Recommended tyres for 1992 GSF250 Bandit?

[Acc4meplz]

Im not sure where to look so thought id come and ask here if anyone can recommend a tyre brand or type for my Bandit. I do not want or need a hardcore sports tyre, i mainly use my bike to commute to uni and back daily, but i also go out for weekend rides etc, so need a semi touring type tyre.
Got any suggestions?
Also my current rear tyre is a 150/60-17 Michelin Pilot Power Raidial if that will help at all.

[ducatilover]

Pirelli Sport Demons.
IMO best value for small tyres.
Last well on a 250 and nice in the wet.

[Ferkletastic]

+! for sport demons, they made my bandito waaay betterer.

[MSTRS]

Also my current rear tyre is a 150/60-17 Michelin Pilot Power Raidial if that will help at all.

+1 for Sport Demons. Bridgestone BT45 are also the shizz AND they are dual compound, so you may get better mileage from the commute..

[SMOKEU]

+1 for Sport Demons. Reasonably priced, long life, and good grip. I had them on my CBR250 and they never let me down.

[ducatilover]

+1 for Sport Demons. Bridgestone BT45 are also the shizz AND they are dual compound, so you may get better mileage from the commute..
The BT45 are well priced too.
An IRX RX-01 will last...they're shit though

[Devil]

My vote is for the BT45. Have had those and the sport demons and preferred the BT's. it was close though.

[sil3nt]

BT45 for sure.

[MSTRS]

Michelin Pilot Activ could be a good option too. Modern alternative to the old bias ply tyres.

[Drew]

I'll put my oar in, and suggest shinkos. Anyone who bags them hasn't ridden the current generation sports touring tyres on offer, at very good prices.

[TrentNz]

I'll put my oar in, and suggest shinkos. Anyone who bags them hasn't ridden the current generation sports touring tyres on offer, at very good prices.

Fuck shinkos
+1 FOR BT45

[Drew]

Fuck shinkos
+1 FOR BT45

No body likes him^^^very much.

[Jerry74]

Go for the Pirelli sport demons as other people say, I had bridgestones on my ZXR.
Sport demons made a huge diffence to handling.

[Oakie]

BT45s are good but there'd be nothing wrong with sticking with the Michelins. The latest vesrion of the Pilot (P3) are excellent in the wet in my experience.

[James Deuce]

Black. Round. Not burning. Oooo, and to go extra fast, fill them with nitrogen.

[4AGE]

I run bt45's on my mc19 and they are excellent

[Milts]

Had the sport demons on my ZZR250, fucking loved them. Miles ahead of any other tyre I ever used on that bike (never tried the BT45s though).

Links:
http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/335-pirelli_road/2172-pirelli_sport_demon_road_sport.aspx

http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/sport_demon.html

They were amazing in the wet, nice to commute on, had pretty good life and when I took them to the track and warmed them up properly, they were unbelievably sticky.

Others may disagree but I would never cheap out on tyres; I'd much rather have sportier tyres and replace them more often than buy cheaper commuter tyres, even if 80% of my riding was commuting. You never know when you'll suddenly need some extra grip.

[nzspokes]

Im looking at the same tyres. BT45s or Sport demons. Price very little difference. Ive got demons on my 250 and they have been great. But I like the idea of the dual compound of the BT45 and that they last longer.

[Oakie]

Im looking at the same tyres. BT45s or Sport demons. Price very little difference. Ive got demons on my 250 and they have been great. But I like the idea of the dual compound of the BT45 and that they last longer.

I ran BT45s on my CB400. The only problem with the dual compound is that they do wear unevenly so you finish up with the tyre that is not a nice oval ... rather it develops a lip between the softer outside and more solid centre if the tyre. Admittedly, this does take a while (16000k on my rear before I needed to replace from memory)

[sil3nt]

I ran BT45s on my CB400. The only problem with the dual compound is that they do wear unevenly so you finish up with the tyre that is not a nice oval ... rather it develops a lip between the softer outside and more solid centre if the tyre. Admittedly, this does take a while (16000k on my rear before I needed to replace from memory)And the sport demons will square off if you commute on them everyday.

Just gotta choose the tyre for the type of riding you do.

[whowhatwhere]

Used both on my CB500 in the UK and preferred the BT45's for both feel and wear. Outstanding in the wet.

[nzspokes]

Just gotta choose the tyre for the type of riding you do.

So which suits what?

[Phreak]

Michelin Pilot Activ could be a good option too. Modern alternative to the old bias ply tyres.

Yup, I'll agree with that, I love mine. They're great all year round. :cool:

[sil3nt]

So which suits what?BT45 have a harder compound in the center of the tyre so commuting won't wear it down as much. Good for a mix of commuting and weekend riding.

The sport demons are more of a sport tyre so wills square off quicker if all you do is commute on them. Good tyre if all you do is hit the twisties.

With that being said it still takes a lot of mileage to square a tyre off. Both tyres are excellent and you can't really go wrong with either.

[spanner spinner]

I work fitting motorcycle tyres and agree that the best choice is either the BT45's or sport demons, really down to personal choice. But for your information note that only the V rated BT45's are dual compound, most of the smaller tyre sizes (ie the sizes that will suit your bike) are only H rated.

[sil3nt]

I work fitting motorcycle tyres and agree that the best choice is either the BT45's or sport demons, really down to personal choice. But for your information note that only the V rated BT45's are dual compound, most of the smaller tyre sizes (ie the sizes that will suit your bike) are only H rated.Useful info :yes:

[nzspokes]

I work fitting motorcycle tyres and agree that the best choice is either the BT45's or sport demons, really down to personal choice. But for your information note that only the V rated BT45's are dual compound, most of the smaller tyre sizes (ie the sizes that will suit your bike) are only H rated.

Bridgstone website says all are dual compound. http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/battlax/bt45.html

And my size in demon is V rated? http://www.pirelli.com/tyre/ww/en/motorcycle/sheet/sport_demon.html?url=%3Fsubtype%3Droad

[sil3nt]

Bridgstone website says all are dual compound. http://www.bridgestone.com/products/motorcycle_tires/products/battlax/bt45.htmlThat is what i thought as well but if you read it carefully it does not say the BT-45V shares the DTC compound.

So it is the H that has the dual compound rear not the V.

[SMOKEU]

Oooo, and to go extra fast, fill them with nitrogen.

Or a limited edition gold power band.

[Blackshear]

Run Pilot Activ's on my bandit for the last 3 years.
It came with Some $60 kendas, holy fuck they'd roll-on spin in 6th when it rained.
Last about 12,000 on the rear, twice on the front.

[ducatilover]

And the sport demons will square off if you commute on them everyday.

hen I got my 600 on the road it had IRC on the front and rear, I squared the IRC off (no tread at all...) in two weeks :D not a bad effort, was a lot of spinning the rear up in 1st-2nd-3rd in the dry though.
Avoid the IRC if you do any sort of sporty riding.
If you're not fussy, I have a mint front tyre here :sweatdrop

[baffa]

On the subject of tyres, how hard is it to get hold of the demons or 45s in a 16 inch front wheel in NZ?
I like to be different :sunny:

[sil3nt]

On the subject of tyres, how hard is it to get hold of the demons or 45s in a 16 inch front wheel in NZ?
I like to be different :sunny:As easy as actually searching? http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/227-bridgestone_road/1577-bridgestone_bt_45_touring_bt45.aspx

[nzspokes]

That is what i thought as well but if you read it carefully it does not say the BT-45V shares the DTC compound.

So it is the H that has the dual compound rear not the V.

Spoke to Dury tyres and they reckon all BT45s are dual compound.

[sil3nt]

Spoke to Dury tyres and they reckon all BT45s are dual compound.I spoke to a shop in Hamilton that is now closed and he said BT45s were not dual compound and that if they were his computer would tell him. Needless to say I didn't buy anything from them (and no one else did apparently!).

[Katman]

I'll put my oar in, and suggest shinkos. Anyone who bags them hasn't ridden the current generation sports touring tyres on offer, at very good prices.

Don't go confusing the advances Shinko have made with their radial tyres with where they're still at with their bias plies.

[nzspokes]

I spoke to a shop in Hamilton that is now closed and he said BT45s were not dual compound and that if they were his computer would tell him. Needless to say I didn't buy anything from them (and no one else did apparently!).

I spoke to the tyre guy there and told him how/what i ride, he reckoned the BT45 was the best due to the dual comp for my riding. And it seems they have a real good reputation so inclined to believe him.

And there is not many options in 130/90 x 16.

[nzspokes]

Don't go confusing the advances Shinko have made with their radial tyres with where they're still at with their bias plies.

i dont fully understand the difference, what is it?

My understanding was that radial was for tubeless. But my understanding is oftern wrong, and as my bike is tubeless but seems to use Bias tyres....

[Katman]

I believe it is only the rear BT45 that is dual compound.

[nzspokes]

I believe it is only the rear BT45 that is dual compound.

Yes thats my understanding to.

[baffa]

As easy as actually searching? http://www.cycletreads.co.nz/products/227-bridgestone_road/1577-bridgestone_bt_45_touring_bt45.aspx

I did look there ya sod, but instore whenever I've enquired theyve only had 2 or 3 tyres that would fit my front wheel. Just wondering if there were other suggestions.
Also it seems both of those tyres dont offer something large enough for the rear.

For reference: 130/70-ZR16 front, 180/55-ZR17 rear.