BMW and Metzler 880s

[CMIKE]

I have been cruising the BMW forums and notice they swear by the Metzler 880 for the K1200LT touring bike. Oh yeah they complain about the same stuff we do...like top heavy, slow speed handling and a whole other set of problems

I know there is several members here that has not had good luck with the Metzler 880 on the 2nd Gen Venture. Seems they have a tendency to chunk rubber off at some point.

Some members here love them and would not use nothing else even when they hear of others problems. I am kinda scared of them since more than one of our members report the chunking problem.

I always thought maybe it was the weight of the bike causing some of this problem...but the BMWK1200LT is not that much different from the Venture.

Running weight of the BMW is 853lbs. RSV 869lbs

Is it the horsepower...Venture about 98hp-BWM 116hp.

 

Why is it the BWM folks never seem to have problems with this tire? Any ideas?

 

Also my son's 2010 Raider (730lb bike) has a set of Metzler 880 on from the factory...and in the owners manual they strickly recommend nothing but this tire.

120/70-21 210/40-18 Metzler 880. By the way...that 113 ci Raider is one of the most uncomfortable bikes I have ever riden...feet and arms out front...back bent over, you would never touch a back rest if you installed one...you look like a C riding it. But it will get up and go...but I do not think there is a chance it will out run BLACK BETTY even if it is BLACK, the fastest color of them all.

 

I tell you what...that new BMW K1600GTL sound like it is gonna be something to consider. 160 HP in line 6 cylinder with 129lb/ft torque...heck who knows...you might even be able to see the engine on it...

Spy photo...of what is supposed to be it.. Yamaha better tighten thier A$$ up...I just hope it comes in BLACK when it hits the street. Looks like a FJR with a Big tour pack on it. Probably runs like or better than a FJR.

http://www.cycleworld.com/var/ezflow_site/storage/images/motorcycle_news/future_bikes_spy_shots/10q3/bmw_k1600gt_and_gtl_-_future_bikes_spy_shots/3472375-1-eng-US/bmw_k1600gt_and_gtl_-_future_bikes_spy_shots_image_575_346.jpg

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_news/future_bikes_spy_shots/10q3/bmw_k1600gt_and_gtl_-_future_bikes_spy_shots

Edited September 5, 2010 by CMIKE

[RandyR]

The peak power of 160 hp is given at 7500, with 70 percent of the peak torque of 129 ft.-lb. available from 1500 rpm upward.

 

Thats incredible low end torque.

 

I had a K1100 and said I'd never have another BMW (mostly because of the dealer). But I do like the looks of the K1600. I'm not sure I need or even want a 160hp machine though.

 

Hmm. An adaptive headlight... just like the Tucker automobile..

 

Wonder if one will be at Daytona Spring Bike week for demo rides? I'll bet thats going to be a long signup line if they do.

 

here's a BMW website dedicated to the new K1600 http://www.tourer-2010-en.com/index/the.future.of.touring

Edited September 5, 2010 by RandyR

[CMIKE]

I'm not sure I need or even want a 160hp machine though.

 

Wouldn't it be cool to pull out some of them horses just once in a while though? What if you needed to pass a crotch rocket, just because he is blocking your view...or smoke a VRod at a red light cause he is looking at your wife funny?

I would probably get a ticket of two.

[stroker ace]

I have been cruising the BMW forums and notice they swear by the Metzler 880 for the K1200LT touring bike. Oh yeah they complain about the same stuff we do...like top heavy, slow speed handling and a whole other set of problems

I know there is several members here that has not had good luck with the Metzler 880 on the 2nd Gen Venture. Seems they have a tendency to chunk rubber off at some point.

Some members here love them and would not use nothing else even when they hear of others problems. I am kinda scared of them since more than one of our members report the chunking problem.

I always thought maybe it was the weight of the bike causing some of this problem...but the BMWK1200LT is not that much different from the Venture.

Running weight of the BMW is 853lbs. RSV 869lbs

Is it the horsepower...Venture about 98hp-BWM 116hp.

 

Why is it the BWM folks never seem to have problems with this tire? Any ideas?

 

Also my son's 2010 Raider (730lb bike) has a set of Metzler 880 on from the factory...and in the owners manual they strickly recommend nothing but this tire.

120/70-21 210/40-18 Metzler 880. By the way...that 113 ci Raider is one of the most uncomfortable bikes I have ever riden...feet and arms out front...back bent over, you would never touch a back rest if you installed one...you look like a C riding it. But it will get up and go...but I do not think there is a chance it will out run BLACK BETTY even if it is BLACK, the fastest color of them all.

 

 

I'm one of those that really like ( wouldn't call it love ) the Metzeler 880's and have been running them for a very long time with out issue. I tried a set of E 3's with out much luck ( Mileage ).

[CMIKE]

I'm one of those that really like ( wouldn't call it love ) the Metzeler 880's and have been running them for a very long time with out issue. I tried a set of E 3's with out much luck ( Mileage ).

 

I figure some here would help us understand why they apprear to work on some bikes but not to well for some on the RSV... Folks got me scared of them with thier reports.

Bad batch of tires?

BMW folks love them and talk a lot about the V speed rating. Now I usually do not run 149 MPH, and I suspect they don't either with a K1200LT, at least not very much. One has never passed the Black Betty on the interstate. The H 130 mph is plenty for me.

[Michael_Bishop]

I'm getting ready to put my thrid set Metzeler 880's on my 2005 RSTD. I love them. I have never had a problem with them.

[dmoff1698]

I figure some here would help us understand why they apprear to work on some bikes but not to well for some on the RSV... Folks got me scared of them with thier reports.

Bad batch of tires?

BMW folks love them and talk a lot about the V speed rating. Now I usually do not run 149 MPH, and I suspect they don't either with a K1200LT, at least not very much. One has never passed the Black Betty on the interstate. The H 130 mph is plenty for me.

 

I ran the ME 880s for two years and they were by far the most comfortable tire I have used. Excelent traction in all kinds of weather, and SMOOTH as silk.

 

It happens that I am the only 2nd Gen rider that I have heard of who has actually blown the engine on this bike. I was riding 2 up, pulling a heavy trailer, and running 60-65 mph down hill when the engine froze up. Instantly locking the rear wheel. I don't know how I rode that thing to a stop, but I did.

 

After getting the engine fixed, I inspected the rear tire expecting to find a major flat spot from a 250 foot skid, but all looked good so I didn't replace it. It was only about a month later when the ME 880 started shedding rubber at 45 mph.

 

Even though the tire looked good and still rode fine, you know that it had suffered major stress and heat build up during that skid. Looking back, I know I probably should have replaced the tire immediately, but it was almost new and I am cheap, so I didn't.

 

Because of the experience of others on this site, I changed to E3 which are almost as good for me.

 

I always wondered if my tire failure was from the stress, heat, overweight or poor manufacturing. Or some combination of all these.

[aharbi]

I run ME 880's on two of my bikes (medium & heavy cruiser) and never had a problem. I haven't found a more durable long lasting load-carrying replacement tire. Not wanting to open a debate here, just saying, for me they work.

[Yammy]

I'm getting ready to put my thrid set Metzeler 880's on my 2005 RSTD. I love them. I have never had a problem with them.

 

I'm on my third set now, I like them. I had 35000 on the first set and 30000 on the second, thats in kilometers. Compared to my bridgestones that didn't make 10000 kilometers. Dunlop maybe a little better. I'm no expert but it seems to me you have to run a higher pressure with them. The rubber is harder in the center, if your pressure is down to what the manual recommends the rubber wears on the outside faster than the middle. Making the tabs seem to rise? This set I'm trying 44 to 46 psi solo rider on the rear tire. If I was riding duel I might try higher? The front seems fine with the factory recommended 36 psi, again solo rider. I think the area you ride makes a difference too, 3 curves in 300 miles or 300 curves in a few miles. Wish I new what pressure is the best without all this trial and error.

[Dano]

After my first set of ME880's on my 84 and replacing the rear last year with a Venom, I'm going back to a new set of ME880's. I just like the feel better and they lasted as long as they should. I know I'll hear it from the Squid, but he's down in Texas now and can't beat me up!!!!!

[1BigDog]

I lost rubber twice from the rear of the 880's. 1st set lost rubber at 12k, 2nd set was fine, third set lost rubber at 9k. Ran 46-48 lbs of pressure too. Love the handling but I like my rubber to stay on the tire. One of my biggest concerns was Metzlers lack of concern when brought to their attention. "I must have abused the tire" was their response. If you run them, keep checking the rear tire for cracking in the tread area, which will most certainly follow with the loss of rubber at some point. I have no issues with the Avons so ill stick with them.

[dray]

when i had my V star 1100 i used to go to there web site a lot. I could not believe the amount of people that were always having problems with the ME880's; they were all doing the same thing throwing chunks and most being close to new tires for me its just not worth the chance as the 1100 was a light bike compared to the venture or my wing

 

 

I really want something that i can trust i had over 17000 mi. on the Avon venoms on my vstar and I'm going to try the cobra's on the wing and if i could just find a way to back off the throttle a bit I may find another good tire:big-grin-emoticon:

[Michael_Bishop]

Like I said in a post above I love the ME880. I get my tires at Cycle Outfitters. I went down there today to make sure they had the 150/80 for the front and to check the date on them. I ask them if they had heard about chunks of rubber coming off. They said yes. They said it is from running the tire pressure to low. That the way the tread angle out that the core is not made to hold up with low pressure. So keep a check on the pressure and they will not give you any problems. They said they have had people come in for new tire and the one they had on just had 10 pounds of pressure in it.

Edited September 13, 2010 by Michael_Bishop

[Guest Kemo]

Here is a photo of my rear tire on my 1999 RSV , Tires had maybe 8000 miles on them, Notice the chunk missing , I replaced both tires with Kenda Kruz K673 just this week. Very interesting about the chunking problem and I ran the tire at 41psi.

[ctraylor]

I ride a 99 K1200 LT and had a new Metzler on it when I bought it. The tire had good handling but after about 8000 miles was very noisy. I think I got about 12000 miles out of it before I changed it. I purchased a Bridgestone for the replacement and now have 4000 miles on it without any noticable wear and handles great. I love this bike and handles better than any bike I have ever rode and I have been riding for 40 years. This bike has loads of horsepower and gets 50 mpg consistently.

[RandyR]

I run my Metzler 880's at 42/50 psi. No problems, handle great.

 

The 880's were on the RSV when I bought it used with 15,000 miles on it. I now have 22,000 on the bike. Assuming 8,000 miles on the OEM rear tire, thats 14,000 miles on the 880's. It looks like there's 1-2,000 more miles in it before it has to be changed. I have another 880 ready to mount.

[Guest]

I ask them if they had heard about chunks of rubber coming off. They said yes. They said it is from running the tire pressure to low. That the way the tread angle out that the core is not made to hold up with low pressure. So keep a check on the pressure and they will not give you any problems. They said they have had people come in for new tire and the one they had on just had 10 pounds of pressure in it.

 

Ill disagree with your dealer here about tire pressure. Thats just a cop out on Metzelers part. I have always ran 46-48 lbs pressure in my rear tires (880) and still lost rubber chunks. There is a built in safety margin incorporated into most products. In 35 years of riding I have never seen a rear tire come apart with the frequency of the 880's. A few lbs of pressure should not have that effect. Our bikes would handle like garbage if we ran with 10 lbs difference from the needed pressure. But even then a tire should not delaminate. In my youth ive worn tires to the white cords with no problems (yes, only the ignorant survive LOL). Low air pressure too but the tire stayed intact. Sorry, but I gave Metzeler 3 chances and they blew it twice.....

[Squidley]

After my first set of ME880's on my 84 and replacing the rear last year with a Venom, I'm going back to a new set of ME880's. I just like the feel better and they lasted as long as they should. I know I'll hear it from the Squid, but he's down in Texas now and can't beat me up!!!!!

 

 

You wont hear it from me, it's your choice brother. I just happen to like the Venoms better than anything else out there. I had a set of the 880's on my 1st '99 and they were a decent tire, stuck well in the curves and in the rain and were quiet. I know some of the members here personally that had issues with the 880's. They aren't slackers on the maintenance of their bikes and kept the pressures up. It's all about how you feel, it is your butt on the line and some will never have problems, but the numerous members here and strangers I have met had the same issues. I wish all you fellas the best with your 880's, just pay close attention to the pressures and the tread