ducatipaso.org

my feeling: 180/60 16 = good. 160/80 = not so good

Thank you, Mike, for that excellent vid.

What a great road! I had never heard of it ...

Erskine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

One of the coolest videos ever!

Very nice twisty road and great Goldwing's rider.
The only thing I don't like is the 4 cylinder noise of the bike on the background
Ciao

750Sport wrote:fit a 160/80 when its time for replacement.

What width rim do they recommend for that tire? Some of the 16" tires I was checking on were designed for much narrower rims than the Paso. This is one reason why I didn't want to go with the 150/80-16. On this forum, you can read of at least one person who has had issues with getting the bead to seat.

despite the fact that this tire will never fit on a Paso according to the Avon website the 160/80-16 is recommended for 3.50-4.50 rims, the 150/80-16 for 3-4.00" rims so both would be fine on the Pasos front rim

I did not go for the Shinko but instead ordered a Metz ME880 160/80-16 for my 750 Sport and I will try this on ASAP (which translates to 2-4 weeks due to my busy schedule). I will however not continue posting here in the Paso forum, but keep to the 750Sport to avoid confusion. Is that better?

I will compare it to the present 160/60 Mich that has lots of threads on it and actually change back and forth for a good comparison. On the front will be a new 130/70 since the present 120/80 (!) from the prevsious owner is long overdue.

And to let you know even little more about me: I am really carefull with changing dimensions on my tyres and I am also very well aware of things like tyre pressure, ride hight, sag, weight and load distribution front-back and so on: I do 15-20 track days per year in the fastest group on my 900 SSie (that is converted to 100% track bike), so I think I should manage to get you some good feed back on this. IF it is wanted that is. At the moment I do not feel like it is really appreachiated though.

21783mike wrote:BTW, they aren't cruiser tires they are touring tires for the gold wings... ya know like this - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

I used to ride with a guy who railed on a GL1800 like that (he even rode with the guy in the video - "Yellow Wolf") and for the application and those speeds the tires seem to do quite well, but......the GL1800 weighs some 400 more pounds than a Paso and that extra weight may possibly be key in the tires warming up and providing optimum performance. Regardless, I do not think the tires will be of any concern for the vast majority of Paso riders.

Skins wrote:What a great road! I had never heard of it

It has become a motorcycling "meccah" around here. We have people come from all over the world to ride on that road. I've met many Canadians who turn the road into annual week-long motorcycling vacations.

750Sport wrote:ordered a Metz ME880 160/80-16 ......I should manage to get you some good feed back on this.

I would be interested in hearing about the ME880 compound. All I've heard about them is that they are a pretty hard compound and pretty much only good for touring tires. I would be interested in a comparison between the Michelin 160/60 for traction.

Guys, I made now approx 2000 km with the following tire combination:

Front: Metzeler SPORTEC M3 FRONT 130/70 ZR16
Rear: Avon Cobra AV72 180/60 R16 TL

Marvellus combination. We have a lot of corners in Switzerland an I guarantee you, you will not regret going for the Avon. Much more grip than the Original Michelin. I used it so far almost to the Edge (missing 1-2mm) which means more slope than the original michelin ever afforded (under normal conditions). In combination with the Metzeler Sportec which has a round profile superb and neutral handling. It really underlines the quality of Paso chassis.
Even if I could get a brandnew set of Michelins (which is not possible) I would never go back to it.

pasoalf

pasoalf wrote:Guys, I made now approx 2000 km with the following tire combination:

Front: Metzeler SPORTEC M3 FRONT 130/70 ZR16
Rear: Avon Cobra AV72 180/60 R16 TL

Marvellus combination. We have a lot of corners in Switzerland an I guarantee you, you will not regret going for the Avon. Much more grip than the Original Michelin. I used it so far almost to the Edge (missing 1-2mm) which means more slope than the original michelin ever afforded (under normal conditions). In combination with the Metzeler Sportec which has a round profile superb and neutral handling. It really underlines the quality of Paso chassis.
Even if I could get a brandnew set of Michelins (which is not possible) I would never go back to it.

pasoalf

Did you have to make any changes to the drive train the fit the rear tire?

Tamburinifan wrote:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nrMQ3QwyPo

OOOOOOHH YUK !! Gold wings on twisties, thats like watching fat people rooting ! OW, my eyes !

pasoalf, why did you mix brands ?

G.

To make it work with a 180 I made an alu spacer 8.4mm , put it in-between the sprocket and the plate and i put an 41 crown instead of 40 to compensate the gearing ratio because of the bigger diameter of the 180/60/16.
I did some documetation, which I wanted to post a long time ago. But I'm actually very busy. I'll put it at the forum soon.

I mixed brands because I wanted to have the best front tire solution. According to Avon the Cobra is build up like a sport tire but it's not a real one. So I had a look at all suitable dimensions of front tire and read some tests. The sportec seems to be a very good tire, so I ve chosen this-one for the front wheel.
Even before I've always ridden a different tire in front. The 130/60/16 was a real bitch (just try to break in a corner...)
So even before it was flat I moved to a Metzeler Laser (120/80/16) in front. I made approx 35'000 km with the Metzeler front and the Michelin behind and the bike behaved much better. Better handling, stability and completely neutral.
So I think the fary tale that you should not mix brands is from a epoch where the moste motorbike chassis still where shitty.
Moreover it's alowed to mix brands front/rear in switzerland. You just are not alowed to mix diagonals and radials.
pasoalf

Also mixed brands, esp front, w/o major problems on my M900.
But always the recommended size.

The Sportec is a very good tire, grip enough f any Paso riding.

Shinko tires on sale at Cycle Gear
130/70-16 Podium 006 Front $87
http://www.cyclegear.com/spgm.cfm?L1=50 ... _87-4021_G

Couldn't find the rears.

Cheers.