Topic: dunlop k81s and k70s

[evinrude7]

Metzeler tires are available in the US.
Yes, they can be run with tubes.

I see that Bike Bandit lists both the Lazertec, Front and rear ( I think the rear is the same tire they called the ME55 earlier).  Also, have the ME77 rear, which will likely to last longer.  I really like the Latertec front and ME77 rear I have set up on my 550s and 750s.

They are available in the correct inches sizes  3.25 x 19 front.  And 4.00 x 18 Rear.
Your local Motorcycle tire dealer, can order these for you if you specify, and ignore their steerage to a different tire or metric size that happen to have in stock.

If they refuse.  Count your blessings and go to another dealer.  But, my dealer has always gotten the proper tire in at most two days.  Worth the wait, imo.

http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/metzeler-lasertec-motorcycle-tire
http://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/metzeler-me-77-motorcycle-tire

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77. 

[seanbarney41]

Lasertecs are often my first choice for the cb750...get about 7000 miles out of a rear, which is as good as anything that is that sticky.  I can't imagine getting 15000 out of any tire on the rear of a 750.  I am generally happy to sacrifice mileage for stickiness. 
    I generally agree about using the stock sizes, but certain tires work good slightly oversized.  Problem is, you never can tell til you try.  Different tires have different profiles and sidewall markings are not consistent from brand to brand

[ofreen]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

They are 5000 mile tires at best.  It depends on how much you expect to ride the bike. It is cheaper for a reason.

Lasertecs are often my first choice for the cb750...get about 7000 miles out of a rear, which is as good as anything that is that sticky.  I can't imagine getting 15000 out of any tire on the rear of a 750.  I am generally happy to sacrifice mileage for stickiness. 
    I generally agree about using the stock sizes, but certain tires work good slightly oversized.  Problem is, you never can tell til you try.  Different tires have different profiles and sidewall markings are not consistent from brand to brand

That was the beauty of the ME88. I got 17,000 out of one before it got down to the wear bars, mostly commuting.  Traction was plenty good enough to drag the 750's alternator case on one side and the collector on the other. It was the classic tire for the 4 cylinder Gold Wings.

7000 would be exceptional for an ME55/Lazertec, especially running tubes. 5000 would be realistic with southern Idaho's climate. Cooler climates likely would more kind to it.

[evinrude7]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

They are 5000 mile tires at best.  It depends on how much you expect to ride the bike. It is cheaper for a reason.

Lasertecs are often my first choice for the cb750...get about 7000 miles out of a rear, which is as good as anything that is that sticky.  I can't imagine getting 15000 out of any tire on the rear of a 750.  I am generally happy to sacrifice mileage for stickiness. 
    I generally agree about using the stock sizes, but certain tires work good slightly oversized.  Problem is, you never can tell til you try.  Different tires have different profiles and sidewall markings are not consistent from brand to brand

That was the beauty of the ME88. I got 17,000 out of one before it got down to the wear bars, mostly commuting.  Traction was plenty good enough to drag the 750's alternator case on one side and the collector on the other. It was the classic tire for the 4 cylinder Gold Wings.

7000 would be exceptional for an ME55/Lazertec, especially running tubes. 5000 would be realistic with southern Idaho's climate. Cooler climates likely would more kind to it.

i don't think i'll put 5000 miles on the bike in a year.  we shall see.  noob here. 

[seanbarney41]

Dang, wish the me88 was still around...would love to try it.

[grcamna2]

Dang, wish the me88 was still around...would love to try it.

+1 Would like to be able to get them;they called them the 'Marathon' didn't they?
I remember the ME77 Perfect and that is another tire i would love to be able to still get/use,great mileage w/ nice handling.

[TwoTired]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

Sure, get them sent to your house.   But, you still have to mount and balance them.
I like to give my shop the extra business.  Dealer get a better price, and that makes them more profit.  My shop mounts and balances for "free" with the profit made on the tire sales.

The other thing you get with a local shop, is if there is anything out of order with the tire, they pay the shipping and do the hassle of the return.

It's your call though.    But, I get better deals on other things the more business I bring to the shop.

Cheers,

[TwoTired]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

They are 5000 mile tires at best.  It depends on how much you expect to ride the bike. It is cheaper for a reason.

Really?  I thought they lasted longer than the ME55s, which were 5000 mile tires.  I know I used three ME55s for every Lazertec ME33 I pit on the front.

I really though the ME77 was intermediate between the ME55 and the ME88.  The ME77 I have sure is lasting longer than the ME55, which as I understand it, is now called the Lazertec rear.

Cheers,

[seanbarney41]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

Sure, get them sent to your house.   But, you still have to mount and balance them.
I like to give my shop the extra business.  Dealer get a better price, and that makes them more profit.  My shop mounts and balances for "free" with the profit made on the tire sales.

The other thing you get with a local shop, is if there is anything out of order with the tire, they pay the shipping and do the hassle of the return.

It's your call though.    But, I get better deals on other things the more business I bring to the shop.

Cheers,

+1...pay more for the tire and don't pay at all for he man sweating with tire irons, pinched tubes, and mysterious inaccurate balancing...gotta have a shop that knows what the #$%* they are doing though!

[ofreen]

why can't i order them to ship to my house?  i like the looks of that ME77.

They are 5000 mile tires at best.  It depends on how much you expect to ride the bike. It is cheaper for a reason.

Really?  I thought they lasted longer than the ME55s, which were 5000 mile tires.  I know I used three ME55s for every Lazertec ME33 I pit on the front.
I really though the ME77 was intermediate between the ME55 and the ME88.  The ME77 I have sure is lasting longer than the ME55, which as I understand it, is now called the Lazertec rear.
Cheers,

That is what I was saying, in my experience they are both 5000 mile tires. I was speculating as to why Sean was getting 7000 from the ME55/Lazertec when I've never seen one get near that.

 Admittedly it has been years since I've seen anybody run an ME77 (I still change a lot of other people's tires) so they may be different now, but they looked to me to be somewhat on the hard side, yet still wearing fast, especially when run in heat, (which is how I remember the K70 being back in the old days.) How many miles are you getting out of them TT? 550s or 750s?

Dang, wish the me88 was still around...would love to try it.

The reason I occasionally bemoan the demise of the ME88 Marathon is the forlorn hope that demand would get Metzeler to bring them back. I still pester them occasionally as do others. But really why bring back a tire that lasts 3 times longer and sticks about as well or better than your current offerings? So you can sell fewer tires?

[seanbarney41]

Ofreen, how long has it been since you used a Lasertec rear?  They are advertised as dual compound now, harder rubber in the center, softer on the sides, which I only "noticed" them claiming fairly recently...but climate does seem to have an affect on mileage now that I think about it.  I had only ever thought about climate affecting performance.  Another reason for the difference in Lasertec mileage is I will ride the damn things until the very, absolute, end...cords exposed, etc.  I know, not smart, not recomended...I don't think I am getting 2000 miles from tread wear indicators to exposed cords though. 
   Another factor is riding style.  I ride aggressively.  Hard acceleration, hard braking, high speed cornering.  Never 2 up and amost never have any baggage or cargo.  I usually ride 100-200 miles at a shot but rarely am I ever more than 50 miles from home.  The roads around here are fairly rough, lots of asphalt and pea gravel over hot tar road surfaces.
KIMG0008 by Sean Barney, on Flickr 
I took this picture yesterday.  I think I got about 4000 miles on this one.  Doesn't look like its gonna last another 3000 miles.  No idea why this has worn faster than others.

[ofreen]

Sean, it has been awhile since I've personally used one. The last time was on an '82 900F I sold several years ago.  My brother has them on his 1100 Katana because that is about all that can be had in that bike's oddball wheel sizes. That bike is a little heavier and has a lot more power than our CB's, but they are tubeless which provides some offset probably. There have been others over the years, including 700 Nighthawks, old VFR's, etc. So if they are different now, I have no experience with them.

I will run a tire down to the wear bars if I am commuting on it but I Won't take one on a trip when it is getting close. Besides the fact that shallow tread doesn't work well in the rain, thin tires are much less resistant to punctures and slices from sharp rocks, metal, glass and other road hazards.  I am cheap enough that I have replaced not quite worn out tires with new ones before a trip, then put them back on when I get back to finish them off. I get why some people don't like doing their own tires, but really once you have the few simple tools needed and understand the techniques, it is not a bad job, especially tubeless.  If you are straining and sweating, you are not doing it right.  (Use RuGlyde!)  And I have never dinged a wheel, something that I have never been able to count on a dealer not to do. We just put a new rear tire on my brother's chrome Ultra Classic wheel with nary a scratch. (I admit to taking it very slowly. )

[TwoTired]

How many miles are you getting out of them TT? 550s or 750s?

I haven't worn out a set of ME77s yet.     I admit to not really keeping precise records.  But, they sure seem to be lasting longer than the ME55s I was using prior.  especially when comparing to the Lazertec front wear patterns.  I mentioned the ME55 wore out three times to just one Lazertec in front.  The wear comparison with the ME77 projects out to two rears for one front.  That indicates to me it is a longer wearing tire.  True, I'm riding less aggressive than I once did.

I have them on both 550s and 750's.  But, I only have about 1000 miles on the 750.   A lot more on the 550s.  I now have arthritic hips that keep me from riding as much as I'd like.  I never know when it will flare up and it feels like the thigh bone ball is coming out of the hip socket.  Rather a deterrent.  And, since retirement, I don't use the bikes for commuting anymore.

I note the Metzeler site says the ME77s are a longer wearing tires than the Lazertec rears.  Almost silly rating system.  3 dots in five instead of 2 dots in five.  Who says the Germans don't have a sense of humor?

But, perhaps you have more experience with them than I do.  I never had an ME88, for example.  I know I had Dunlop rears (in oversize) that only lasted 2000 miles-ish (20 years ago, of course, so who knows if that is still relevant).

Cheers,

[ofreen]

of course, so who knows if that is still relevant).
Cheers,

That is something I have to remind myself about at times when I get on here to hand out free advice. Products change over time, and I have been doing this for a long time.  What I think I know about a product may know longer be true.

[HondaMan]

of course, so who knows if that is still relevant).
Cheers,

That is something I have to remind myself about at times when I get on here to hand out free advice. Products change over time, and I have been doing this for a long time.  What I think I know about a product may know longer be true.

Roger that: much like oil, no?

[seanbarney41]

of course, so who knows if that is still relevant).
Cheers,

That is something I have to remind myself about at times when I get on here to hand out free advice. Products change over time, and I have been doing this for a long time.  What I think I know about a product may know longer be true.

in my opinion, lots of outdated experience is better than little up to date experience lol

[ofreen]

Roger that: much like oil, no?

Or oil filters, OEM parts, ignitions, gasoline, and on and on....

[grcamna2]

I had a long-term GoldWing customer w/ a GL1200 who ran an ME88 Marathon rear and I finally replaced his valve stem so he wasn't loosing pressure anymore;I can tell you that ME88 is a heavy,belted touring tire which is good once you get rolling but is like having a heavy flywheel on the back of a bike.I replaced that tire with a standard,lighter Dunlop and it had better pick-up.Do they still offer the ME77 Perfect anywhere? or is it entirely 'obsolete' ?

[TwoTired]

I had a long-term GoldWing customer w/ a GL1200 who ran an ME88 Marathon rear and replaced his valve stem so he wasn't loosing pressure anymore;I can tell you that ME88 is a heavy,touring tire which is good once you get rolling but is like having a heavy flywheel on the back of a bike.I replaced that tire with a Dunlop and it had better pick-up.Do they still offer the ME77 Perfect anywhere? or it entirely 'obsolete' ?

The ME77 is still in the Metzeler catalog.  And in the proper inch sizes for the SOHC4.  Doubtful that local tire dealers will stock it.  But, they can order it and have it in a couple days, if you stipulate that as a condition of sale.  They WILL try to have you buy what they have in stock, and have lots of practice convincing people to "upgrade" to a modern metric for fitment onto a vintage bike with non-tubeless rims.  They are far more interested in their wants and needs than yours.  But, will make exceptions to their standard practice if that's the only way to get your money.

I posted earlier that Bike Bandit has it for sale on their web site.  It is not obsolete yet.  But, that future will depend on yearly sales figures, I'm sure.

Cheers,

[grcamna2]

Ever hear of the Avon AM83 StreetRunner ?

[tlbranth]

Don't know if this is even remotely related, but Metzler is having some bad press from a tire of theirs for the GL1500 (maybe the GL1800) for delaminating.

[Rookster]

I just installed a set of Metzelers on my CB750.  I don't have enough miles on them to comment on how good they are yet.  They feel sticky and I haven't had any surprises or unexpected issues.   I went with the Lasertec front in 3.25x19 and the ME77 rear in 4.00x18.  I got them from Motorcycle Superstore and mounted and balanced them myself.  One advantage to doing them yourself is you can find the heavy spot on the bare rim first and mark it for the dot on the tire.  The heaviest part of the rim isn't always the valve stem area.  This is especially true of older cast wheels.



Scott

[TwoTired]

Don't know if this is even remotely related, but Metzler is having some bad press from a tire of theirs for the GL1500 (maybe the GL1800) for delaminating.

A little searching about and it seems the 880 marathon line had some reported issues.  Couldn't find anything outside of this model line within Metzeler brand.

I did read one report thread where a tire run at full max pressure started delaminating after it had flat centered at 12000 miles.  It was a worn out tire.

I found reports of other brands delaminating, too.  Avon, Bridgestone, Michelin, Pirelli all had some reports.  It seems underinflation is a common theme with delamination, though.

Still disconcerting.  But, anything made by humans can fail.  Sort of funny that they label some tires "perfect". 

Cheers,

[evinrude7]

of course, so who knows if that is still relevant).
Cheers,

That is something I have to remind myself about at times when I get on here to hand out free advice. Products change over time, and I have been doing this for a long time.  What I think I know about a product may know longer be true.

in my opinion, lots of outdated experience is better than little up to date experience lol

agreed.  i'll take the advice of a guy that road twisty mountain roads for almost 2 decades 40 years ago over someone who has been doing it for the last 5 or 10 years.  however those 5 or 10 years are better than my 6 months.   

[evinrude7]

I just installed a set of Metzelers on my CB750.  I don't have enough miles on them to comment on how good they are yet.  They feel sticky and I haven't had any surprises or unexpected issues.   I went with the Lasertec front in 3.25x19 and the ME77 rear in 4.00x18.  I got them from Motorcycle Superstore and mounted and balanced them myself.  One advantage to doing them yourself is you can find the heavy spot on the bare rim first and mark it for the dot on the tire.  The heaviest part of the rim isn't always the valve stem area.  This is especially true of older cast wheels.



Scott

nice set up.