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Tyres for Skorpion tour/traveller

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:57 am
by djsbriscoe
Hi,
I'm sorry if this question has been asked before (I've done a forum search) but what is the general consensus on the best all round tyre to use on a Skorpion Tour/traveller? And which tyres in particular would people recommend avoiding? I know I could buy a pair of Bridgestone BT92's but are there any other options?
I won't be racing the bike, so I'm only concerned with roadholding in the wet and a tyre that lasts a fair mileage.
Thanks.

David.

Re: Tyres for Skorpion tour/traveller

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:38 am
by Bill Jurgenson
BT92? they must be as old as Methusalem.
Or did you mean BT090?

they are great in the wet, but mileage is not part of their vocabulary.

Your best bet as allround tire is the BT45: good in the wet more than enough grip otherwise and inexpensive, both to buy and because they last a while.
Best part, is that you can get the rear in the much better 140/70. that size is also available in the BT090. Question is, how long you will be able to get the BT090 since is is being phased out and replaced by the BT003 racing street which is being offered in that 140/70 size specifically for underpowered lighter bikes. It should be good in the rain,but I have not tried it.
On my green Skorpion mentioned yesterday and talked about on my blog, I have the Haidenau K66 Cup and after 50 miles today, partly in a deluge, I can safely say that they are all they're made up to be: GREAT! Available only in 130/70 which is perfect on my 3,5" rear rim. It will be a safe prediction that they will not last long, however.
TZR-4FL Rad.jpg
TZR-4FL Rad.jpg (69.74 KiB) Viewed 2182 times


It looks like a rain tire, but is purely a supermoto racing tire, not road legal. Doesn't bother me; never has...

Re: Tyres for Skorpion tour/traveller

PostPosted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:21 am
by djsbriscoe
Hi,
So would the following BT45 tyres be OK?

Front 110/70H17
Rear 140/70H17

I now know that the first number is the tyre section nominal width [mm] and the second number is the tyre aspect ratio [%] and the third is the rim diameter [inches]

As an example Norman on his Skorpion website quotes the following sizes for the BT92

Front: 110/70R17
Rear : 150/60R17

What does the H or R refer to? Is it a speed rating? Or does it refer to the tyre construction type? What type of tyre can and can't be used on a motorcycle?

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I know what I'm buying.

David.

Re: Tyres for Skorpion tour/traveller

PostPosted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 3:07 am
by Bill Jurgenson
S, R, H, Z are speed indexes.
For us is H(210kmh) more than good enuf.

BT45 in 110/70 and 140/70 are just right. I can say this from thousands of km experience and they are used by many Skorpion riders, including some who are very quick, in the smaller rear size.
the OEM 4" rim is too narrow for a modern 150 tire. That is not my opinion, rather it is the what the manufacturers say.
The BT92 hasn't been made for years so the tires must be old!
Don't buy an old, old-fashioned tirewhere there are several options!
Likewise, the BT90 has been out of production for some time.
The BT90 is not be confused with the BT090; they are by no means the same thing, despite the similarity in numbering.
Neither the BT92 nor the BT90 are anywhere near as good as the BT090.

Bt090 and it sucessor Bt003 are radial multicompound tires using up to three different compound specifically for lighter underpowered bikes.
The BT003 is state-of-the-art.
The BT45, often scolded as oldfashioned because it is a biased tire, also uses the state-of-the-art multicompound technique. It is good enough for classic superbike racing.

Re: Tyres for Skorpion tour/traveller

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:50 am
by Old Dog
I am running Bt45s in 110 and 140 respectively and find them faultess for the riding I do. I tries various conti and avons before and these are streets ahead.