Re: A question on rear tire fitment

[Robert Silas <robert.silas@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David,
I was unable to post messages on this list for a while so I don't know if this message ever been seen by the list. I also found out that the ME880 is available for 18" rims.  This is the massage:

Geoffrey
Look again, ask again. There is an 18 inch version of ME880, the dealer in Montreal wanted to sell me a set for my '94 RS.  The dealer is: MOTO INTERNATIONAL, mainly BMW and Harley, tel: 514-483-3400 for BMWs and 514-483-6686 for other bikes.
My friend bought a set for his GS; on my RS I used BT-020 for our "cross the country" trip last year.  The ME880 looked hardly used, after about 11,000 miles (not km).  The rear tire wore out sooner.  I was advised not use those tires on an RS.
Bob Silas
Montreal 

  ----- Original Message ----- 



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: David E.B. Smith 
  To: oilheads@xxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Sunday, May 22, 2005 1:49 AM
  Subject: Re: A question on rear tire fitment


  On 5/20/2005 8:44 AM, Davis Eichelberger wrote:
  > Mick wrote:
  > 
  >> At 11:25 PM 5/19/2005 -0400, RSRiding@xxxxxxx wrote:
  >>
  >>> 'heads,
  >>>
  >>> There is a rear wheel on ebay for an R11S (5" rim). A 17" incher 
  >>> would give
  >>> me some options for my '94 RS that I don't have with the 18" stock 
  >>> rim (I'd
  >>> like to be able to use a Metlzer ME880 in the upcoming Iron Butt 
  >>> Rally, but there
  >>> isn't a bias version in an 18" size)
  >>>
  >>> Would a rim for the R11S fit on a '94 RS without causing undue distress?
  >>>
  >>>
  >>
  >> Geoffrey,
  >>   You need the rear 5" wheel off of an early K1200RS (this is what I 
  >> use on
  >> my '96 R11RT) or one from an early K1200LT.  I too like running the 
  >> ME-880
  >> bias ply tires and this is exactly why I switched.  I think I paid 
  >> $175 for the
  >> rear wheel, watch ibmwr.org/marketplace and ebay.
  >>   I'm running the 120X70X17 front and 160X70X17 rear ME-880s
  >>
  >>
  >>
  > I was going to make the same switch and put a K12RS rim on, but the 
  > ME-880 is now available in the correct 160/60-18 so there is no need to 
  > buy a new rim to run these tires.  If you have another reason to switch 
  > rims, you definately want a K12 rim not a R11S rim.
  > 
  >  

  According to Tom Austin's presentation at the IBA meet in Omaha, the 
  bias ply ME880 has significantly longer life than the radial ME880. On 
  my RT, I calculate that the radial ME880s (with 18" rear) will last 
  about 10K miles. Not quite enough for the IBR. There's no bias-ply ME880 
  for the 18" rear of the R1100RT/RS, so to run bias-plys, you'd have to 
  switch to the K12 rim (with the appropriate lug bolts). That's my plan, 
  anyway.

  -- 
  David E.B. Smith * Chicago IL 393 455 * BMWMOA BMWRA IBA AMA ABATE
  1997 R1100RT Sine(us) Blue "No name" * Illinois IBMWR plate * 01, 03 IBR
  1999 F650 Black (hers - no, really)
  1999 Subaru Forester S "also a Boxer"
  http://www.davidebsmith.org

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