Michelin desert rear tyre
 

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!

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.

yep as far as i know, the desert rear ONLY comes in 140/80-18

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....

Desert (left) 140/80-18 and T63 (right) 130/80-18:

http://www.actiontouring.com/pic/DESVST63.JPG


The Desert is 16 mm (!!) wider then the T63 and a lot higher.

Yes I believe they discontinued the 17 inch rear a couple of years ago.

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.

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…

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 :eek3:, 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.

Bernardo- there is no link - it is a picture of the K60 Scout tyre

are michelin desert tubeless?

Can I use then in BMW r100 rims without a tube?

No

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.

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?

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?

“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.”

Spacers? the mud guard in my bike is bolted to the subframe… I never sow any spacers…

“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.”

I agree with you in all the above aspects!!

Alibaba thanks for you pragmatism! J bier

Sorry the spacer is only used on Basic/Kalahari-models. Your bike has two rubber-washers and I don't think you gain much by removing them.

The point is that you can't get a Desert to fit the 17" rear wheel in the first place making this thread useless.

You can however get HPN to build you a wheel with the required offset and 18" Tube Type rim but you will still have clearance issues with the mudguard.

"gsworkshop":
Now I think that I didn't understand you....

why does a Michelin desert 17’’ will not fit a bmw GS 17’’ rim?

The 17" Michelin Desert rear tire are not available anymore for some years now.

hellllo

Since I’m a bit stubborn I dig a 17 Michelin Desert and I install it in the r100gs! (Actually I found 2 tyres)

my 5 cents comments

Installation:

-it’s not hard to put it in the rim but you gave to “clean” some blocks in the right side. Nothing too hard but it takes time if you don’t want to remove too much. The part of the tyre that you remove will only touch the ground while off roading but I never notice any difference in the turns


Driving (tarmac)

On the tarmac it’s a noisy tyre (as expected) and a bit slippery in the wet. (We drove a full day in the rain without any big frightening). It’s worst then a TKC but is perfectly driveable if you don’t go too fast

Warning: I could not drive it above 120 / 130kms because the bike starts to oscillate!


Driving Offroad

Very good tyre!!! It’s indestructible in the rocks and if you need you can drive almost with out air (even in a loaded bike)

In the soft sand (dunes) and mud the tyre is fabulous! Just reduce the pressure and you will never stop without traction! I think that for a heavy and powerful bike like a BMW it’s a perfect tyre… and you don’t have to worry about flats!


BTW I was looking for one Michelin desert and I now have 2 tyres for 17 rims. Does anyone want to buy one? I can sell the tyre that I used in Marrocos last week. I drove it no more then 2500kms so the tyre is almost new and ready to install in a R100GS. Just assemble it in a rim and drive