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Michelin desert rear tyre Michelin desert rear tyre
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  #1  
Old 26 Apr 2011
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Michelin desert rear tyre
hello

I’m looking for a Michelin desert rear tyre to put in a R100gs. Where can I find one? Does any one have one that is willing to sell? (Could be used)

how good is this tyre? to use off-road

thanks
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Old 26 Apr 2011
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The Desert doesn't fit the R100GS very well and I'm not sure if they still make it for 17 rim.

It's wide (140) so you will need a spacer to offset your wheel and it might hit your mudguard. Michelin T63 has almost the same pattern and comes in a size that fits. T63 has a bit softer rubber.

Basically it works well at almost any dry conditions but it's very slippery when it's wet. Mileage is good!
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Old 26 Apr 2011
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I can second the suggestion of the T63, I have used them on my R80G/S in Africa and found they worked well on gravel and were ok on sand, life was acceptable.
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Old 26 Apr 2011
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yep as far as i know, the desert rear ONLY comes in 140/80-18
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Old 27 Apr 2011
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I've an unused 17'' desert in the shed, what it would cost to send to Portugal I dread to think, and I've no idea if it would fit the Bm....
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Old 27 Apr 2011
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Desert (left) 140/80-18 and T63 (right) 130/80-18:




The Desert is 16 mm (!!) wider then the T63 and a lot higher.
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Old 27 Apr 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AliBaba View Post
The Desert doesn't fit the R100GS very well and I'm not sure if they still make it for 17 rim.
Yes I believe they discontinued the 17 inch rear a couple of years ago.
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Old 27 Apr 2011
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Bernardo, depending on what you wanted the tyre for- you might want to look at this one.
I've just fitted a 140/80-17 on my wheels.
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Old 4 May 2011
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hello

thanks to all

Bertrand: I can't see the link...

oothef: I’ve sent you a privet email

All: is it possible to "clean" some right side knobs? 5 mm doesn’t seem too much to remove…
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Old 4 May 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post

All: is it possible to "clean" some right side knobs? 5 mm doesn’t seem too much to remove…
It's easy enough to shave 5mm off the side knobs on the Desert. I had to do it on my CCM to clear the silencer on suspension compression. My method, involving an angle grinder , only took a few mins but it was a bit messy!

No probs with tyre functionality as you're only doing what the road would do anyway. Actually, the bit you're removing doesn't get anyway near the road but the principle's the same.
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Old 4 May 2011
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Bernardo- there is no link - it is a picture of the K60 Scout tyre
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Old 5 May 2011
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are michelin desert tubeless?

Can I use then in BMW r100 rims without a tube?
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Old 5 May 2011
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
are michelin desert tubeless?
No

Quote:
Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
Can I use then in BMW r100 rims without a tube?
No

You have to be prepared to shave a lot to make it fit, maybe to much. There is still a risk it will interfere with your mudguard.
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Old 5 May 2011
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hello

The spacers that I find to install the Michelin desert are all 5mm. So if with a spacer of 5mm the tyre will fit, if I remove 5mm in the right side of the tyre I will be ok… or I’m I missing something?
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Last edited by bernardo feio lightweight; 7 May 2011 at 12:52.
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Old 5 May 2011
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Originally Posted by bernardo feio lightweight View Post
The spacers that I and find to install the Michelin desert are all 5mm. So if with a spacer of 5mm the tyre will fit, if I remove 5mm in the right side of the tyre I will be ok… or I’m I missing something?
The Michelin desert 17 was made in small series and the tolerances was quite big. Some tires are wider then others. It was common that people had to shave the tire even if they used the 5mm spacer.
Depending on what shock you use it might hit your mudguard when the shock gets compressed. It's possible to raise the mudguard a bit but by removing the spacers at the rear mounting-point but I doubt it will be enough.

You can get 1mm spacers from BMW (it was used for some K-models) to trim this but you have to decide if you need longer bolts or not. I'm not a fan of spacers...
Instead of using spacers it would have been better to respoke the wheel with offset, but that's quite expensive.

The tolerances are not on your side, some examples (R80GS Basic):
  • I've had one Michelin T63 (130/80-17) which rubbed the swing-arm slightly, at least ten that didn't.
  • Pirelli MT21 (130/90-17) hits the mudguard when the tire is new and I have luggage (subframe flexes). I have not experienced this with the Øhlins shock, but it happened regularly with the WP-shock.
So there is no simple answer to your question, it will work if you are willing to do the modifications needed for your bike and the tire you get and you can live with the compromises. The real question is why going to all this to install a tire that have been obsolete for years when there are other good choices out there?
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