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

Well, I have a couple of hundred miles on PR3's now, and have had a chance to press them into some tight curves. They are very neutral at this point, and exhibit really great tracking, and are very sticky in the curves. A nice benefit is that they are not roaring like the PR2's had begun to do when leaned over. Of course I had about 13000 miles on that set, so I really cannot gripe. I was over at our Cycle Gear, and they said that they are having a hard time obtaining them now, so I am really happy I grabbed a set as soon as they could order them. Timing was perfect too, as I had soaked up a couple of nails in the rear PR2's and needed a tire asap.

I have not run them in rain yet, but they should do fine with all the sipes on the tires.


Anybody else running them yet?

I put up a post in a different thread about these. I've got probably 700 miles on a set now. I really like them too. Only thing is I noticed a fair amount of noise coming off the front tire at around 65 mph at first. It seems to be getting better lately, that or I'm just getting used to it now. Have you noticed this? Otherwise I think it's a very good tire. It ran them in a bit of rain one evening and they were solid.

ka5ysy wrote:Well, I have a couple of hundred miles on PR3's now, and have had a chance to press them into some tight curves. They are very neutral at this point, and exhibit really great tracking, and are very sticky in the curves. A nice benefit is that they are not roaring like the PR2's had begun to do when leaned over. Of course I had about 13000 miles on that set, so I really cannot gripe. I was over at our Cycle Gear, and they said that they are having a hard time obtaining them now, so I am really happy I grabbed a set as soon as they could order them. Timing was perfect too, as I had soaked up a couple of nails in the rear PR2's and needed a tire asap.

I have not run them in rain yet, but they should do fine with all the sipes on the tires.


Anybody else running them yet?

Excellent ride report on these! The guy at our local "Cycle Gear" shop said that he had only the pair I saw in stock and they were really pretty hard to get since they are new. Have about 2-3K left on my tires, so I can stand to wait another month or so.

Mine are sitting in the garage, awaiting delivery of a TPM system from the UK.. grrrr....

They do LOOK good..

deilenberger wrote:Mine are sitting in the garage, awaiting delivery of a TPM system from the UK.. grrrr....

They do LOOK good..

Where did you get them? Mail order, or local? They wanted $200+ for back and $170+ for the front which was way more than I have seen anywhere else.

I just put a set on my K1200GT and they are really nice. Only have a couple hundred miles on them but nice.. I bought mine from my local dealer he pretty much matched the internet prices I got.. I think I paid $317.00 for the pair including sales tax. FWIW they are very popular and the whole first run was sold out. I had to wait a couple of weeks for a second shipment to come in, and he tells me that they are hard to get again.

tobes wrote:I put up a post in a different thread about these. I've got probably 700 miles on a set now. I really like them too. Only thing is I noticed a fair amount of noise coming off the front tire at around 65 mph at first. It seems to be getting better lately, that or I'm just getting used to it now. Have you noticed this? Otherwise I think it's a very good tire. It ran them in a bit of rain one evening and they were solid.

Hi Mike:

Actually I have not noticed that. Compared to the noise the front PR2 was making, these are very quite. I usually run with some custom earphone/earplugs in and mostly hear a low hum from the bike anyway.

Do I need to get the "B" model (180/55/ZR17 B) for the back tire in my R12R? Thanks.

angellr wrote:Do I need to get the "B" model (180/55/ZR17 B) for the back tire in my R12R? Thanks.

I don't believe it's called for on our bikes. It's a higher load capacity tire - and I believe it is spec'd for the RT. I didn't bother with the B since I wear out the front first with PR2's.

My TPMS has gotten to this side of the pond (in my local Post Office) so maybe I can get the PR3's on this weekend!

deilenberger wrote:

angellr wrote:Do I need to get the "B" model (180/55/ZR17 B) for the back tire in my R12R? Thanks.

I don't believe it's called for on our bikes. It's a higher load capacity tire - and I believe it is spec'd for the RT. I didn't bother with the B since I wear out the front first with PR2's.

My TPMS has gotten to this side of the pond (in my local Post Office) so maybe I can get the PR3's on this weekend!

Don,

Thanks for the input! I most likely will be purchasing front/back ($295) w/free shipping. I then can get them mounted/balanced for $30.00/tire. Dealers around here do not have these yet.

Simple answer is no. The "b" spec tire adds another belt to stiffen the side wall for less flex. Interestingly the load rating of a "b" and non b are the same (73W which is 805lbs!) If you rode two up all the time and loaded like with the kitchen sink and all, then you'd be a candidate for the "b" tire. Also a "b" tire on a bike that doesn't need it will ride stiffer and have less bump compliance when leaned over.. FYI this is the info I was given when I called Michelin. And BTW I use a non 'b' tire on my K1200GT and it weights 100lbs more than the R12R.

angellr wrote:Do I need to get the "B" model (180/55/ZR17 B) for the back tire in my R12R? Thanks.

Thank you one and all for the answer! Ordered a pair this AM.

ErikM wrote:Simple answer is no. The "b" spec tire adds another belt to stiffen the side wall for less flex. Interestingly the load rating of a "b" and non b are the same (73W which is 805lbs!) If you rode two up all the time and loaded like with the kitchen sink and all, then you'd be a candidate for the "b" tire. Also a "b" tire on a bike that doesn't need it will ride stiffer and have less bump compliance when leaned over.. FYI this is the info I was given when I called Michelin. And BTW I use a non 'b' tire on my K1200GT and it weights 100lbs more than the R12R.

angellr wrote:Do I need to get the "B" model (180/55/ZR17 B) for the back tire in my R12R? Thanks.

And I got mine on today! With the new TPMS.. which looks really good. It does continuous readout of both tires, pressure/temp, and is illuminated all the time. It's powered off the bike, so it also includes a voltmeter and a low voltage warning (at 9.8V). Only thing is - it has to be on a switched circuit since it has no power switch (and the instructions show wiring it up to the battery - mine is plugged into the accessory outlet.)

Will take some photos of the display when I come up with a mounting bracket for it. Right now it's velcro'd(tm) on to the flat-tapped bolts that BMW provides with the GPS mount for the R12R - they replace the handlebar clamp bolts. I'm probably going to make/add an angle bracket for the display that moves it up just a tiny bit, and angles it a bit more toward me.

Tomorrow is the annual rite of spring for the NJ/PA rider community - the "Gathering of the Nortons.." where everyone with an interesting bike (and sometimes other motive equipment) meets in a state park in PA to celebrate the coming of spring. It's sponsored by the Delaware Valley Norton Owners Club.. so - I'll get to try the TPMS and PR3's out.

Weather is supposed to stellar tomorrow - mid'60's and a bit breezy but sunny.

Got about 175 miles on them today. Having round tires again is really great. At first it feels like the bike is falling into turns - but what it really is - I didn't have to shove it into a turn (and up over the corners on the old tires.) As usual - new tires always feel wonderful compared to old worn tires. The PR3's feel quite neutral, and going through some muddy bits on the roads and very wet bits on the roads (biblical rains last night and this morning, lots of runoff..) the tires felt quite secure. Got them roughed up to within about 3/4" of the edge, will work on that last bit this week.

deilenberger wrote:Got about 175 miles on them today. Having round tires again is really great. At first it feels like the bike is falling into turns - but what it really is - I didn't have to shove it into a turn (and up over the corners on the old tires.) As usual - new tires always feel wonderful compared to old worn tires. The PR3's feel quite neutral, and going through some muddy bits on the roads and very wet bits on the roads (biblical rains last night and this morning, lots of runoff..) the tires felt quite secure. Got them roughed up to within about 3/4" of the edge, will work on that last bit this week.

Mine go on Wednesday. Its been raining here as well ... will probably get a good 700+ mile ride on them the weekend of the 29th. Will depend on my teaching schedule.

Long ride pending tomorrow 300-400 miles on all sorts of roads in south and central Louisiana. Chicken strips to be eliminated on several areas too. Report to follow. Actually I am doing lawyer stuff too. Billable hours on the RR !

ka5ysy wrote:Long ride pending tomorrow 300-400 miles on all sorts of roads in south and central Louisiana. Chicken strips to be eliminated on several areas too. Report to follow. Actually I am doing lawyer stuff too. Billable hours on the RR !

Gotta love billable hours on an RR!! Would have ridden today, however it was raining cats/dogs all day and I need a new front tire before I ride in any more water. Can hardly wait to get these tires mounted on Wed!

My day at the (law) office :

Woke up 5AM, got coffee. Rousted the SO, cooked breakfast and got her gone to work. Pulled the RR out and hit the road at 8:30AM headed for the Rapides Parish courthouse in Alexandria.

Route:
house to LA73. Ran to Great River Road, turned north at the Mississippi River levee and ran north to Baton Rouge and the I-10 bridge, thence westbound on I-10. Cage traffic heavy and aggressive, so at Grosse Tete, turned north along the bayou on LA 77/411 for nice twisties and no traffic up to US190 in Lavonia. Turned west on 190 and ran to I-49 intersection at Opelousas ( home of Jim Bowie!) and joined I-49 northbound. Nice surprise: I-49 northbound is now posted at 75mph speed limit except through the Alexandria area. Some politician probably hated the 70mph speed limit through the middle of nowhere (i.e. there is not much to see on I-49)

Arrived at noon and the person I needed to see was at lunch. Went and got me some great BBQ at Eddie's while I waited for everybody to come back to work. Site is here:

http://www.eddiesbbq.net/

Did some lawyer work for an hour or so at the courthouse, then had the court security deputies and a number of other people drooling over the RR and spent some time talking motorcycles with them.

Hopped back on the bike and headed eastbound from Alexandria via LA28, US 84, over the Mississippi into Natchez, hung a right southbound down US-61 back down through Woodville, Ms. and St. Francisville, LA, on through Baton Rouge and back home. Total mileage was 394 and gas mileage was running 51mpg for the trip. Weather was nice and partly cloudy, wind was really blowing hard from the south 15-25kts gusts which means I was leaning into the wind a lot today. Temp was running mid 80's and really comfortable.

The PR3's and RR ran flawlessly and have no more chicken strips !

Practicing law is such terribly hard work !

The only question I have is "how do you keep your suit from looking like something you slept in [or can I make this assumption ] all night out in your car while doing your money grubbing lawyerly duties?"

BTW, as a Conslutant have some of the same flexibilities, especially when I need to write something (gotta have/need the "head" time before it goes on paper). Now, if you can figure out triple billing on an RR, you sir have got it made!!

BTW, just to keep this a "TIre Thread" ... tires get mounted in a few hours and are strapped to the back of the bike already (rok straps & bungie cords)! Whoot hoot!

angellr wrote:The only question I have is "how do you keep your suit from looking like something you slept in [or can I make this assumption ] all night out in your car while doing your money grubbing lawyerly duties?"

Actually, I generally run in "stealth mode" (no coat and tie) unless I am actually making an in-court appearance. The run yesterday was a probate matter in chambers and not requiring combat dress !. I was wearing the approved BMW Summer pants and a nice Coolmax polo shirt in the appropriate BMW Blue with some Sidi Air boots that pass for shoes. Altogether a great way to go to work

Since I am not into ambulance chasing, no night out in the car. The X5 diesel is not a bad vehicle to do that in, but I prefer watching submarine racing.