I was interested in buying a BMW GS since several years (but couldn't afford one :(), so I collected reviews of this bike and of parts for it so that i would have some idea what i am dealing with if the big time of owning one arrives (Yeah, and now i have mine :-))).
Carl Paukstis generously offered to store files like this one for later use on the listserver, so I will send a copy to him. If I get additional information related to this item,I will update the file and send a message about that. But I don't think that here will be any further investigation on this in the mc-magazines, as the "old" airhead GS-models will leave the market in the next two years :(.
This is an extract from ENDURO-WELT 94, a Special edition of MO mc- magazine. The tests were made in cooperation with the mc-magazine "motorrad, reisen & sport" and the ADAC, that's the german automobile club (like AAA in the US), which also has a mc-division. They used lots of equipment for the test, and the report features nice pictures, such as a GS loaded with tons of measuring stuff and fastened to a rail that helps the tester in not dropping the bike while emergency braking on wet roads. Another cool pic is that of Four Black and Yellow GS's running through a curve two-by-two at high speed.
To avoid cheating, they bought seven sets of each tire anonymous at official dealers for the tests. The driving behaviour was tested on a special tire test track and in a moto-cross area. The straightline running at high speed was tested with full luggage (Bags etc.) on the Autobahn. For measuring tear and wear they drove overall 45.000 km through Europe.
The ratings are given in the "german way", that means 1 is the best and 5 the worst. I will quote these ratings first, and the stated conclusions after that:
| Dry | Wet | Dirt | Noise | Wear | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avon Gripster AM24 | 2.5 | 3.3 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Bridgestone TW47/48 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Continental TK60/70 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 1.5 | 2.7 |
| Dunlop Trailmax | 2.5 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.9 |
| Metzeler Enduro 3 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 2.9 | 2.8 |
| Metzeler Enduro 4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 2.2 | 2.5 |
| Metzeler ME33/55A | 2.2 | 3.1 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.0 |
| Michelin T65 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.9 | 2.6 |
| Michelin T66 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 2.6 |
| Pirelli MT50 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| Pirelli MT60 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 2.9 |
| Yokohama E705 | 2.7 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.2 | 3.0 |
Avon Gripster AM24:
Best ratings off-road, worst on wet roads. At two tires parts of the
profile blocks flew away.
Bridgestone TW47/48:
Quietest tire in this test, Very bad straightline running at higher speeds
on dry roads, even without luggage
Conti TKC60/70:
Lowest wear and tear, else average. Good braking abilities on wet roads,
quite cheap.
Dunlop Trailmax:
Allround-tire with average ratings in all points.
Metzeler Enduro 3:
Best and fastest on wet roads of all, noisiest tire in test, can get
spongy in curves at high temperatures (but not dangerous)
Metzeler Enduro 4:
Best allround-tire in test, highest speed on road track test. Quiet low
wear and tear.
Metzeler ME33/55A:
Best ratings on dry road, nearly unusable off-roads, 2nd highest speed on
road track test.
Michelin T65:
Best ratings off-roads. Good braking abilities on wet roads.
Michelin T66:
Allround-tire with average ratings in all points. Expensive.
Pirelli MT50:
Allround-tire with average ratings in all points, but two of the tires
formed cracks during the test.
Yokohama E705:
Worst rating on wet roads, rear tires did not pass the high-speed-test two
times. Low wear and tear.
Overall they recommend the Continental for people who want to save money (Low price, lasts long), the Michelin T65 for Off-Road use and for mostly street use the Metzeler ME33/ME55A. The best allround tires are Dunlop Trailmax, Metzeler Enduro 3 and 4 and Michelin T66. These seem to fit the best for the universal use Enduros are made for.
This information was collected from the magazine "Enduro" in 6/93, where they tested these tires on a BMW R 100 GS (Tire sizes 90/90-21 T and 130/80-17 T)
Test results (shortened):
BARUM ED 9 T
very cheap, good street-tire, but a little spongy in curves, runs
straightline even at higher speeds, good "Grip", but it smears/fills up
with dirt and mud easily at off-road use, quite high wear and tear, easy
installation
BRIDGESTONE TW 47 /TW 48
difficult installation, average behaviour in curves, average on wet
streets, not stable at high speeds, long life expectancy, relatively
cheap, average wear and tear
CONTINENTAL TKC 60/70
easy installation, good street-tire, runs straightline even at higher
speeds, good on wet streets, rear tire good for off-road use, average wear
and tear
DUNLOP TRAILMAX
for universal use, easy installation, good street-tire, good handling,
runs straightline even at higher speeds, good on wet streets, not as good
on dirt tracks, average wear and tear
METZELER ENDURO 3 SAHARA
very good for higher speeds, runs very straightline, good/safe on wet and
dry streets, extremely good on dirt tracks, outstanding braking
capabilities, difficult installation, best compromise between street and
off-road tire, average wear and tear
METZELER ENDURO 4
unusable on dirt tracks, extremely good street-tire, runs very
straightline even at top speed, in curves as good as street tires, average
wear and tear, quite expensive
MICHELIN T66 / T66 X
bad street handling at speeds over 80 mph., not too good on dirt tracks,
Doesn't like grooves in the street, lowest wear and tear
PIRELLI MT 60
very soft, best street handling, fantastic handling in curves, good grip,
runs straightline even at higher speeds, not as good on dirt tracks,
highest wear and tear, quite expensive
YOKOHAMA E 705
good dry street-tire, more difficult on wet streets, runs straightline,
bad on dirt tracks, very low wear and tear (nearly as good as the
Michelin, and lasts longer due to higher profile)
METZELER ENDURO 3 SAHARA
Very loud when running on the street, with worn rear-tire the GS becomes
slightly unstable especially at higher speeds. Very good on dirt tracks,
best combination between street and off-road tire, quite high wear and
tear.
BRIDGESTONE Trial Wing 41(front)/42(rear) Not as noisy as Metzeler Enduro 3, better handling, good on dry streets, average behaviour in curves and on wet streets. Neither good nor bad, just average, but relatively cheap
DUNLOP TRAILMAX
Better handling than Metzeler Enduro 3, no negative change in behaviour
with worn rear-tire. On wet streets as good as Metzeler, but not as good
on dirt tracks, average wear and tear. Good for street use.
MICHELIN T66 / T66 X
Expensive. Very quiet, very good street handling, very good grip on dry
and wet roads, low wear and tear
PIRELLI MT 60
Very soft rubber, best street handling, fantastic handling in curves,
excellent grip on wet and dry roads, good on dirt tracks if tire pressure
is reduced, highest wear and tear
METZELER ME33 Laser(front) / ME 55A Metronic(rear)
Street-tire only, not for off-road use. Quiet, best comfort of all tested
tires. Very good street handling, very good grip on dry and wet roads,
lowest wear and tear. The steering head bearings have to be exactly
adjusted, otherwise these Metzelers become slightly unstable at higher
speeds. But this is not critical and may only appear at the older GS's.