bias verses radial?

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Apr 22, 2011 | 06:03 PM

#11

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,898

From: Bedford UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notgrownup

Maybe on a race bike you would see a difference but how fast you gonna go and a cruiser?

My Harley isn't a cruiser, I use it for crossing continents, literally. Fully laden with us both on it plus the kitchen sink I reckon we tip the scales at around half a ton. Tyres matter at autobahn speeds when you weigh that much!

I never bother with bias v radial, I fit the tyres my preferred manufacturer Avon recommends. Their website gives details of every Harley, so it is easy to check. Metzelers may give the same info. Only if you are planning to go away from stock sizes or types of tyre does it matter, but we now know the answer for that!

Apr 23, 2011 | 06:40 AM

#12

Notgrownup

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2009

Posts: 24,735

Likes: 9,244

From: Snow Hill, NC

Hi Graham...I try to always use the tire rated for my bike....I mean ("Weight Rating")...I too take nice long ride loaded to the gills...I used a 74H tire on the rear one time and always wondered if it would hold up....I all honesty i didn't ride 2 up for pretty much the whole duration of the tire and therafter only used 77H or 78H tires on the rear...The Bias VS Radials never bothered me....AutoBahn... Tha tis a nice road...i just watched a special on the history of the road on Discovery channel...that was nice. Be safe out there.

Apr 23, 2011 | 07:50 AM

#13

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,898

From: Bedford UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by Notgrownup

My 1990 bike came with 74H both ends when new and we rode most of its life on them with no problems. Then a few years ago I emailed Avon with a tyre query and they recommended I use a 77H, as we ride 2-up a lot, and when heavily loaded the 74H is marginal, as they described it. I have actually replaced my swingarm, rear wheel and belt for later spec ones now, so currently use a Venom 150/80, which is 77H rated.

While on tour in Europe last year we discovered we had travelled at 96mph in Germany, after we had left. So next month, while travelling to Slovenia, we have a mission to record 3 figures!

While travelling through the old East Germany last year they were digging up the pre-War concrete road and putting down modern wide carriageways. All part of the grand EU roads improvement plan! Makes it more comfortable to whizz along.....

Apr 23, 2011 | 09:15 AM

#14

Mr. Lucky

Stellar HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2008

Posts: 2,134

Likes: 5

From: Delaware

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbell66253

If you have radials on the rear, you better run radials on the front, or you'll be sorry. I didn't even know you could still get bias...

BS! My '08 FXSTB came stock from the factory with a radial rear tire and bias-ply front. I'm now running an Avon Cobra (radial) rear and Avon Venom-X (bias) front, and it handles even better than stock.

Aug 24, 2011 | 10:14 AM

#15

TexasHarleyBoy

Intermediate

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 46

Likes: 0

From: Mineola, Texas

i know this is gonna fuzz a bunch of you guys up, and all the attackers will have new ammo, but here goes. i am about to install a radial on the front of my bike and a radial on the rear. big deal, huh. the deal is the rear is gonna be a 195/55R-16. don't recognize the size, it's because its a car tire. now, let the attacks begin, like from the guy who says "you will be sorry" earlier in the post without even knowing the facts!!! my bike is a 2010 Street Glide, with stock Dunlopers that are about worn out. And i have done a ton of research on this topic.... have you?

Last edited by TexasHarleyBoy; Aug 24, 2011 at 10:16 AM. Reason: omitted info.