kenda / shinko tire choice

Getting close to finishing the braking system, first things first, so now it's time to think about tire selection.
I have been looking at the kenda tires. I'm doing this on a low budget, but want to be safe. No crazy corner carving yet, I'll be taking it easy for a while until i get the bike all sorted out, and this is my second bike.
There is the:
RetroActive.
Challenger.
Cruiser.
Kruz.
or maybe
Shinko 230
Is any one tire better than the other?
Just looking for some direction before I order them.
1981 xj650 Maxim.
Thanks
Norm.

 

You may be limited to certain lines of tires based on sizes. I ended up buying spitfire s11's for my '80 650 max, but if you look up the intent and purpose for each tire you may find that some are more suited sporty high speed riding, while some are made for better rain characteristics, or wear or load capacity etc. If you read the info on all the different kenda tires you may be able to narrow it down

 

For example, the challenger and the cruiser both say " not for high capacity bike" so if your bike is ivetly heavy or has full fairing and luggage or you do a lot of 2 up riding, you might stay away from those

 

*overly

 

This is why I'm asking. This is the first time buying bike tires.
No fairing. No luggage racks/boxes etc.

 

Then you can probably use any of the kendas you want

 

I run Kenda Kruz on my Venture and on my wife's 750 Shadow. When her new V-STAR 650 needs shoes it'll get a set of the Kruz too. It's designed to be a cruiser tire but it behaves quite nicely on my 89 Venture, which is a sport tourer. I don't have any problems with it in the rain, but I don't ride aggressively when its wet. The only squirrely event I ever had was in a hard turn, heavy acceleration across a tar snake - the rear end kicked out a bit. I suspect the snake moved rather than the tire slipping and no tire can prevent that. I went with them on my Venture for 2 reasons: 1) It's the only tire that has the load rating I wanted without going to a premium tire. 2) I figured a nail or screw on the road might as well ruin an inexpensive tire as a pricey one. In my shop the Kruz is hands down the tire I sell the most of and only had one complaint - the customer thought they were noisy. We get decent life from them (12,000 miles or so on heavy cruisers).

With a standard motorcycle (650 maxim is a standard) you could go with the Kruz or the Challenger if you think you'll be riding aggressively and want a sporty tire. The Retroactive is a newer tire that I haven't installed many of, but you might like that if you want something that looks more like the vintage of the motorcycle. Your 650 is light enough you don't have to worry about load index on any of the tires.

Realistically there is not an unsafe tire you can buy from any manufacturer. They're all WAY better than the tires that were on it when it came out of the factory.

 

I am looking at the kenda retroactive or the shinko 230 tour master for my next set of tires. I like the look of the tour master better, but they both will fill my needs at a decent price.

FU

 

Ok. And the shinko 230 are only $4 more for the set.

 

yes. I need to get the tires that came from the factory off the bike.

 

at this point, those shoes are hard as nails and wouldn't grip sh*t. lol!

FU

 

Front leaks down but the back still holds air. I won't use them for anything but to push it around the garage. A whole lot of dry rot cracks. But they only have 6000 miles on them.

 

You should do some burnouts.

I got a spare rim with an old tire that im saving for someday im bored.

Ive used the challengers with no complaints.

 

Now there's an idea. .
Now to get out of this horrible 80 degree weather and back to reality, and working in the cold garage. I hear it was 20 and snowing today at home.
I'll order tires when I get home . And my caliper piston from Len should be there soon.

 

I use a lot of the Kenda challengers when I can't get my preferred Dunlop d404's. I've had no problems with them. That's also with a lot of 2-up on 650's and 700's.

The Dunlop is a bit more expensive, but lasts longer and I feel like it sticks to the road better, I like it more, but the challenger has been just fine for me when either the d404 isn't in stock in the shop, or the dollars aren't in stock in the wallet.

Dave Fox

 

Make sure that you go easy for the first 100 mi or so to scrub mold release agents off of the new rubber, and take curves easy til they scrub the surface wide enough..... any new tire can be slippery for a little while.

 

I have a set of originals plenty of tread changing the front tomorrow shinko 230 i think see how they work out motorcycle super store had a sale about a month ago .

 

i use kenda challenger and don't even think about it anymore, a guy can drive himself batty thinking about it too much

 

I've tried the Shinko 230 on my suzuki. The worked well. I've since installed them on my XJ. I can't complain one bit about them.

Handle as well as the Challengers they replaced. And it looks like I may get more milage as well per tire..

Just my $0.02,

 

Great. Thanks guys.

Now, any suggestions on snow tires ?
yep its snowing Again.
Guess it's good the bikes not quite ready.