Tire Help UPDATE 8-18

[BigMac1800]

I'm looking at getting some new rubber for my X. My stock tires are shot at 8000 miles. I've been looking at some websites and have found plenty of tires ranging from cheap to "Holy Crap!"

I would like to know what the best tire for my money (I am not rich) is and were I can get them mounted for as little money as possible. I would do it but for the lack of equipment and knowledge. Thanks. BTW its a 1800c
130 70h18 front and 180 70 16 rear.

Big mac

[Hobbs]

Hey Dave,

I can tell you what the most popular tires are for the VTX.
Avon Venom, Bridgestone Battle ax and Mettzler Marathon 880.
I'd compare the prices from Dennis Kirk, Chapparal & JC Whitney.
gEEz just bought a new back tire, might check with him.
My local Hond shop charged me $30 ea to mount & balance.

As far as the most mileage for your money...that would be the car tire.
Check out the "Darkside members only" post on the 1800 tech board.

[b88miller]

Hey Dave,

I've purchased tires through Hondadirectlineusa.com. If you find a cheaper price online or advertised somewhere you can call HDL and they'll beat the price by $5. Shipping is free with orders over $100 which this will be. I've had really good luck with them, really good customer service.

The Honda shop here in Bend kinda sucks, they wanted some huge amount to mount my tires. I ended up going to Cascade Motorsports (former Suzuki shop here) and the charged me like $20/25 for the front and $30/35 or something like that for the rear. I took the bike in and had them do all the work for me. I think if you pull the wheel(s) off shops will charge much less. I'm running Avon Venom Rs on mine and like them quite a bit...........we'll see how long they last!

Good luck,

Brian

[crotchrocketgrampa]

andersons on 4th plain in vancouver,can get and will take off bike,any brand dirt cheap, new front ire ,list 195 plud 50 to mount,at andersons,$ 113 for tire and $29 TO MOUNT ON BIKE

i went with a dunlop E3 for the front, and put the avon venom 60 series on the rear. believe me if you want to make the rim and tire look better go with the 60 series. plu sit lowers the a$$ end about an inch. i can no longer pull into a friends driveway cause of how much its lowered the rear end.
jason

[BigMac1800]

Thanks for the help guys, I have decided to go with the METZ 880's front and back. we will see how that works for now. Wanted to go with a 200 size but cycle country won't mount anything other than stock size. Since I get mounting for free there, I will go stock for now.
Thanks again,

Dave

[stepper]

Dave, I just installed the Marathon 880 -200. With the bike already in the air, It only took me 15 miniutes to reinstall tire , caliper, and the exaust. The 200 'just' fit. If you have a jack, I would be more than happy too ride up and help you slip it on. As I understrand , the balancing will be done when mounted , and if they line up the colored dot on the sidewall , it shouldn't need any wieghts ( mine didn't ) . Eric

[hawkwd]

For future tire changes, y'all might want to consider the Elite 3.

Wrekedit, how long have you had the E3 on the front? I've got 8K miles on my E3 on the back & it still has a ton of rubber left, but the traction is a tiny bit less than when it was new (wheelies only when new, now I can get it to spin)

I just put an E3 on the front. Great handling, but can't speak for how well it will wear.

The factory Dunlop D251 tires are crap compared to the E3 if you ask me...

all i can really say is between the E-3 and the avon the bike rides like it is on rails. i have 1500 miles on the tires so i cant really speak to the wear of them. as for traction i have yet to get the rear to break loose.