Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => The Bike - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Ghost Rider 2 on August 01, 2015, 08:40:44 PM
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Is there any problem running a 200/50-17 tire, fit, rubbing, other?
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In the COG forums I saw a thread about this. No issues from what I saw in the thread.
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What's the benefit of running this size tyre (dam slipped into Queens English then :salute:) ?
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I saw that you can buy a Bridgestone Exedra in that size. I also ride a 1800 Goldwing and the exedra is a great tire on it. I commute to work on my Connie. Straight Illinois roads hard on tires. Wear centers out very quick. Just thinking about giving one a try on the Connie.
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Good resource here:
http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-calculator/ (http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-calculator/)
This will give you an approximation of the actual dimensions of a particular size tire and also there is a COMPARE page where you can compare the 200/50-17 with the standard 190/50-17 and see how different they are. Note that the actual size of a particular tire can vary a bit as each manufacturer interprets this a little differently. So two identical sized tires from different manufacturers will vary some.
By the way, a fair number of Goldwing riders to the "Dark Side" thing and mount various car tires on their bikes. I've not tried that and probably won't but I'm sure there is a "dark side" tire that would mount on the C14. It looks funny but I hear they ride pretty well in spite of what appears to be a "go straight only" tire.
I also have a Goldwing and use the Exedra tires on mine (and like them!) but I'd mount Michelin PR4's on the Wing if they made them in that size. I've not tried the PR4 GT's but I hear they wear even better.
But that's part of the enjoyment of motorcycles, trying new stuff...
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I saw a car tire on a 1400 at the moonshine lunch run. I think he is a cog member.
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I have seen people doing the car tire thing. I will not run one on my wing nor my Concours. The same people use rotela diesel oil in the GL1800 motors. Makes no sense to me. I staying with motorcycle tire just thinking of trying a different brand and size.
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I have seen people doing the car tire thing. I will not run one on my wing nor my Concours. The same people use rotela diesel oil in the GL1800 motors. Makes no sense to me. I staying with motorcycle tire just thinking of trying a different brand and size.
Don't knock the Rotela, Higher zinc levels are a good thing !.
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I have seen people doing the car tire thing. I will not run one on my wing nor my Concours. The same people use rotela diesel oil in the GL1800 motors. Makes no sense to me. I staying with motorcycle tire just thinking of trying a different brand and size.
No truer words spoken. I believe in sticking with motorcycle specific parts for my motorcycles.
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I saw a car tire on a 1400 at the moonshine lunch run. I think he is a cog member.
I figured somebody had to have done it. I've seen Harleys, Goldwings, even a couple of custom choppers but never a C14 with a "dark side" tire. You should have snapped a photo!!
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I've only seen them in pictures.... And then only with a side car attached too!
http://zzrbikes.com/threads/74020-Yankee-Engineering-bar-risers-for-ZX14 (http://zzrbikes.com/threads/74020-Yankee-Engineering-bar-risers-for-ZX14)
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My best friend rides a '99 Honda Valkrye.
His last Metzler ME880 cost him $400 installed and went 8000 miles.
He rides way more conservatively than I do.
His bike has no centerstand. He has no jack for it.
Honda designed the bags and guards to all be bolted on.
So it's a big deal for him to remove the rear wheel.
He just picked up a used set of wheels/tires for it. The rear has a car tire on it, so he's going over to the dark side. After he has it a while, I'll let ya know what he thinks.
If he can get 20,000 + miles out of one, and it handles ok, it'll be worth it for him to go that way.
I'm still skeptical, though. I think it'll make the bike a real chore in the twisties.
Guess we'll see. Motorcycle tires are rounded on the edges for a reason, and I know how much extra effort I have to use on my C14 when the tires wear flat in the middles. Can't imagine a car tire.
But a lot of guys go that way, and most love it.
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Is there any problem running a 200/50-17 tire, fit, rubbing, other?
(Not sure how the original question got diverted into a car tire thread...)
Anyhow, I'm running a 200 series rear on my C14. It's a Shinko Verge 011. I absolutely love it. In the past I have run PR2s, PR3s, Avons, and one other I can't remember just now. This Shinko 200 series has been my favorite of all of them. I have almost 4,000 miles, so far, and just a bit of wear is beginning to show in middle. Front shows hardly any wear. This may the the set where I break the 6,000 mile mark for the first time for a set of tires on the C14. At any rate, there have been zero handling issues, rubbing issues, or anything else to note. If anything, I find the handling to be better than either the 55 series PR3, or the 50 series Avon. But that's just me. Everyone is different. (My unscientific survey shows that 90 % of C14 riders prefer PR4s, and will not even consider anything else.) An added bonus is that the price for the front AND rear Shinkos is less than a rear only PR4. When my current set is done, I'll replace them with the same tires.
YMMV
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(Not sure how the original question got diverted into a car tire thread...)
Anyhow, I'm running a 200 series rear on my C14. It's a Shinko Verge 011. I absolutely love it. In the past I have run PR2s, PR3s, Avons, and one other I can't remember just now. This Shinko 200 series has been my favorite of all of them. I have almost 4,000 miles, so far, and just a bit of wear is beginning to show in middle. Front shows hardly any wear. This may the the set where I break the 6,000 mile mark for the first time for a set of tires on the C14. At any rate, there have been zero handling issues, rubbing issues, or anything else to note. If anything, I find the handling to be better than either the 55 series PR3, or the 50 series Avon. But that's just me. Everyone is different. (My unscientific survey shows that 90 % of C14 riders prefer PR4s, and will not even consider anything else.) An added bonus is that the price for the front AND rear Shinkos is less than a rear only PR4. When my current set is done, I'll replace them with the same tires.
YMMV
Excellent feedback, thank you! I'm one of those PR4 fans only because I've had stellar performance out of them in handling and wear. But I would consider a less expensive alternative. So I have 2 questions, why the 200 series over the 190? And have you tried the PR4? Because I have found the PR4 to be significantly better than the PR3's.
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Excellent feedback, thank you! I'm one of those PR4 fans only because I've had stellar performance out of them in handling and wear. But I would consider a less expensive alternative. So I have 2 questions, why the 200 series over the 190? And have you tried the PR4? Because I have found the PR4 to be significantly better than the PR3's.
Have not tried the PR4, but hear nothing but rave reviews, especially in the wet.
I opted for Shinko, in general, because of their availability, price point, and because of the stellar performance of Shinko products on my KLR. I can't remember now why I chose the 200 series in particular...must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Anyhow, I do like them, and would buy them again.
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The same people use rotela diesel oil in the GL1800 motors. Makes no sense to me.
Just FYI, Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic "diesel" oil is JASO MA and JASO MA2 certified, so it's also a "motorcycle oil."
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Just FYI, Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic "diesel" oil is JASO MA and JASO MA2 certified, so it's also a "motorcycle oil."
But is it available in a 200 series, or only 190?
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The same people use rotela diesel oil in the GL1800 motors. Makes no sense to me.
As AZBob stated, it has the correct certifications and does not contain "friction modifiers" which can be bad for a wet clutch.
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Just FYI, those big tires are DOT certified, so they are "motorcycle tires" too.
saxman