give some comparison between.
On the '97 I have the bias ply Macs and on the '95 I have the PR2 front and the Avon rear.
Like Drake said Radials make a big difference. Softer ride and the feeling of being one with the bike is awesome. You can lean into a turn with out the feeling of trying to "flip" the bike over the centerline of the wheels/tires. You can just roll right into it.

On the '97 with the bias tires they just seem 'hard' and stiff. They do seem to have a harder sidewall than the radial but that may be just do to the way it's constructed. I know the tire mech had a hell of a time getting the old bias plys off of the rims cause of the side wall stiffness.
These tires also seem to like to track the parallel rain grooves or any other distortion in the roadway where the radials do not.

OTG.... I thought about your extra set but you already made the deal with Mystic R for yours.

Mich. Pilot Road2 front
Avon AV46 Azaro rear

I had my local indy shop order them for me so I could have them mount them as well as try and support my local shop.
I am still considering mounting my own in the future, for what I can save in purchase $ price I could pay for the mounting equipment in very short time.
_________________
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)

supercat1 · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:43 am Post subject:

so ... what's a good set for an rs? i think i have metzler sporttec on the front and back from the PO. my little bro (who knows a lot more about bikes than i do) believes they have a couple thousand more miles, but for reference, what is good on an rs?
_________________
(formerly) 1993 k1100rs

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 am Post subject:

ALL TOGETHER NOW.....

Michelin PR2 (Pilot Road 2)
_________________
John & Cathy

'92 K100RS4V Pearl White SOLD
'04 K1200GT
IBA Several-SS1k, BBG, 50CC NYC to S.F.

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:35 am Post subject:

Saltcreek · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:15 pm Post subject: Re: time for new tread

old guy old bike · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:37 pm Post subject:

PR2's front and rear on an LT with the stock rims. 110/80ZR-18 on the front and 150/70ZR-17 on the rear. Trust me it works very well. I have just under 7,000 miles with this setup and still going strong.
Jeff
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject:

old guy old bike · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:25 pm Post subject:

It turned out to not be much smaller in diameter, less than the math tells you. I believe because the rim is slightly narrower it holds the sidewalls differently and makes the profile a little taller. I don't have any issues with it rubbing on the swingarm, single or 2 up. I don't know how much it munched the MPH as I don't have GPS. If I remember correctly the ride height changed by 1/4".
_________________
1993 K1100LT
2003 K1200GT Gone but not forgotten
2014 Victory Crossraods

Flying Duck · Posted: Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject:

fyi:

_________________
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