I have the pilot on my 1800 but have a lot of cupping. I run 41 psi on the tire. Was thinking of going to the Bridgestone Battlax this time. I have 13000+ miles on the Pilot Activ as of now. Can't find anyone near me who will install a rear tire on the front let alone in reverse. Any suggestions?
My Michelin Pilot Activ Rear/Front Tire Opinions
- Thread starter skuuter
- Start date
Email Bridgestone and ask them what direction a rear BT-45 be mounted when putting a rear BT-45 on the front of a trike. Show the email response from Bridgestone to the rire guy.
I called them, got the motorcycle tech guy, who knew of the use, and recommended it be mounted in "reverse".
Are you sure your front suspension is in good repair, ie:
Bearings adjusted properly.
Fork bushings not worn.
All hardware properly tightened.
Fork oil OK?
I'd seen a fairly convincing argument that cupping is often related to a bit of looseness up front. If you haven't touched the bearings since they were installed, they may have loosened up a bit initially.
New here, just got my Trike 2002 GL 1800 W/ MotorTrike Kit two weeks ago with a Stock Front end No Rake, Question is WILL putting this Tire on make my trike Steer better,, =easier= in the turns,, with out putting a 4.5 Rake on it from Randy ???, Money is Tight for me now, trike has 31,000 miles on it and it's like New, I put on so far in 7 days of riding over 1200 miles on it, Love it.... Paul
Trike goes in to the installer every year for a general check. Nothing found to be wrong. It doesn't shake or pull at all so I would say the shop is right about condition. Might just have to stay with the pilot activ as the dealer installs them
Some. How much depends on what's on there right now.
Depending on your body type, handlebar risers that bring the bars back, may also help, by providing better leverage.
But nothing will come close to the rake.
I also would like to know the size of the MPA you are mounting on the front of the trike?
On a GL1800, the stock (front) tire size 130/70-18. I don't believe anything larger will fit.
has anyone had broken parts on the font end ( mirrors, rad fan mounts, etc.) from the stiffer rear tire on the front wheel.
ttt I have not had that problem nor have I heard of anyone else having that happen.RIDE SAFE
have 6000 on the pilot now and no signs of weR YET !!!
H ave 5000 miles on mine looks like new.
Hi all!
First, I am new to this forum as well as a first time trike owner. When I first logged on to this site, I saw a question regarding RoadSmith Trike and the new 2012 Goldwing gl1800. The answer, if not already addressed, is yes--Roadsmith does have a kit for the 2112. I recently returned from The TrikeShop in White Bear Lake MN and they had on the floor for sell a new 2012 triked out! Let me say, it looks sharp!
Now, a question for those of you who have been trike owners for awhile. I too replaced the stock front trire with the Michelin Active Rear Tire running in reverse. I only have about 3K miles on it having just returned from my annual bike trip. I noticed that it has some vibration in the front end. Especially noticable at lower speeds and high end speeds. At the recomendation of Trikeshop, I installed centrmatic balancers and bar end weights on my kury grips. All this helped, but the vibration is still noticable. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what is the solution? Should I reverse the tire to run the normal direction? Any advise/help would be gratefully appreciated!!!
First, I am new to this forum as well as a first time trike owner. When I first logged on to this site, I saw a question regarding RoadSmith Trike and the new 2012 Goldwing gl1800. The answer, if not already addressed, is yes--Roadsmith does have a kit for the 2112. I recently returned from The TrikeShop in White Bear Lake MN and they had on the floor for sell a new 2012 triked out! Let me say, it looks sharp!
Now, a question for those of you who have been trike owners for awhile. I too replaced the stock front trire with the Michelin Active Rear Tire running in reverse. I only have about 3K miles on it having just returned from my annual bike trip. I noticed that it has some vibration in the front end. Especially noticable at lower speeds and high end speeds. At the recomendation of Trikeshop, I installed centrmatic balancers and bar end weights on my kury grips. All this helped, but the vibration is still noticable. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, what is the solution? Should I reverse the tire to run the normal direction? Any advise/help would be gratefully appreciated!!!
I don't know what to do....
I will replace the front tire on my '10 Goldwing Champion in a few days. I guess I'm fortunate compared to some I've read about; I got 9,000 adverse-free miles on the OEM before it got to the wear bars. After reading the many posts on the subject, I'm torn. Do I have the tire mounted traditionally or reversed rotation? Seems to me tire treads are designed to shed water. Do you sacrifice safety by reversing rotation?
Appreciate your thoughts,
Gary
I will replace the front tire on my '10 Goldwing Champion in a few days. I guess I'm fortunate compared to some I've read about; I got 9,000 adverse-free miles on the OEM before it got to the wear bars. After reading the many posts on the subject, I'm torn. Do I have the tire mounted traditionally or reversed rotation? Seems to me tire treads are designed to shed water. Do you sacrifice safety by reversing rotation?
Appreciate your thoughts,
Gary
7K backwards & going strong!! Would do it again in a heartbeat.
Works well on a two wheeler also, i installed one last week and rode it a few miles and it was great, bike is down now installing a roadsmith kit
Going in tomorrow to get a new front tire. Current tire is a Bridgestone BattlaxBT45R. We are about to take our annual trip to see family and attend the Davis Rally, and I don't think it will last the 3500 to 4000 miles we usually put on during the trip. The tire has some good tread left, but it is woefully cupped. Too bad, as I only have 17,000 miles on it.
As I've had very good use out of the Bridgestone, I am of course going for the Pilot Activ this time around.
As I've had very good use out of the Bridgestone, I am of course going for the Pilot Activ this time around.
I have a 2005 GW1800 Motor Trike. Stock front tire shot at 8000 miles. Followed cycle shop recommendation for the MPA mount backwards and I had them install the centramatic balancers at the same time. Now for the torture test
So far I haven't seen any response to one writer's comment about tires being designed to shed water and how mounting the tire backwards might affect the safety factor. If moving in the normal forward direction the tire squegees water outwards, would mounting the tire backwards result in pushing the water towards the center of the tread?
What is the tire size on an 1800 Wing?
I have a 1984 Wing front end on my VW trike with a 130-90-16 tire.
I searched all over and could NOT find an MPA to fit it.
Even the Michelin rep told me that they do not make that size.
Anybody have any similar problems?
So, I settled for Bridgestone BT 45 BattleAx.
I have a 1984 Wing front end on my VW trike with a 130-90-16 tire.
I searched all over and could NOT find an MPA to fit it.
Even the Michelin rep told me that they do not make that size.
Anybody have any similar problems?
So, I settled for Bridgestone BT 45 BattleAx.
From what I have read and from letters posted on other boards from tire manufacturers, the reason to run the MPA(or others) backwards is due to the way the belts are lapped during manufacture. A rear tire is lapped with acceleration in mind, a front with braking in mind. So since you are running a rear in front you reverse it so the belt lapping is for braking.
I have a MPA in reverse on my 2005 GL1800 CSC Cobra, with about 4k on it. It is now cupped and wobbles. I have a 4.5 degree rake with fork extenders. Balance beads in all 3 tires. I will be rebuilding the forks soon and checking all the rear suspension setup. Trike has 23k on it. Tire looks great for all but the cupping.
Again tire mounting direction is just from what I have gathered from the web.
I have a MPA in reverse on my 2005 GL1800 CSC Cobra, with about 4k on it. It is now cupped and wobbles. I have a 4.5 degree rake with fork extenders. Balance beads in all 3 tires. I will be rebuilding the forks soon and checking all the rear suspension setup. Trike has 23k on it. Tire looks great for all but the cupping.
Again tire mounting direction is just from what I have gathered from the web.
You know that the "reverse" issue is NOT a wear associated issue.
Along with the Lapping, it is a tread issue regarding the tires ability to pump water out from under the tire at hydroplaining conditions, and the directions that it will pump the water.
This is a paraphrased quote from the Michelin rep a the Dealer show in indianapolis.
(wink wink...)
We / I can't officially reccommend this but if we could..
we would see no problem with doing so, and would say that reversing the tread is the correct thing to do" wink.. wink... nudge nudge...
and we would be happy that you are satisfied with your purchase of the MPA.
I will say this though, that there is ONE manufacturer there that is/was working on a match trike tire set (2 rear / 1 front).
Though I promised I would't say the manufacturer, and I wil honor that promise.
I am having a Roadsmith installed on my 2009 GW.:Excited:
I wrote to Roadsmith and asked what tire to run on the front and what direction and here is what I got:
Michelin Pilot Activ
130/70/18 Rear
Centramatic Wheel Balancers
40psi (Roadsmith)
Did you say to put the front tire on in reverse direction? (me)
Yes, mount the tire in reverse direction. (Roadsmith)
So there you have it right from Roadsmith what they recommend.ThumbUp
I wrote to Roadsmith and asked what tire to run on the front and what direction and here is what I got:
Michelin Pilot Activ
130/70/18 Rear
Centramatic Wheel Balancers
40psi (Roadsmith)
Did you say to put the front tire on in reverse direction? (me)
Yes, mount the tire in reverse direction. (Roadsmith)
So there you have it right from Roadsmith what they recommend.ThumbUp
6200 miles on my mpa mounted in reverse 98se champion trike kit no cupping still looks like new.
Do you have any vibration at low speeds with the Pilot Active?
I have a GL1800 Champion IRS and got 8000 miles from the rear Dunlops. To the cord on the inside and to the bars on the outside.
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