My tyre dilemma :weep:

[Cruisin' Craig]

I ride a 1985 GSX-R750. It's a beautiful bike despite it's age, and it puts a big smile on my face every time I ride it.
Problem is, I need to replace the tyres. This wouldn't normally be a problem, except for the following:

a) I do like to lean the bike over a bit, so I really need something reasonably sticky.
b) My bike has stupid 18 inch wheels, and according to the manufacturer should be fitted with 150/70-18 rear and 110/80-18 front.

I haven't actually been able to find a single tyre brand that produces a nice sticky tyre with both a front and rear tyre in the right size for me.

Pirelli comes close with their Sport demon. The only difference is that the rear is a 140/70-18 instead of a 150/70-18.

Also Shinko make a set from their sport-touring range in the right sizes, but they're conventional tyres that I believe are designed more for durability than grip.

I just can't accept that decent rubber is no longer available for this bike. There must still be a fair few riders out there with old GSX-R's, and they must have found a solution.

If anyone has some knowledge or experience regarding how to give my bike some stickiness, I would very much appreciate it.

Right then, just in case no-one has any ideas, I'm off to look into the possibility of finding 17" wheels to fit my bike.....

[MSTRS]

These are about the same performance as the Sport Demon. http://mc.bridgestone.co.jp/en/products/battlax/bt45.html
Or the Pirelli Diablo or Strada

[Cruisin' Craig]

Thanks. Looks like a serious option. I guess that unless I'm willing to do something radical like changing wheels I just have to accept that a general sport/touring tyre is about as sticky as I'm going to get.
Have you used BT45's personally?

[MSTRS]

No, but my lad has a front on his Spada, my wife has a front on her EX500, and Speights_Bud has them both ends on his GPX250. SB rides real hard, esp on the track and those tyres have stood up well and never let go.
Be aware that they are a dual compound as well....

[Cruisin' Craig]

That's good to hear, as I'm planning to try a track day or two just for the new experience. Tell Speights_Bud he's talked me into it :-)

[Chrislost]

Thanks. Looks like a serious option. I guess that unless I'm willing to do something radical like changing wheels I just have to accept that a general sport/touring tyre is about as sticky as I'm going to get.
Have you used BT45's personally?

BT45s are THE shit!

sticky as! and decent life too(unless you like to burnout)

[Chrislost]

their also pretty sweet in the wet

[Waxxa]

If you like leaning over hard, Continental tyres have the most lean angle of any tyre on the market, up to 50 degrees I believe. The Sport Attacks have a very hard wearing centre and very sticky sidewalls.

[homer]

yeah bt 45

you wont beat it
great for the bike your on
keep them hard if you want them to last the longest
about 38 psi

[Cruisin' Craig]

Sounds like pretty much a consensus then. BT45's it is.

Waxxa - The continental tyres sound great, but there is no matching set available for my rims unfortunately.

homer - I'm curious as to why you say they are particularly suited to the bike I'm on.

[Swoop]

Hey Craig. Slightly off topic, I know, but good on ya for keeping a classic on the road and riding her regularly!
Mid 80's bikes have a bit of character about them. Nice to see!:niceone:

[slopster]

Havn't had experience with a gsxr or your era but had a similar era zxr750 and put super sticky tyres on it. The bike didn't have enough ground clearance to lean them right over because it was designed for the rubber of the day. Ended up grinding my foot pegs down to half their original size which was cool at first but got over it pretty quick.

[Cruisin' Craig]

Hey Craig. Slightly off topic, I know, but good on ya for keeping a classic on the road and riding her regularly!
Mid 80's bikes have a bit of character about them. Nice to see!:niceone:

Cheers. I used to want one when I was a teenager but couldn't afford to buy one. Turned out all I needed to do was let it depreciate for twenty years :-)

[MacD]

Another vote for BT45s here. Also I think Classic Zed (http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=4223)runs them on his 1979 Kawasaki Z1300 (I was admiring it on the ATNR) so you might like to PM him for an opinion?

[orangeback]

im running
com k compound metzelers
110/80/18 ME33 com k compound on early 1100G rims
150/70/18 ME1 com k compound on early 1100G rims
you wont have any problems with them

[ynot slow]

Running Pirelli S/Demons,good feel and a few are on GSXR of era,mine cost $350 fitted 120-80/16f and 130-90/17r.Had a used Bridgestone B/ax on front as original tyre on it was shite in wet,so threw on the B/stone,if I could've got sizes at the time might have looked at them f & r instead of Pirelli (no complaints re cost and durability).Shame a ltd range available at good price,i.e say $400 set or so.

[jimbo]

BT45s very good tyre.A mate swore by the k comps as well.

[Richard Mc F]

bt45's on the old ducati, hold on all the way to the centrestand grinding, dunno about decent life though, 7000/8000 km either end, sometimes less if I am being bad