ST1100: Metzeler Z6 v BS Exedra G547/G548 v BS T32

I do like the ride and handling of the Dunlop's , we will see how long they last. The best performance I have gotten out of any brand of tires was a set of Michelin Commander 2's on my 81 Silverwing ,when I sold the bike last spring they had over 30,000 kilometers on them.
 
Upt' North said:
Don't disagree Unc, but the last time I checked GT's weren't recommended by Bridgestone.
I've never given it too much thought, thinking is blummin dangerous.
But......maybe Bridgestone developed the GT range for specific bikes after the ST11 was superceded hence they're not recommended. Just a thought.
But like I said, opinions and usage will differ and one persons chip is anothers crisp.
When are you coming riding over on the right side again fella?
Upt.
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Short story - I may be the 'reason' BT came out with the GT - a pretty interesting story it is. ;)
Their MC tire headquarters is located in Nashville, TN where I live and they have 'visited' the Holler. :biggrin:
Just curious - why do think a GT would be dangerous - stiffer sidewall, poorer handling?
 
Uncle Phil said:
Short story - I may be the 'reason' BT came out with the GT - a pretty interesting story it is. ;)
Their MC tire headquarters is located in Nashville, TN where I live and they have 'visited' the Holler. :biggrin:
Just curious - why do think a GT would be dangerous - stiffer sidewall, poorer handling?
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No, I don't necessarily think it would be dangerous. Like you say people run them without issues.
I just wonder if the ST11 was never on their agenda when thinking about motorcycle models to assign the tyre type to. I presume and assume that the tyre will be stiffer in the sidewall than a non GT but I can't say for sure.
Like most things in life I do as I'm told and when Bridgestone said non GT that's what I did.
I was amazed how little tyre wear over 4000 miles I experienced on The B, I put fresh A41 rubber on before the ride but there was no need where on the ST11 new tyres before a tour were never optional.
Upt.
 
Upt' North said:
No, I don't necessarily think it would be dangerous. Like you say people run them without issues.
I just wonder if the ST11 was never on their agenda when thinking about motorcycle models to assign the tyre type to. I presume and assume that the tyre will be stiffer in the sidewall than a non GT but I can't say for sure.
Like most things in life I do as I'm told and when Bridgestone said non GT that's what I did.
I was amazed how little tyre wear over 4000 miles I experienced on The B, I put fresh A41 rubber on before the ride but there was no need where on the ST11 new tyres before a tour were never optional.
Upt.
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Do they say it's okay for the ST1300 (since the ST1100 ABSII has the same front tire)?
I would guess they just didn't 'go back' and add the ST1100. :think1:
As I said, I've run a bunch of the BT032 GTs - in fact I have 3 or 4 new ones hanging in my garage, ready to install.
I also ran the BT031 GTs when they were available.
 
So the "general" feel seems to lean toward Bridgestone Txx over the Exedra or Metzeler
 
jacMA said:
So the "general" feel seems to lean toward Bridgestone Txx over the Exedra or Metzeler
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The Exedra is a Bridgestone, it is a tire specifically developed for the ST1100. But theres lots of choices, ride what works for you. MA to FL sounds like your doing some slab at speed. The Exedras are really good for that.
 
rwthomas1 said:
The Exedra is a Bridgestone, it is a tire specifically developed for the ST1100. But theres lots of choices, ride what works for you. MA to FL sounds like your doing some slab at speed. The Exedras are really good for that.
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...good to know
 
jacMA said:
...good to know
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As long as they are round, hold air, have decent tread and close to the right size, you'll probably be fine with whatever choice you make. ;)
The big 'tire' key on a trip is knowing your approximate trip total mileage and if your tires do that.
Tire changes 'in route' can be painful and time consuming even if they are planned.
 
Uncle Phil said:
As long as they are round, hold air, have decent tread and close to the right size, you'll probably be fine with whatever choice you make. ;)
The big 'tire' key on a trip is knowing your approximate trip total mileage and if your tires do that.
Tire changes 'in route' can be painful and time consuming even if they are planned.
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...true - and you can't plan for everything. If it's a flip of a coin, I may just go with what Honda went with originally Exedra. I know technology has progressed, but if it's "six of one, half dozen of the other"... Besides, no matter what they'll be new for this trip.
 
A comment from an old website FWIW -

For the 1996 model year, along with some other minor changes, the stock front tyre size on the ST1100 was changed so that the bike could use radials. The rim sizes were unchanged. This means that there is no reason not to run an earlier-model ST1100 on radials -- all that changed was the tyre specification, not the rim. The 3" front rim is wide enough for the vast majority of 120/70 radials. So here, despite there being an apparent difference between pre-96 and 96-on models, I'll treat them as the same.
​
You should plenty of mileage out of the Excedras, but your bike may have come originally with radials. ;)
IIRC, my 02 ABSII came with BT050s? radials from the factory - I don't remember on my 97 standard.
If you ride enough miles, the tires are gone pretty soon so if you don't like them you can try something else at the next change! :biggrin:
 
Uncle Phil said:
A comment from an old website FWIW -

For the 1996 model year, along with some other minor changes, the stock front tyre size on the ST1100 was changed so that the bike could use radials. The rim sizes were unchanged. This means that there is no reason not to run an earlier-model ST1100 on radials -- all that changed was the tyre specification, not the rim. The 3" front rim is wide enough for the vast majority of 120/70 radials. So here, despite there being an apparent difference between pre-96 and 96-on models, I'll treat them as the same.​
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To clarify this statement a bit, the non-ABS models FOR ALL YEARS ran 110/80-18 fronts and 160/70-17 rears with bias tires as OEM. Only the ABS2 models had the radials as OEM tires.

The front forks on the ABS2 are different, so they can easily accept the 120/70 radials, but I'm not sure how much clearance exists on the non-ABS forks. I've run radials on mine, but only 110/80 size, not 120/70. I think others have put a 120/70 on the non-ABS rim, but I'm not 100% sure about that. Am curious to hear if 120/70 fits the non-ABS fork arrangement without any issues, as they're a lot easier to find than the 110/80 size.
 
dwalby said:
To clarify this statement a bit, the non-ABS models FOR ALL YEARS ran 110/80-18 fronts and 160/70-17 rears with bias tires as OEM.

I've run radials on mine, but only 110/80 size, not 120/70.
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Exactamundo. Radials, but in OEM sizes.
 
dwalby said:
To clarify this statement a bit, the non-ABS models FOR ALL YEARS ran 110/80-18 fronts and 160/70-17 rears with bias tires as OEM. Only the ABS2 models had the radials as OEM tires.

The front forks on the ABS2 are different, so they can easily accept the 120/70 radials, but I'm not sure how much clearance exists on the non-ABS forks. I've run radials on mine, but only 110/80 size, not 120/70. I think others have put a 120/70 on the non-ABS rim, but I'm not 100% sure about that. Am curious to hear if 120/70 fits the non-ABS fork arrangement without any issues, as they're a lot easier to find than the 110/80 size.
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Plenty of clearance on non-abs forks - I ran an 120s on a 110 rim and then ran an ABSII 120 rim on the front of my standard one for years. ;)
All the wheel to fork clearances (I even had an ABSI rim once to check) are the same.
You just have to change the rotors on the ABSII rim from ABSIIs to standard rotors (standards are larger) - and the bolt pattern is the same.
The ST1100 ABSII front tire is the same size as the ST1300 front tire.
And I have run a ST1300 rear (170/60) on a ST1100 rear (160/70) with no ill effect.
I ran a 160/60 on the rear once but I didn't like it as the bike stood up too straight on the side stand.
So if you have no other options, you could use 'ST1300' tires on a ST1100. :biggrin:
 
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Thanks UP for answering a question for me wanted to know the rim width, next question do you find the 120 on the front last longer? Not about the money, I have found that more you take something apart the faster the aluminum casings, bolts and nuts wear out, or get damaged. Firm believer in Neverseize and locktight where needed to slow down that effect and have good quality torque wrenches and still suffer having to use helicoils more than I would like, usually on multiple owner bikes l have owned. After 40 years of rebuilding Automatic transmissions, one thing I must say Honda uses a good aluminum, I will never own a Dodge Caravan with a 4 speed Auto ,cause the case is to bloody cheap,they taught me how to helicoil real good though. Happy riding. G
 
St-Gerard said:
Thanks UP for answering a question for me wanted to know the rim width, next question do you find the 120 on the front last longer? Not about the money, I have found that more you take something apart the faster the aluminum casings, bolts and nuts wear out, or get damaged. Firm believer in Neverseize and locktight where needed to slow down that effect and have good quality torque wrenches and still suffer having to use helicoils more than I would like, usually on multiple owner bikes l have owned. After 40 years of rebuilding Automatic transmissions, one thing I must say Honda uses a good aluminum, I will never own a Dodge Caravan with a 4 speed Auto ,cause the case is to bloody cheap,they taught me how to helicoil real good though. Happy riding. G
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I did not notice that the 120 'lasted longer'.
Since my other three girls wore 120s I didn't want to 'stock' two different front tires so I figured it out by testing! ;)
In the 'old' days a ME880 bias front was known to expand when hot and rub the inside of the front fender - even though it was the 'correct' size.
 
St-Gerard said:
After 40 years of rebuilding Automatic transmissions, one thing I must say Honda uses a good aluminum, I will never own a Dodge Caravan with a 4 speed Auto ,cause the case is to bloody cheap,they taught me how to helicoil real good though. Happy riding. G
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I was in it for close to 40 years also. Still do the odd pre 05 domestic stuff for friends. I remember after the 4 speed 604 came out the first ones were known to fail backing off the transporter and the dodge techs called them tiltomatics as you pulled the pump and dumped the rest in the trash can.
 
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