Tyres for F650 GS

[Mike Long]

#2312

Afternoon AllI recently bought a 2004 F650 GS and although I have read a number of the pages from the tech forum, am still unsure of my best options....so I want to get some tyres to suit the following conditions - I am a daily commuter in Dunedin (NZ most beautiful city!) all year round (most certainly not a fair weather rider) and also enjoy weekly excursions away on the open road. I want to know what is the best tyre on the market to suit 99% on road use in wet and dry conditions. I appreciate that historically, people say that you lose longevity in place of handling, but surely in this day and age of wonderful technology, a tyre manufacturer must have got a good balance?!I am also somewhat relaxed in my riding style as I am still getting used to a bigger bike, having recently progressed from a vespa scooter. Can anyone gve me some useful feedback, I am currently on the last few k's on some Michelin Anakee's. Having done a bit of looking around, have heard a bit on the Metzeler Tourance, Michelin Anakee and also Conti Road Attacks - still none the wiser when it comes to Bike Nirvana!CheersGuv

[Dave Ross]

#8837

The Metzeler Tourance are excellent tires, they last a long time on the F650, but are also expensive. The Anakee get good reviews as well.

[Murray]

#8838

In my humble opinion, if you're spending 99% of your time on the road then the closest to perfect you're going to get is to shoe the 650 with Conti Road Attacks. They use a similar construction as Metzelers Alex mentions, but instead of just coiled steel belts wrapping the carcass, these have braided belts, which supposedly prevent the tyre from deforming during cornering and acceleration. This results in the rear providing a larger footprint than traditional tyres, thereby giving more grip. Also, less deformation means the tyre builds up less heat, and a softer/grippier rubber compound can be used. Got to remember though, that because of all this these tyres should be run at higher pressure than what we have become accustomed to, upwards of 41-42 in the rear and 35-36 in the front, and if you do vernture into gravel from time to time you'll need to take this into account, well more than normally anyway. The Road Attacks have a few cool features about them (if you're that way inclined) besides just the really cool tread pattern. All the sidewall writing is up-side-down from traditional tires, and there is quite a nice, wavy checkered flag pattern that wraps the sidewall.And, its not like Continental is new to the tyre business, the Road Attack was recently named as the offical tyre for all new BMWs. Value for money as well.Hope that helps your decsion making.CheersGarry

[Richard Kuysten]

#8839

I'm was about to put a set of Tourances on the 1200 for the run south in the new year.  Someone has suggested the Conti Trail Attack which I have not heard of.  Anyone out there with experience of these?Malcolm

[Arne Rohde]

#8840

I posted the following on November 5, in answer to a question about 1150Gs tyres.

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I fitted a set of the new Continental Trail Attacks on a 1200GS a few months ago, but haven't done many kms since then, so I haven't got any longevity data. However, they are the most road-oriented of the different dual-sport tyres I've tried, which suits me fine. So far I'm happy with their performance and feel.

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I'm still happy with the tyres, but still  haven't any longevity data. So far they have done about 3500km. If you want to ride lots of gravel roads there are better options. But for a road-oriented tyre with some gravel capability they are good.

[Richard Kuysten]

#8841

Thanks Arne, we are crossing each other here  😆 they sound like a good option – the roughest roads we do these days are the odd bit of metal so off road capability is not a biggie.  Can you remember how much they cost you.Malcolm

[Mike Long]

#8842

Thanks to all of you that replied to me – some stuff to ruminate on!Guv

[Murray]

#8843

I'm was about to put a set of Tourances on the 1200 for the run south in the new year.  Someone has suggested the Conti Trail Attack which I have not heard of.  Anyone out there with experience of these? Malcolm

Yes, me .. I put one set of Road Attacks on the 650, and may look at these again for the HP - when I eventually get around to replaceing the Metzlers on my road rims  😀I got about 40% of the distance again over the Metzlers and the Pilot Sport I used to run - around 11,000 before replacing - don't forget this is a 650 we're talking about. The Road Attack rear tyre is about $50 cheaper than the Metzler. The only thing is, because of its construction, I had a hard time getting used to the profile to start with. These tyres are quite different to anything you would have run before. They tip in much more quickly, but then the more you lean, the slower they tip in. This was weird at first, but after while you get used to it and going back to other tyres is every stranger. The Road Attack is really, really stable while going straight, similar to a Metzeler, but really quick and light on the initial turn in, sort of like the Pilot Sport, but progressively more stable and planted as you lean further over. So best of both worlds really. They are absolutley cracker in the wet, really good feedback and no squirming around under braking. I found this inspired loads of confidence.CheersGarry

[Arne Rohde]

#8844

$588 for the pair, fitted, at Mount Motorcycles. Could probably have got them cheaper at an Auckland tyre shop, but they were there and available when I needed them.

[Arne Rohde]

#8845

Having done a bit of looking around, have heard a bit on the Metzeler Tourance, Michelin Anakee and also Conti Road Attacks - still none the wiser when it comes to Bike Nirvana!

The Conti equivalent of the Anakee and Tourance would be the Trail Attack, not the Road Attack. I don't know if they make them in 650GS sizes, though. I prefer the Conti to the other two on a 1200GS, but if their lifetime turns out to be much shorter than the others then I'll go back to the Anakees.

[Anonymous]

#8846

The best road tire I have had would be the Conti Attack on my HP2 they are very forgiven and seem to wear well, but not so well for the other HP owner in Auckland as he wore his new rubber out on a ride from Auckland to Invercargill 😮

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