Perhaps you could tolerate using the 180/55-17 and get the benefit of the profile, without so much height increase?
I would imagine the stock tires would be fine for the flat lands. I live at the edge of the Cascades and can be on twisty roads in about 10 minutes.
I ran the Stones for 3200 miles and put PR 2’s (PR3’s not invented yet) on the 09. The PR2’s made the C14 feel like a new bike. The PR2’s built confidence on the bike from the first day I owned them and I did not have to fight them. I made it to 15K with the 2’s and at the end they handled about as well as a stock stone. Next set was the 3’s. The rear 3 didn’t wear as well as a 2. The front 3 is wearing very well. Today for me if I put new rubber on my 14 the combo would be stock sizes with a PR3 up front and a PR2 on the rear.
Now having no riding buddy, and being out of shape and tired all the time....
Agree with using a 190/55 rear.
My riding buddy used to live in Chesapeake and now has moved to Columbia, MD. I don't ride with him much anymore.
Maybe we can meet up halfway with some other riders down there this spring and have a go of it. We can do the windshield thing.. Yeah, I know you've heard this before but last year I didn't ride as much as I wanted.
It's a nice ride for me down 17 from King George. I'm out of shape as well but how much shape do you have to be in to ride the bike?
The rear stone is a good tire, the front is the issue.
I haven't done that 'mod' but many have and the anecdotal evidence suggests that handling improves and certain things become larger.....I'm just sayin.. But really, no negatives.
I've not tried the PR's or Angels yet, but highly recommend the Dunlop Sportmax Q2's as a replacement. Agree with using a 190/55 rear.
My next pair of tires may go on sooner than later, now that it appears I need to solder in some new TPS batteries. I'll be trying a set of Korean made Full Bore tires, that sort of resemble Shinko's, but have a very thick carcass.
AAAAARRRGGGHHHHH !!!!!
It's always the same story...
Most of "journalists" don't dare going against a best seller and this helps the "hated" to keep being a... best seller!
And I'm not mentioning "paying" the "journalists"...
But I'm not against BMW itself: they're doing their job!
I'm against the vast majority of BMW buyers who buy it only because ... all the others do it!
Sheep!