New tyres without embarrassment?

[charlymelon]

Hi,

I need new tyres on my Honda 250 CBF and have NO idea at all. Don't wanna be the girl that doesn't know shit, because that would just add to the cliche....
Where do I get cheap tyres?
front - 130/70ZR 16M/C (61W), rear - 180/55ZR 17M/C (73W) says Wikipedia, but fuck, I wouldn't have a clue^^
I'm sure some of you ladies know heaps more than me and can tell me what I'm looking for so I don't have to give any male the satisfaction of having a helpless little girl standing in front of him and telling her "yeah, sweetie, this is what you need...." :shutup:
Argh.


Thanks!!!

[bikee chick]

LOL...I don't care who knows that i don't know much, the guys in our group and i know are just so helpful without the attitude and giving the hard time, and they sometimes do the work for you......work it baby and learn it all along the way....

[varminter]

You don't want cheap tires, you want good tires, or at least the best you can afford. Cheap tires don't stick especially when cold or wet. Ain't no sin to ask a bike shop for advice. I did and I'm a bloke.

[CookMySock]

Do you really want cheap tyres? If it's just a little putt-around commuter learner bike, then yeah put cheapo tyres on it.

Just wander in there and ask to talk to the service manager. Ask her what your options are, for a.) cheapest tyres, b.) good tyres, c.) verrry nice tyres, or d.) gold plated tyres - and then they will tell you. Take the information away and think about it, or post here and again and ask. Don't feel obligated to make a decision right then.

Blokes feel just the same way as you do when buying stuff. You're doing fine.

Steve

[trailblazer]

if your bike shop makes you feel like you are just a dumb ass chick then you need to find a new shop that will treat you just like another customer. Salesmen at bike shops are there to help and give advice not judge.

[karla]

My bike shop graciously sent me to a nearby tyre shop; they were great, I didn't have to say a lot, just motioned to the bike (at the door) and said help. They had the tyre in stock, fitted it while I shopped, and quietly took my money off me. I love guys who just get on and do the job that is necessary, don't have to make a big song and dance about it, and look like they are going to be around the next time I need them.

[davebullet]

Hi,

I need new tyres on my Honda 250 CBF and have NO idea at all. Don't wanna be the girl that doesn't know shit, because that would just add to the cliche....
Where do I get cheap tyres?
front - 130/70ZR 16M/C (61W), rear - 180/55ZR 17M/C (73W) says Wikipedia, but fuck, I wouldn't have a clue^^
I'm sure some of you ladies know heaps more than me and can tell me what I'm looking for so I don't have to give any male the satisfaction of having a helpless little girl standing in front of him and telling her "yeah, sweetie, this is what you need...." :shutup:
Argh.


Thanks!!!

Fair enough.

Firstly - you want to put the same size on as the manufacturer recommends. That's because the steering etc.. is designed to work with that size / shape tyre.

For your bike you need a 100/80x17 at the front and 130/70x17 for the rear.

I recommend you go with a Bridgestone Battlax BT45.

These might be a little more expensive, but we have a set on our Honda VTR 250 and a) they grip (= security and saftey when you are riding) and b) they seem to be lasting very very well.

PS: I think you can only get a BT45 for your rear. Not sure if the BT45 comes in a 100/80 profile for the front?

[hayd3n]

how does a 17 fit on a 16 inch wheel?

[neels]

Fair enough.
I recommend you go with a Bridgestone Battlax BT45.
+1, got them on my XJ and they stick good, even in pouring west coast rain.

Don't be too stressed about knowing what you need, I just rocked up to the bike shop and asked what the options were, and went with what they recommended.

[rachprice]

Oh you are so cute!
That exactly how I feel....often its what you think of yourself or will happen but most the time the guys at the bike shop are all good, there are some dickheads for sure but majority aren't! :)
There is only one way you can learn, by asking!!

[p.dath]

You don't want cheap tires, you want good tires, or at least the best you can afford. Cheap tires don't stick especially when cold or wet. Ain't no sin to ask a bike shop for advice. I did and I'm a bloke.

+1 to that! If you are feeling embarrased then you are choosing to feel embarassed. I don't know much about tyres, so it's not a girl thing.

Just go into a place that specliases in motorbike tyres, and ask them what your options are.

[charlymelon]

Ok, thanks to all of you. I wouldnt have posted this thread if I hadn't had bad experiences with bike shops.... They just told me that they recommend Pirelli and can order them for me and don't have the right size in stock. and since I'm travelling, I do not have ONE bikeshop that I always go to.

I don't really care what anyone thinks, I just don't wanna be the stupid one who pays too much for shitty tyres really...
And well, as for cheap... I'll have to sell the bike in 2 months or so and I don't really have much cash, whatever I spend on tyres will be missing^^

Bridgestone Battlax TB45... Thanks, gonna remember that.

So... What are your experiences with tyres off the internet?

Thanks for all the replies, very much appreciated!


PS: Do NOT call me cute

[Toaster]

if your bike shop makes you feel like you are just a dumb ass chick then you need to find a new shop that will treat you just like another customer. Salesmen at bike shops are there to help and give advice not judge.

Agreed. Considering the significant groundswell in female riders buying bikes and getting down to business, they are an important part of the market to target well.

[p.dath]

Ok, thanks to all of you. I wouldnt have posted this thread if I hadn't had bad experiences with bike shops.... They just told me that they recommend Pirelli and can order them for me and don't have the right size in stock. and since I'm travelling, I do not have ONE bikeshop that I always go to.

Which part of the country are you in at the moment, or will be in? Perhaps someone can recommend a reputable source that you can call in advance.


PS: Do NOT call me cute

rachprice is a female, she didn't mean any harm. :)

[charlymelon]

I'm in Wellington.
Yeah, no harm done, I'm just touchy when it comes to that ugly, horrible, evil word.

[pete376403]

Once you get your new tyres - be aware that they will probably be coated in mould release agent (aka slippery shit), used to stop the tyre sticking to the mould in which it is made. Better tyre fitters might wipe the tyre with solvent to clean this off but don't count on it. Take it easy for a few kms when leaving the tyre shop to let the road surface scrub the tyre surface clean. There are many many stories about bike riders doing a big launch away on new tyres and ending up on their arse. Now THAT is embarrassing.

[varminter]

Gawd, I wish someone would call me cute.

[NighthawkNZ]

how does a 17 fit on a 16 inch wheel?

thats what I wanna know???

[bittertwistedcute]

Problem solved, just include it in your username LOL


Gawd, I wish someone would call me cute.

[StoneY]

Well I dont own a 250 and aint ridden one in a looong time but the principle I apply to my 3 900cc+ bikes still applies....

I want ythe best rubber I can get within my budget
I fostered a great relationship with a bike shop by agreeing to exclusively get all my tyres for all my bikes and bring friends to them for tyres IF they offer my friends the discount I was offered

I get GOOD tyres at reasonable costs (usually the wholesale of the tyre price ) then I pay them to fit for me

Got my buddies VFR400 a set of Conti Sport Attacks for 530ish fitted! He was rapt, saved about 100 bucks and got great tyres fitted

My Ducati runs Conti's, my GSXR is on Pilot Road 2 (rear) and Road1 (front) and has never let go on me (other than on a pile of mud but lets not go there) and I have the Diablo's that were on my KTM still on it, but will put Conti Road Attacks on it when theyre ready to be replaced

Cant use shit tyres....its a sin against ya machine.
Always get good quality rubber, regardless oif cost and if you ever get told Shinko's are fine because its only a 250, shoot the person who says it!

[charlymelon]

Will get Pirelli Sport Demons I think. Or Conti Road Attack.....
Have a little while to think it over, have to earn money first anyways^^

[RDjase]

here is all the sizes for Sport Demons

http://www.nwa.co.nz/product_detail.php?P_ID=3150

Good tyres , I run them on my road and my race bike,

[The Pastor]

Not sure if this has been said, but your tyre size are written on the side of the tyre - so double checking that will confirm weather the info u got off wikipedia is correct or not.

Then ring around the bike shops and get the best deal, ask them for a cheap option and a mid range option - the trick is to compare prices from all the shops, you'll see who are the best very quickly. Also ask for a fitted price so ur not in for an extra $30-60.

unless you ride really fast. there isnt much point getting really sticky tyres (expensive) esp on a 250

[Expert]

There seems to be a lot of guys on this girly thread so i'll join in, i hope you don't mind.

For my two cents worth i would say; your bike is very light and underpowered (no dis-respect intended) for such huge section tyres.
Most tyres of that section are intended for much heavier, powerful bikes and are therefore made of a harder compound of rubber that will last a reasonable time/mileage.
Your little bike will never get those tyres up to a reasonable operating temerature and although thay may last a million miles, they will never grip well. Go for a sports soft compound tyre not a touring type tyre.

Just ask for the stickiest road legal tyre they have ;)

[charlymelon]

@ "expert"
are you talking about the sports demons and road attack?

[Expert]

I'm un-familiar with the contis or the pirrellis although i'm sure they're good.
I use michelin because i have an account with them and i get them cheap.
The 16 inch wheel honda chose to put on your bike is an uncommon size and tends to make for a limited choice of good tyres.
Michelin make a pilot sporty front in a 16 inch size with a 120 section.(that means how many millimeters wide it is) thats cheap and grippy.
I know tyres can be a painful expense, i had a supercharged bike that was eating through a back tyre every 3000miles and at 900 bucks a time it was costing more than petrol.
Michelin pilot sports come in the correct sizes for your bike.
the sport and the sporty are two different ranges of tyre, it's not a typo ;)
Your bike uses the same sizes as used by the fireblade until '99 if i remember rightly which goes to show how over-tyred your bike is.
Whereabouts are you? You can pm if you want to keep it a secret.