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'17 V 650 Changing Tires- Not sure what size I can run

4K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  jaaklucas 
#1 ·
I am looking to change my tires. I understand what the numbers mean as far as rim size goes but as for the other two I have no idea... I am looking at Shinko 705's or the Heidenau K60. Would a 120/90/17 work on a stock rim that calls for 120/70/17? Same concept for the back. I appreciate any input on other tires that are a 50/50 or more. I don't ride the pavement aggressively where I need a better road tire.

Cheers!
 

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#4 · (Edited)
I think you'd 'foul' the front fender w/ a 120/90. I run a 130/80 x 17 rear on the front of my '08 w/ the fender raised 1.75" I believe, as well as a 150/70 x 17 rear on BOTH my V650s.

The 130/80 gives VG mileage - I got 28,799 miles w/ a Metzler Tourance front, and now running Shinko E705s, w/ 18,xxx miles on the present front, and it has a way to go!

W/ a Tourance REAR 150/70 x 17 I got 14,125 miles, and w/ a Shinko E705 11,987 miles.

:yeahsmile:
 
#5 ·
I think you'd 'foul' the front fender w/ a 120/90. I run a 130/80 x 17 rear on the front of my '08 w/ the fender raised 1.75" I believe, as well as a 150/70 x 17 rear on BOTH my V650s.

The 130/80 gives VG mileage - I got 28,799 miles w/ a Metzler Tourance front, and now running Shinko E705s, w/ 18,xxx miles on the present front, and it has a way to go!

W/ a Tourance 150/70 x 17 I got 14,125 miles, and w/ a Shinko E705 11,987 miles.

:yeahsmile:

Thanks Eddie! I have read all 3 of your D2d RR's and am taking that trip in June of 2021. Which tire do you prefer between the Metzler and the Shinko?
 
#13 ·
I am looking to change my tires. I understand what the numbers mean as far as rim size goes but as for the other two I have no idea... I am looking at Shinko 705's or the Heidenau K60. Would a 120/90/17 work on a stock rim that calls for 120/70/17? Same concept for the back. I appreciate any input on other tires that are a 50/50 or more. I don't ride the pavement aggressively where I need a better road tire. Cheers!
120 is the width 120mm. Second number is height as a percentage of width. So 120/90 , 120mm wide, (120×.90= 108) 108mm sidewall height.
 
#15 ·
Oh great another tire thread....anyways:

I have some stock sizes from my 01-1150gs. 150/70-17 rears work great on the rear of these bikes. Michelin Mutants are pretty expensive, but they are tough to break down. So are the more street oriented 80/20 metzleer tourance in same size.
I love the handling of the Michelin pilot series. It literally feels like riding on a rail, even on heavy touring bikes, the corners feel as if they dont exist.

Offroad tires on Pavement: You make more noise as you ride, and pending the conditions your up against, there is a possibility the closer to 50/50 tires you get they may lose grip on certain road surfaces..

I road my 1150gs allot. And there were times when canyon carving on asphalt.. Id lose the rear tires cornering (on 50/50 or 70/30 treads). That I believe was to me being too aggressive on the corners, or throttle. or both...

the shinko e705 is a nice tire, hopefully you dont blow them off the rim...that happened to me, so I am not really likely to run them anymore. at all...Your Mileage May Vary...

So we have to remember that not all tires are the same size even when they "are".....But everyone has assholes as much as they have opinions., these are just mine.
 
#17 ·
Heidenou is a great tire, seems to last WAY too long. The Shinko tires your looking into will get about 3-5k miles on rear and about double that on front. ISH...

Ive had heidenau k60s that I got rid of because the tires got too hard after being on the bike for so long. I abused the crap out of them too. Like you could NOT destroy them. They hook up off pavement like none other, but sometimes in the cold they slide all over because the compound is too hard.
Im thoroughly impressed by the Kenda line up on price and handling. Just saying, another cheap brand BESIDES shinko.............

Have fun, get out and ride!
Cheers, Happy Trails!
 
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