Hello everyone, I ride a 2003 800 drifter, and it is time for new tires. Could anyone recommend some tires for me? Whitewall or no whitewall? Radial or bias? Thank you
Metz 888 and of course these girls all deserve the best of the best and wide white walls are a must to make them look pretty.....
It seems the over all consensus is Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra Tire - Rear - 140/90B16 - Wide Whitewall and Metzeler ME888 Marathon Ultra Tire - Front - 130/90B16 - Wide Whitewall. One thing to keep in mind is are you planning on buying the tires and mounting them yourself or are you taking it to a shop. Alot of places will only install motorcycle tires if you buy them off of them because of "liability" reasons. You don't want to end up with a set of brand new tires and nobody installing them for you.
Good luck!
You will get a lot of recommendations for Metzeler 888. I've fitted these recently and I found them excellent.
VP you are correct about some shops my local Kaw shop he charges extra to do the mounting and then the balancing if you do not buy the tires from him......I do not need the tires balanced because I use Counteract Balance beads and have for the past 4 years. I have a place that is a Car tire shop but the owners are riders and he does all his own tires in the shop and so he does mine and he will guarantee his mounting and such but not the "rubber" fair is fair......
888 tires in the rain, on long trips, fantastic even better than the 880's which I thought were really awesome tires.....
Thank you guys, I really appreciate it. I will look into the ME888's... In wide white wall of course.
How about inner tubes? Any tubes that are better than others or are they relatively the Sam?
I think inner tubes are relatively the same, i would also replace the rubber spoke protector. https://www.amazon.com/Outlaw-Racing-OR2008-Motorcycle-Protector/dp/B00D5EN84S/ref=au_as_r?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Kawasaki%7C729&Model=VN800E%20Vulcan%20800%20Drifter%7C20210&Year=2000%7C2000&ie=UTF8&n=15684181&newVehicle=1&s=automotive&vehicleId=2&vehicleType=motorcycle
Just for another opinion - I ride solo and consider whitewalls a personal choice. For me...have only had blackwalls.
Rode a 2002 800 for 20,000 miles with Dunlop D404s over several tire changes.
Recently bought a 2005 800 with a new Shinko Tourmaster on the front, so put one on the rear to replace the existing 10 year old Metzeler. Shinkos have good write-ups and are supposed to be made from Yokohama molds. Too soon to tell anything, but I like the way they feel. Time will tell.
From what I understand, both of my choices are softer tires than Metzelers.
Just my personal preference I buy the tubes that the store sells and I replace the rim liners with each tire change, just makes me feel better in my own mind and for the cost of new tubes and rim liners I think it is a good idea.....
I have the tires, tubes And rim liners all priced out. Now I just need 400 dollars to buy them. Then some extra to get them installed. Thank you again for the help. :D
8) So now go and buy some Spray Nine, Scrub Daddy sponges and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.........then you have a bit of free time and you want to be nice to the bike she is cold and you spray the Spray Nine all over the tires, and let it work for about 3 mins.....then get down and use the Mr. Clean and the Scrub Daddy sponges to ge that white wall nice and bright again......then with a gentle spray from the garden hose rinse them clean.......not hard at all and your WWW stay nice and clean and bright.......worth the time and effort to have such a sweet looking ride.