non-ABS: BT 020, 023, T 30, T 31, T 32, T 33... ??

ST1100Y

ST1100Y

Site Supporter
ST1100 50,000 Mile Badge
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
758
Age
61
Location
Vienna, AuSTria
Bike
ST1100Y, ST1100R
First of all:
zis is about ST1100 non-ABS (and maybe the ABS-I/TCS)... so to all those ST1300's out there: stay out of it... :wink:

110/80 ZR 18 M/C (58W) TL front
160/70 ZR 17 M/C (73W) TL rear
speed index: V

the trusty Exedra G547/548, gone, irreplaceable, vanished...

But what is actually a worthy successor? 🤔

From what I can gather will all those BT and T tires listed be shredded to pieces within ~6,500km/4,000miles on that bike...
Whereas the Exedra's easily gave 12,000km/7,500miles... sufficient to last through my 8~9,000km/5~5,600miles tours, and then some... 🤔
And I'm not really in the mood to organize a bivouac somewhere up in Norway or Sweden to replace my tires half way through the ride...

So what's the verdict?
 
Sticking with stock sizes, T32's were all I could find from US suppliers last month . My first time with these, so can't give any historical data. Hopefully the choices improve as we move into warmer weather.
 
Hopefully I can find what Uncle Phil recommended to me, Bridgestone Battlax BT-020M for the rear. My 300 Canadian dollar Dunlops roadsmart 3 have done reasonably well, have to check the odometer to see how many kilometers they have lasted.
 
Hi Martin, I’m no expert on tires here, just some info on what I’ve been running since 2000 on my non abs y model, specifically for my location in south east asia(high humidity with fairly high ambient temp and lots of sudden downpours/monsoon seasons and decent smooth asphalt roads)

Original excedras G547/548: very high mileage and long lasting, good for touring on highways but very slippery and rear losing grip/sliding during up/down city parking complexes ramps when new, factory set lasted me around 28000km if my memory is correct. Never went back this set again since then. They can still be ordered via Amazon locally from Japan, long wait time.

All BT series lasted me around 20000km+-, excluding punctures.

T30/31/32: 18000-22000km from my dated records past 8/9yrs.

My personal preferences is T32 as they perform exceptionally well in the wet, competent in dry and they last decent mileage, although from records they seem to wear faster than T30/31 slightly.

Charged another set 2weeks ago down to wear limit but due to limited sizes available, had to go with mix/match F/R T31/T32 with 110/80-18 and 170/60-17(no 160/70-17 avail). I’ve run this rear size before due to availability, bike rides fine except more effort needed to put on main stand, side stand clearance lower as well.

T33 is the latest but no feedback from any 11 owners yet, the costs is also much higher that T31/32, however it’s not available as option for me here.

St1100 tire sizes/brands are much harder to come by nowadays. BT series sizes not available in SE Asia anymore. Only T31/32, T33 sizes not available yet.
 
Finally someone opens up this barrel!
Thanks ST! 😁
1100 only??! Pffft am going to listen in and apply, period. When it comes to STs and tires I only find 2 levels of info.. 1- current best tires, but not associated with any specific bike models, style yes, ST specific, no. The other are the ST tire reviews, but those are mostly over 10 yrs old and/or old enuf that those recommendations are either discontinued or replaced. Add ride style, road condition, weather, weight and thottlethrist, well you know, tires are like toilet paper.
From a current spec perspective, I like the Michelin's, but either can’t find sz or don’t make. I think I don’t like what’s on currently.. go figure how I could say that, Avon Spirits, always been a proponent of Avons, had them on my 04 F6C.. not going to get tires now, need next shakedown cruise to tell me that, but I will be and I am listening… popcorn popping, ya’ll are welcome to dig in!! 👍🏼
Thanks in advance!!
 
As I have said before, BT020 bias for the rear (proper size and happens to be for the BMW K1200LT).
Since all of my ST1100s are ABSIIs, I use the BT03X flavor I can find in 120 width.
If they have a 110 width then it should be fine.
If you have vehicle inspections, then I suppose you can't run a 120 in place of 110 though it works fine on the 110 rim. ;)
 
raygks said:
Original excedras G547/548: very high mileage and long lasting, good for touring on highways but very slippery and rear losing grip/sliding
Click to expand...
Odd, cause after a 300km "break in" those Exedra never let me down, despite of weather conditions...
I like the direct/precise steering the bias/ply provided (whereas radials always have that diffuse, mushy front end, bike drifting left<>right in the lane...), as well as the wide safety margin; when pushing the envelope they always reported a "gentle warning", by front and rear "drifting" equally (one could actually play around there with the throttle in long fast corners...)
So I never had a sudden wipe out with the Exedra, whilst any radials I'd ever tested showed exactly what you wrote: a sudden loss of traction on the rear, with NO warning whatsoever... 😒

Comfort is also a topic...
The bias/ply construct features a "softer" thread surface with rather stiff sidewalls, so absorbs like cobblestone roads nicely, while giving a precise track...
A radial construct has a stiff thread surface with more thin/softer sidewalls, thus harsh vibrations and bouncing on bad roads, while giving that mushy tracking/feedback due the sides flexing...
 
2 years ago the Exedras were double in price than the last time I bought them, I loved those tires too and long mileage as well.

I went with the Dunlop Roadsmart 3 and they have been great so far. Radials you have to keep inflated properly (otherwise they steer oddly), not forgiving like bias tires. I am running the fronts at 40 psi and rear at 42 psi and find the Dunlops good in the rain and dry roads, they will howl in the corners unlike the civilized Exedras.

I've also tried Michelins in the front and Metzlers in the rear and they worked well too with very long mileage. I always use the proper sizes.
 
ST1100Y said:
Well, many simply overlook that there 5 different ST base models:
ST1100 non ABS
ST1100 ABS-I/TCS
ST1100 ABS-II/CBS
ST1300 non ABS
ST1300 ABS/CBS
and then add various national configurations to that...
Click to expand...
Yes, not to mention the wildly accepted best ST..
CTX1300!! sorry, had too.. 🤣
 
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