Shinko 230 Tour Master

[F14CRAZY]

My thread on my previous set of tires, the Shinko 712's:

http://www.motobrick.com/index.php/topic,7125.0.html

My rear 712 from JT Cycle of Battle Creek was $66.95 and the 230 Tour Master (120-90 18) I had installed today at 75,128 miles was a bit more at $85. Dave there said his price on them is $75 and the $10 covers shipping as they had to order it.

Motorcycle-Superstore.com currently has them on sale and that size is $76.45. $89.95 is the retail price according to Shinko's website.

http://www.shinkotireusa.com/tire/230-tour-master

According to Shinko:



The 230 Tour Master is designed to carry high loads for long distances, in wet or dry conditions.

Features include:

    Designed for long distance, high speed riding
    Aramid belted
    Staggered tread design offers a quiet ride with excellent handling
    V rated tubeless (unless noted), 4 ply rated



As before, installation (tire on the bike) was $40 plus a $4 disposal fee so the grand total was $134.34. Dave and the guys at JT Cycle are courteous, seem to know what they're doing, and are available to do this on Saturday mornings, so I'd recommend them if you're looking for a Shinko dealer. They're the closest one to me.

I only replaced the rear as the front 712 still looks very good.

The 6k miles that the rear 712 lasted me translates to about 10 weeks  :falldown:

I'll post back later this week (after I get the release wax worn off), and continue to do so.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I think you are going to like your Tourmaster.  I have one with 10.000 miles on my K75RT that is finally at the end of it's useful life.  It's a bit squared off from a lot of slab miles, but it still doesn't act squirrely.  Works well in the rain, but then I slow down when the road is flooded. 

Considering the price, I can't see putting anything else on my RT.

[F14CRAZY]

This Tour Master had 4851 miles on it before I replaced it due to a nail puncture. My current one has over 9k miles on it and is near the end of its useful life (in my opinion, as there isn't much tread left in the center) but has been an excellent tire.

Grippy, handles well, quiet and long lasting. And no cracking like the crappy Dunlop D404's I once had (which sucked in general).

This will be my go-to tire

[TimTyler]

I like the 712's more than the 230's. Even though they claim the 230's last longer, I don't think they do. My most recent rear 230 was 90% gone after 6k miles, although half of those were fast, hot, heavily loaded miles.

The 230's are fine tires especially at their low price point, but I think the 712's are a little more fun.

[Martin]

Gryph what tyres are you running on your 75S and what mileage are you achieving.
Regards Martin.

[F14CRAZY]

I like the 712's more than the 230's. Even though they claim the 230's last longer, I don't think they do. My most recent rear 230 was 90% gone after 6k miles, although half of those were fast, hot, heavily loaded miles.

The 230's are fine tires especially at their low price point, but I think the 712's are a little more fun.

It seemed like having front and rear 712's made handling a tiny bit better for me though my rear 712 was about used up at 6k miles

[F14CRAZY]

I had JT Cycle replace my rear Tour Master last Saturday. Rather squared off and with virtually no tread left in the center, but I got 11,925 miles out of it.

Cost on this one was $105.95 plus $35 for installation (wheel and tire off the bike)

I will continue to run Tour Masters 

[riots100]

I put the 230's on the front and rear about three weeks ago.  Moving over from the Pilot Activs. 

So far I like them a lot.

[wmax351]

Just got a hole in my fairly new Pilot activ. Debating a 230 as a replacement. How does it handle the twisties?

[riots100]

Once you get the 100 mile sheen off of them, they're great.  I found the Pilot Activs a little soft and they were done after 5000 miles.  To me, the Tour Masters feel a little more "grippy."

[F14CRAZY]

I love their handling though TimTyler feels the 712's are a little better. I have also had 712's before (a new pair) but I don't think handling felt really any different between them. That's me though. I got 6k miles out of a rear 712 and almost 12k out of a rear Tour Master with not much of a cost difference. My riding is like 90% superslab so I'd personally take mileage over handling.

Regardless, the Tour Master handles and grips great even when I push it hard

[wmax351]

Maybe I'll try one in the rear. My s11 is still holding in the front. They're pretty cheap, so that's good.

Most of my riding is in town now, commuting to med school, and nice cruising roads otherwise. Any idea how they handle snow? :P We'll see how long I can push it before Michigan winter defeats me.

[F14CRAZY]

I haven't ridden on snow but I have ridden below freezing (down to 14f) and they were still sticky

[wmax351]

I haven't ridden on snow but I have ridden below freezing (down to 14f) and they were still sticky

Coldest I've done was last winter in Baltimore/DC. Down to 23*. The S11's worked great. A shame they don't make them anymore.

I think I'll probably just take the bus when there's ice. It's less convenient, but so is slipping on the ice.

[F14CRAZY]

I've thought about getting another K bike with a sidecar just for winter. Ural's are cool but the whole Soviet copy of a '50's motoboxer engine with virtually no changes thing...

[Chaos]

I've thought about getting another K bike with a sidecar just for winter. Ural's are cool but the whole Soviet copy of a '50's motoboxer engine with virtually no changes thing...

Actually, they're based on the 1938 R71, now with LL forks, OHV heads, FI, 3 wheel discs, Japanese Alternator, and numerous outsourced parts.  Still pretty much a RPOS, but they are great fun in the winter.  The 2wd and reverse are bonuses.  I can't recommend one unless you are somewhat nuts.  That said I utterly love mine, ride it down to zero Fahrenheit, and on the plus side it makes my 30 year old K75 feel like a modern rocketship.  I've ridden a couple hacked K bikes, even had a Flexit on mine for a while. Excellent tugs, even nicer with LL forks, subframe, etc.  That's why I bought a Ural, it is designed for sidecar use from the factory. 

[wmax351]

Actually, they're based on the 1938 R71, now with LL forks, OHV heads, FI, 3 wheel discs, Japanese Alternator, and numerous outsourced parts.  Still pretty much a RPOS, but they are great fun in the winter.  The 2wd and reverse are bonuses.  I can't recommend one unless you are somewhat nuts.  That said I utterly love mine, ride it down to zero Fahrenheit, and on the plus side it makes my 30 year old K75 feel like a modern rocketship.  I've ridden a couple hacked K bikes, even had a Flexit on mine for a while. Excellent tugs, even nicer with LL forks, subframe, etc.  That's why I bought a Ural, it is designed for sidecar use from the factory.

Plus! Still can park it in the motorcycle spot!

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I spent a while last summer chasing Tim Tyler, Jo and several others through the canyons of New Mexico, Utah and Arizona on a Tourmaster equipped heavily loaded K75RT.  They are capable tires that are limited only by my willingness to push them to their limit.  The only time I found them to be a bit scary was when riding on hot tar snakes and outside of a slight tendency to follow pavement grooves they are pretty neutral and draw no undue attention to themselves. 

I ride on them in temperatures from 110+ down to 20 and the grip well over the whole range.  I do avoid riding when there is the slightest chance of snow or ice on the roads, they do handle rain as well as any other tire I have used.  Most of the riding on my RT is touring, with a fair bit of commuting.  I do a bit of twisties on weekends on it, but I have other bikes for that.

Tourmasters are my go to tire for covering lots of ground at minimal expense.