For what its worth :-
Changed from Cheng Shin ribbed front and block rear to Michelin M45s in the correct sizes
and very impressed with them - on a CB72.
Same tread pattern front and rear but definitely grippier especially in the wet.
Good price as well here in the UK but can't see them on the US Michelin site ... ?
cheers
Phil
http://www.michelin.co.uk/michelinuk/en ... 21713.html
CB77 Tires
I had Cheng Shins on my CB77 when I first got the bike 5 years ago. My opinion only - from a 'seat of the pants' perspective - but I didn't find them to be particularly confidence-inspiring for riding, particularly in the wet. You get what you pay for, and I didn't find them to be very good tires. I merely offer this from the experience of having logged just over 15,000 miles on my SuperHawk during the past 5 years.
What pointed me towards Dunlop K82 TT100's was an article in Classic Bike Magazine a few years ago. Brian Crichton tested three tires on a new Royal Enfield Bullet - Avon Roadrunners, Mitas (Barum) and the Dunlops. The Avons were the stickiest, but didn't look the 'vintage' part. The Mitas/Barum tires were just like the Cheng Shins - had the traditional look, were cheap, but did not make you feel comfortable riding on them (they are in the same price range as Cheng Shins). The Dunlops were determined to be a 'best buy'. They looked the part, were not too expensive, and inspired a lot of confidence on the road. I've spoken with other vintage Honda owners who don't like the Dunlops, and I don't know anything about IRC's, so it probably just comes down to personal taste, personal budget, riding style/frequency. I should point out that these tires are tough to find in the U.S. in the sizes we need (particularly the 18x2.75 front). Wheelhouse Tyres in the UK carries them, so the shipping would definitely affect the final cost of tires.
Interesting, Jensen. How do they look on your CB72? I ask because this is a bit of a dilemma for me too, as I'm looking for a grippy tyre that suits Majorcan roads (few are actually flat, the surface contains a high proportion of granite & stone -- very slippery -- to cope with the summer heat, plus Majorcans are loony drivers with little skill and no foresight or respect for others!) and looks reasonably 'period'. My last CB77 (and my old BSA A7 Shooting Star) that I had back in the UK was shod with a pair of Dunlop K70s -- practically unstickable in the dry and respectable in the wet -- but, sadly, no longer available. Wheelhouse Tyres offered me K82s but then told me that 2.75 x 18 is no longer made. Also interesting is that Bridgestone have come a long way with their tyre compounds. Back in the late '60s and early '70s, when they were OEM fitment on most Jap bikes, these tyres were derided -- we used to call them "Sensitol lubricated" (taken from the Durex description) as they were sooooo bad in the wet! I'm an avid Formula 1 watcher, so I know that their car tyres have gained something of a reputation these days. Thanks for the info!
Hi,
I will take a picture this afternone, but keep in mind that I didn't fit these tyers because of the looks. The profile is modern, but not too much, but it is not classic either. After all, it's my daily rider, so safety is more importend then the looks, (my 1962 CB 72 bike has more classic looking tyres, but I ride it very occaisionally). By the way, on my CB400f I have the same tyers (B45), take a good look at the pictures : http://www.flickr.com/photos/40215250@N ... 127876428/ Knee down on the CB400f is not a problem, however I didn't try it (yet) with my CB72, Jensen assembly of Japanese motorcycles requires great peace of mind (Pirsig)
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