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Buell Forum » Big, Bad & Dirty (Buell XB12X Ulysses Adventure Board) » Archive through May 06, 2010 » Archive through April 15, 2010 » Tire choice (resurrection) « Previous Next »

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Mattmcc00
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 12:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Been doing some digging around and I seem to have found more choices regarding tires for our Ulys.

Here are a few that I have not heard about before that seem to be available in our sizes 180/55r17. Don't know if they are any good though.

Avon
AV50 Azaro SP Pro-Xtreme Rain Rear Tire
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/5987 /ITEM/Avon-AV50-Azaro-SP-Pro-Xtreme-Rain-Rear-Tire .aspx

Metzeler
ME 880 Marathon Touring Rear Tire
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/3/31/401/6127 /ITEM/Metzeler-ME-880-Marathon-Touring-Rear-Tire.a spx
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Kmb
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 12:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The ME 880 isn't available for us, otherwise I would have it. There is a 180/55zr18 which wont fit or the 170/60r17. I called Metzeler to find out if they had or would produce this tire for our size and got an definite NO, that we have to run sport touring tires, not touring tires. The mileage to me would be worth the "sacrifice" of extreme grip as I am on the slab most of the time, and never the track.
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Bdrag
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 12:53 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Mattmcc00

Without even looking if its avalible in our size, the Metrzeler 880s sucked in the wet on my Suzuki LC 1500. Damn good in the dry but suck real bad in the rain.

I also ran a set of Avon venomes on the LC and took the POS's off after 1500 miles. The tire had wat to flat of profile, I was running off the tread onto the sidewall in turns. The bike would just get real upset at that point! Many run them on their Valks, VTX's, Wings and so on but I will NEver run an Avon again. I am a BIG Pirelli fan!

BDRAG
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Mattmcc00
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 12:56 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

You seeem to be correct about the me 880. Thier is an error on thier website, I punch in 180 55 17 and the ME880 pops up as a choice but when you try to buy one it is an 18.

I verified the Avon and it seems fine, 180 55 17.
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Uly_dude
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 01:02 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I agree. I just picked up my first buell, a 2006 Uly, and and absolutely love the character this bike has. I've been pleasantly surprised by this purchase and this discussion forum makes it easy to learn all about it. But I digress......
I'm an off-road/adventure kind of guy and been searching high and low for better tires with more aggressive tread patterns. That ME880 comes close. Question for Kmb, how do you know the 170/60r17 won't fit? Has anyone mounted that size tire up on our bikes? How close are the tolerances to the swing arm? I'm sure it would fit on the rim itself. Thanks.
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Rwven
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 01:54 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That Azaro won't last long on the street. It is similar to a racing rain tire. I'll bet it would stick like glue while it lasted.

I'm going to run a set of Shinko 009 Raven Sport Touring tires for my next set. I've had the front on for about 3000 miles now and a rear is at the shop waiting for me to bring the wheel in. I'm running the current Strada well into the wear bars, probably will have it mounted next week.

(Message edited by rwven on April 13, 2010)
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Mikef5000
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 02:21 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I'm an off-road/adventure kind of guy and been searching high and low for better tires with more aggressive tread patterns. That ME880 comes close.

I'm confused, More aggressive for what? Off-road/adventure? Because then the ME880 isn't close at all, it's a touring tire (OEM on the goldwing).


The Azaro IS a rain racing tire. It will have amazing traction for it's 1000-2000 mile tread life.

Off-road tire thread:
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/384 2/150224.html?1271079337
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Kmb
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 02:31 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Uly_dude I should have stated that the largest size for our rim size is a 170/60r17. I dont know if it will fit or not. It may in fact fit fine, but I would prefer to stay with the tire size that the bike came with. I would be interested to know if anyone has got a tour tire to fit and what kind of mileage they get. I got 13k out of a stock set of dunlops at the wear bars on my sportster and feel I got my moneys worth. I hope to get close on the Pilot Road 2.
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Maximum
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 03:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I remember Dr_greg and a couple other guys tried out the Avon Pro-Xtreme...I think he got less than 1000 miles out of it!
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Buewulf
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 05:12 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

The AV50 will give amazing grip on asphalt and even light dirt if the subsurface is fairly hard. The compound is VERY soft. On a big bike like the Uly, you'd be lucky to get 1000 miles out of it. The XR650 ate the rear up in 1300.
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Oldwesterncowboy
Posted on Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 06:22 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)


http://www.rhinotire.com/
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Buewulf
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 10:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

That Rhino tire is pretty cool. I wonder how much that gel weighs. That could potentially be a lot of weight to add to the outer perimeter of the tire making the bike reluctant to lean. Do you actually use those tires, Cowboy?
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Uly_dude
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 10:50 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Let me rephrase that sentence. The ME880 is CLOSER than anything else I've been able to find for on/off road touring. But even this doesn't exactly fit so it's a bit of a mute point. Something like the Metzeler Tourance would be nice. Hey and those Rhino tires look awesome, but I couldn't get into their store to see their selection.
It's just hard to believe that the Uly's been around for almost 5 yrs., often promoted as a adventure touring bike, yet the only tread patterns we can find is what the factory sold on the bike. Someone out there must've found a different tire that fits right by now you'd think. I know there's alot of us off roaders riding these around the dirt somewhere.
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Buewulf
Posted on Wednesday, April 14, 2010 - 11:58 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

I know there's alot of us off roaders riding these around the dirt somewhere.

Not nearly enough obviously. I'll bet BMW sells more big-displacement GS bikes in one year than Buell, Triumph and Ducati and have produced ever. Probably not enough Ulys ever produced for a tire manufacturer to even consider making a decent 17-inch dual-sport tire (in sportbike sizes no less)
especially since a very small percentage of that small percentage actually want venture off the pavement. I guess a mfg's first question would be why a handful of fools even rides a 500lb bike with a 17-inch front tire in the muck anyway.

Uly, Tiger and Multi Strada owners need to get a collective whine going. Anybody put those new Scorpion Trails through the dirt test yet?
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