Question about tires, Bias vs Radial.

Ronni.N

Joined
Jun 30, 2024
Messages
43
Age
45
Location
Denmark
Bike
Honda ST1100 1993
So i know this is a bit of a religion, and everyone has there preference about what tires to run on the ST1100's.

The motorcycle season is just days away from starting here in Denmark, and the tires on my 93 ABS1 needs to be replaced, so i have been doing a lot of searching and reading, and have decided on a Bridgestone BT 020 Bias for the rear, and a Bridgestone T32 for the front, unfortunately they dont make the GT spec version for the ABS1 type 110/80R18.

But the question is, does anyone have experience running a bias tire in the rear, and radial in the front, most people online makes it sound like a bit of a sin, and its normally bias in the front, radial in the rear.

Some positive stories about bias in the rear and radial in front would calm me down, and confirm i did not make a big error selecting tires for my ST1100.

Thanks in advance.
Ronni
 
Lets hope he will see this thread then, and lets hope i didn't screw up. :)
 
That's exactly the combo I run on all 4 of my ST1100s now and have done so for 100,000's of miles (they are all ABSIIs now).
You can run 120 width on the 110 rim without issues (BTDT) as long as MOT (if you have one) doesn't give you grief.
On my one standard (which I converted to ABSII later) I ran the ABSII front rim for a long time and the clearances are fine.
I don't know if the 120 ABSII rim sensor ring is in the same position as the ABSI sensor ring as I've never had an ABSI rim to look at.
Don't worry - your hair will not catch on fire if you do run that combination. ;)
But be warned the BT020 bias has really stiff sidewalls and can be a bear to mount.
 
Uncle Phil said:
That's exactly the combo I run on all 4 of my ST1100s now and have done so for 100,000's of miles (they are all ABSIIs now).
You can run 120 width on the 110 rim without issues (BTDT) as long as MOT (if you have one) doesn't give you grief.
On my one standard (which I converted to ABSII later) I ran the ABSII front rim for a long time and the clearances are fine.
I don't know if the 120 ABSII rim sensor ring is in the same position as the ABSI sensor ring as I've never had an ABSI rim to look at.
Don't worry - your hair will not catch on fire if you do run that combination. ;)
But be warned the BT020 bias has really stiff sidewalls and can be a bear to mount.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the reply, we only have MOT's when the bike changes owner, and i do plan on keeping my ST1100 so that should not be a problem, and considering it passed MOT last time with 12+ year old tires. :)

I will stay with the 110/80R18 in the front, just to make sure there will be no ABS problems, and then maybe in the future upgrade to a ABS2 front wheel if i can find one.

Regarding the tire mounting i will get a shop to do it, i dont have the equipment here for balancing motorcycle tires anyway, and my tire machine only goes up to 16" rims on the outside.

Kind regards
Ronni
 
Ronni.N said:
Thank you so much for the reply, we only have MOT's when the bike changes owner, and i do plan on keeping my ST1100 so that should not be a problem, and considering it passed MOT last time with 12+ year old tires. :)

I will stay with the 110/80R18 in the front, just to make sure there will be no ABS problems, and then maybe in the future upgrade to a ABS2 front wheel if i can find one.

Regarding the tire mounting i will get a shop to do it, i dont have the equipment here for balancing motorcycle tires anyway, and my tire machine only goes up to 16" rims on the outside.

Kind regards
Ronni
Click to expand...
Also, I just remembered that the ABSI and ABSII sensors are the same.
Dimensionally at the mounting points (axle and disc), all the ST1100 front rims are interchangeable (I've tried it with all of them).
I also just remembered that the front rim I got sent was an ABSI (I wanted an ABSII so I returned it) but I didn't check for the ring position.
What varies is the size of the discs so I would not be surprised if an ABSII rim worked on the ABSI ST1100 with the ABS.
The tire shop will probably curse you but then you are paying the bill! ;)
I usually balance the rim once without the tire on it and don't bother after that.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Also, I just remembered that the ABSI and ABSII sensors are the same.
Dimensionally at the mounting points (axle and disc), all the ST1100 front rims are interchangeable (I've tried it with all of them).
I also just remembered that the front rim I got sent was an ABSI (I wanted an ABSII so I returned it) but I didn't check for the ring position.
What varies is the size of the discs so I would not be surprised if an ABSII rim worked on the ABSI ST1100 with the ABS.
The tire shop will probably curse you but then you are paying the bill! ;)
I usually balance the rim once without the tire on it and don't bother after that.
Click to expand...
Lots of good information there, im counting on a shop with a tyre machine will make short work of that BT 020 tire. :)

I will go hunting for a ABS2 front wheel for next time, the ABS sensor is already replaced with an el cheapo chinese honeywell sensor, seems to be working just fint, the OEM failed late last year.

Kind regards
Ronni
 
Ronni.N said:
im counting on a shop with a tyre machine will make short work of that BT 020 tire. :)
Click to expand...
No idea what tire shops are over there, but more than a couple of guys here have complained that tire shops/dealers screwed up mounting their tires. How is that possible? The new kid in the shop is usually tasked this job, and if he has not been taught properly, he might mount the tire backwards. When you get your wheel back, check the direction of rotation of the cast wheel, and then look for the arrow on the tire. They should both point in the same direction.

I usually take white electrician's tape, put a piece on the wheel and with a felt tipped pen, arrow the direction of rotation. A similar piece of tape goes on the tire (in fact, both sides of the tire. An experienced mechanic who I've used in the past thanked me for that, and confessed he had mistakenly mounted a few tires backward himself.
 
SMSW said:
No idea what tire shops are over there, but more than a couple of guys here have complained that tire shops/dealers screwed up mounting their tires. How is that possible? The new kid in the shop is usually tasked this job, and if he has not been taught properly, he might mount the tire backwards. When you get your wheel back, check the direction of rotation of the cast wheel, and then look for the arrow on the tire. They should both point in the same direction.

I usually take white electrician's tape, put a piece on the wheel and with a felt tipped pen, arrow the direction of rotation. A similar piece of tape goes on the tire (in fact, both sides of the tire. An experienced mechanic who I've used in the past thanked me for that, and confessed he had mistakenly mounted a few tires backward himself.
Click to expand...
We have that kind of shops also, last place i had tyres fitted they managed to bend a rim, and proceded to add 70 grams of weight to the rear when balancing, it was the apprentice at the shop, needles to say im never going back there, this was for my old Yamaha FJ600, hoping for more luck this time. :)

Thanks for the tip, i will do the same when time comes.

Kind regards
Ronni
 
A generic bias ply to radial ply question. Does the tire pressure need to be increased over the manufacturers recommendation when you switch from bias (original tire) to radial? I have always heard it should be increased four psi. This question is Harley related, but it could apply to other brands as well.
 
jspringator said:
A generic bias ply to radial ply question. Does the tire pressure need to be increased over the manufacturers recommendation when you switch from bias (original tire) to radial? I have always heard it should be increased four psi. This question is Harley related, but it could apply to other brands as well.
Click to expand...
On my ST1100s, I run 42+- in the rear, 36+- in the front -'standard' ST1100 tire pressures IIRC.
 
Ronni.N said:
So i know this is a bit of a religion, and everyone has there preference about what tires to run on the ST1100's.

The motorcycle season is just days away from starting here in Denmark, and the tires on my 93 ABS1 needs to be replaced, so i have been doing a lot of searching and reading, and have decided on a Bridgestone BT 020 Bias for the rear, and a Bridgestone T32 for the front, unfortunately they dont make the GT spec version for the ABS1 type 110/80R18.

But the question is, does anyone have experience running a bias tire in the rear, and radial in the front, most people online makes it sound like a bit of a sin, and its normally bias in the front, radial in the rear.

Some positive stories about bias in the rear and radial in front would calm me down, and confirm i did not make a big error selecting tires for my ST1100.

Thanks in advance.
Ronni
Click to expand...
Try the Bridgestone BT 46, it's bias ply, less expensive and should last longer than the t32. A lot of Darksiders use it on the front of ST1300's.
 
Al st1100 said:
Try the Bridgestone BT 46, it's bias ply, less expensive and should last longer than the t32. A lot of Darksiders use it on the front of ST1300's.
Click to expand...
Maybe i have misunderstod the term darksiders, but i was under the impression its used about people running bias ply in the rear and radial in the front ?

If i choose the BT46 i would be running bias ply front and back, maybe not a bad thing, will keep that in mind.
 
Ronni.N said:
Maybe i have misunderstod the term darksiders, but i was under the impression its used about people running bias ply in the rear and radial in the front ?

If i choose the BT46 i would be running bias ply front and back, maybe not a bad thing, will keep that in mind.
Click to expand...
Nope - running a car tire on the rear and a mc rear tire on the front (technically called 'double dark').
 
I'm running a T32 120/70 on the front and OEM on the rear. Zero issues. I haven't noticed any difference on the speedo/odo but haven't measured it either. By calculations, the difference is minor.
 
jdmccright said:
I'm running a T32 120/70 on the front and OEM on the rear. Zero issues. I haven't noticed any difference on the speedo/odo but haven't measured it either. By calculations, the difference is minor.
Click to expand...
My speedo is anyway pretty much out as it is, so not that worried, rear on a 2000 ST1100 is not Bias is it ?
 
Ronni.N said:
My speedo is anyway pretty much out as it is, so not that worried, rear on a 2000 ST1100 is not Bias is it ?
Click to expand...
Speedo's are all off, I use my gps for accuracy. I believe ABS models came with radials but with a 25 yr old bike it's seen all kinds of tires by know. I had both kinds of tires when I had my 1100 and couldn't tell the difference. Just putting new tires on makes a ride difference.
 
Al st1100 said:
Speedo's are all off, I use my gps for accuracy. I believe ABS models came with radials but with a 25 yr old bike it's seen all kinds of tires by know. I had both kinds of tires when I had my 1100 and couldn't tell the difference. Just putting new tires on makes a ride difference.
Click to expand...
Same, GPS is my goto, speeding tickets here at pretty high, and not much chances for a warning, so its better to be within the limit.

Looking forward to new tires, i did ride it last year with the old Dunlop tires, and it was okay, but im sure some new Bridgestones will make a positive difference.
 
Al st1100 said:
Try the Bridgestone BT 46, it's bias ply, less expensive and should last longer than the t32. A lot of Darksiders use it on the front of ST1300's.
Click to expand...
Bridgestone offers the BT46 110/80-80 in front AND rear versions. The front has a higher speed rating.....
 
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