R850R (2002-05) questions (tires + vibrations)
 

Hi all,

Does anyone know what kind of knobbly(semi) I could fit on the bike?

I've been looking at the standard Tourance and KTC80's but they don't come in the correct size for the bike.
160/60 18 (back) and 120/70 17 (front)

So what kind of 20/80 tire could I fit?

Secondly... I have some kind of vibration on the foot pegs, don't know where it comes from. The bike has 130k km, needs a new clutch, has a worn back tire for the moment, needs new bobbins in the right front brake disc, needs a new left throttle body at some time but still it doesn't feel like all that is causing the vibrations in the foot pegs...

Anyone any ideas?

Thanks! :)
Beedee

I think that the most offroad tyre you are going to get in those sizes are Avon Distanzia, It's not a knobby, but it has a decent pattern for light gravel.

Having said that thou, I have an R1100S, and the smallest tire that oficcialy fits is a 170 rear, I asked the guy at my tyreshop, and they said that a 160 would work, but the handling would be diffrent, so I drove with one set of Distanzias on it.
Since the tyre was to small the profile turned out to flat, but that worked quite well when I was driving gravel and light mud with the S, it became more stabile which is good when it's sliding. The onroad performance was however also affected, and it lost allot of it's sportiness, so I'm back on sport-touring tyres now.

I would think that a rear 150 TCK would work (however it would be to flat), but do talk it over with someone in a tyreshop before trying. I have no idea about what sizes the front comes in, so that might not work with the TCK.
You could have a look at Heidenau K60 to, but I don't know what sizes they come in other then GS sizes and offroad sizes.

I have read about people putting rear ofroad tyres on the front rim, but I don't know if there are any good ones that fit.

Dubble0Zero,

Thanks a lot for your reply!!

I've been doing some more research and it looks like the Heidenau K60 might work and also the Pirelli MT60.
The Heidenau really looks like a good tyre, wonder how easy it will be to get.
I had my bike mechanic order some.

Will post as soon as they're fitted. :)

Thanks again :)

Beedee

Forgot to mention... the vibrations was because of my backbearings.
They were completely ruined.

Day before yesterday was driving on the highway, it got so bad that I pulled over into a gas station.
Oil was dripping out of my driveshaft housing.

I called it quits and called road assistance to haul it to my mechanic...

Luxury :)

Anyway, got them replaced and looks like that solved it. :)

You say your clutch is shot. Have you tried adjusting it at the rear end (pushrod)? It is easy to do. You want to avoid the new clutch as long as possible as it is a big (expensive) job. Not like on a conventional bike.

Hey MarkShelley,

Yeah my mechanic told me it's a big job to fix a clutch on my bike.
The whole back needs to come off and the electrical systems might be disconnected to lift up the subframe to access the clutch and gears.

He adjusted the clutch lever, gave it a bit more play and it looks like I can manage for a while longer. Fingers crossed.

What do you mean exactly with the pushrod?
Some pics somewhere? Might save me a lot more kms/miles :)

Thanks a lot :)
Beedee

At the back of the gearbox is the clutch lever which the cable pulls on. This acts on the pushrod. If he has adjusted this correctly you are sorted.

spare-parts - repairs - germany
 

Ok update.

Tyres still not fitted, as soon as I get back to my mechanic who should have the Heidenau K60 waiting for me.

However, I fixed some more stuff on the bike and wanted to share this:

I'm in Germany for the moment, not far from Roedermark (Rodermark) and asked both HU communities in Mainz and Frankfurt for some help in finding me a good BMW spare parts shop.
Carsten from the Mainz community promptly replied and gave me the following:
Rösner und Rose GbR. Die BMW Motorrad Meisterwerkstatt aus dem Rhein-Main Gebiet - BMW Motorrad - Werkstatt - Tuning - Service - Rödermark - Frankfurt am Main
Thanks Carsten!

Quite impressed, they did a quick and good job. Gave me a new (well secondhand 50% left) throttle body, a new part (secondhand) to fix my dangerously attached right brake disk and new bobbins.
Got a new seat in the process, my behind is thankful. :)
And also broke the support for my left panier and they gave me another piece which is a little broken just for free.

And regarding the tyres:
They told me to put a GS back wheel and then I can use Tourance or TKC 80 or whatever instead of my test of the Heidenau K60 on the 18" rim.

To be continued.

tags: Frankfurt, Mainz, repairs, spare-parts, secondhand, Rodermark, Roedermark

Yea a GS back wheel would definatley work better since it would give you the right handeling characteristics for the tyres, I thought about it for the S, but decided that I don't really need it, the whole thing was more a test. It was quite expensive too, but I could only find the price for a new one.

It's good with helpful companies, they have realised how to keep customers!