BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Where looking at a return trip up to Alaska this summer. A couple years ago when we went I didn't take the R1150R for a number of reasons and bought V-Stroms for the trip. We sold the V-stroms after the trip. Now that we know what to expect up there I only have one reason not to take the R bike this time. Tires are a major concern for the R1150R. Not doing the Dempster or Haul roads but still need tires to handle Top of the World and the Danali Highways plus the long road construction areas. The tire also needs to get us around 7,000 miles. We used Metzeler Tourance tires on the V-stroms last time and they were OK but would say something a bit more aggressive would be better. They don't offer the Metzeler Tourance in the R Bikes size anyway. Anyone have any Ideas?

search ADV: R****R Alaska tires

https://advrider.com/f/threads/bmw-r-r- ... t-36295313
https://advrider.com/f/threads/bmw-r-r- ... t-33490413
https://advrider.com/f/threads/north-to-alaska.1358421/

More comments to be found within ADV; these are typical.

Last year I downloaded the pic of R1200R with TCK80s for inspiration.

Forgot about those post. Trying for a tire without having to change during the trip. Not sure if the 80's would last 7,000 miles, maybe the 70's would but they haven't gotten the best reviews. The Pirelli scorpion trail 2's aren't good off pavement, tried them on our XR's last year. Shinko 705 come in the correct sizes but nobody seems to use them on long trips.

I've got 705's on my R. I'm going from memory but I think I've got 4K+ on front already and maybe 3K on the rear with little apparent tread wear. I'm leaving for west Texas (from Va) in a few weeks. I'm probably looking at 3000 miles or a bit more before I get back home. I really like them so far. I'll report back when I return.

Sound good TW. Looks like your counting on them to go at least 6,000.

I'll pull the book tomorrow (under cover right now) and double check the install miles and current mileage. I'll report back with current miles and tread depth remaining.

swamper wrote:Forgot about those post. Trying for a tire without having to change during the trip. Not sure if the 80's would last 7,000 miles, maybe the 70's would but they haven't gotten the best reviews. The Pirelli scorpion trail 2's aren't good off pavement, tried them on our XR's last year. Shinko 705 come in the correct sizes but nobody seems to use them on long trips.

7000 miles is asking a lot from block tread.

I don't know how Pirelli can call the Scorpion Trail 2 "on/off road" - there's not enough tread depth front or back to bite loose surface.

At least the TKC70 has some tread depth. though the smooth center portion of rear tire (great for road) means tire slip off pavement. I'm going with either the 70s or 80 for my 2nd wheel set on Rockster. Interested in how either choice will hold up.

We had slash cuts in the Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 on both our S1000XR's last summer. Didn't ask that much of them going down groomed gravel roads in the Gunnisons National Park, Colorado. The road was for passenger cars, it had that traffic type on the very road at the time we had troubles. The tires, Scorpion Trail 2's unfortunately are very good on the road, they are designed very similarly to the Pirelli Angel GT which we like the best for on road tires. They are very thin.

I must apologize for my forgetfulness in getting back with my mileage numbers on my Shinko 705's.

Installed the front 10/28/17 @ 86,400 miles. Currently 93,339 miles on R, 6,939 miles on front today
Installed the rear 5/11/18 @ 89,136 miles. 4,203 miles on rear currently

TW the pictures don't open on my computer so what do you think you have left to go on the rear? That mileage on the front is about what I've gotten out of my street tires. Seems I always have worn the fronts out first for some reason on this bike.

Well obviously my talents for posting pictures haven't improved. You can right click on the Image tag and see the pic. Looks like I've well more than 60-70% tread remaining.

swamper wrote:TW the pictures don't open on my computer so what do you think you have left to go on the rear? That mileage on the front is about what I've gotten out of my street tires. Seems I always have worn the fronts out first for some reason on this bike.

Can you right click and see them?

You need a Google account to see them and then the link doesn't work. 404 error, invalid URL.

towerworker wrote:

swamper wrote:TW the pictures don't open on my computer so what do you think you have left to go on the rear? That mileage on the front is about what I've gotten out of my street tires. Seems I always have worn the fronts out first for some reason on this bike.

Can you right click and see them?

Measures near .250--.270 front and maybe .220-.230 on rear. That's best I can tell using an old depth micrometer.

towerworker wrote:

towerworker wrote:

swamper wrote:TW the pictures don't open on my computer so what do you think you have left to go on the rear? That mileage on the front is about what I've gotten out of my street tires. Seems I always have worn the fronts out first for some reason on this bike.

Can you right click and see them?

Measures near .250--.270 front and maybe .220-.230 on rear. That's best I can tell using an old depth micrometer.

My tech abilities are seriously lacking. My apologies. If you want to pm me your email I'll send them to you.

Wayne

PM sent

Got them, looks like they both have a ways to go.

I'm leaving for west Texas in three weeks. I expect to put 3000+ miles on them by the time I get home. Pretty sure I'm OK.

swamper wrote:Forgot about those post. Trying for a tire without having to change during the trip. Not sure if the 80's would last 7,000 miles, maybe the 70's would but they haven't gotten the best reviews. The Pirelli scorpion trail 2's aren't good off pavement, tried them on our XR's last year. Shinko 705 come in the correct sizes but nobody seems to use them on long trips.

I thought the Pirelli Scorpions weren't bad tbh.


(mind you, that was the original version)

The only issue I had was mud getting stuck inside that carbon front mudguard and binding the wheel up. (oh - and farmers ploughing over the trails, gits!)

Pirelli make a few different Scorpion choices. they were the trail 2's (newest)we had problems with.