What the??

Hello, just came across this today, don't know if it has been discussed here. For sale on craigslist, 2013 Burgman with a bias ply tire on the front with a radial on the rear. Supposedly gives razor sharp handling. Thanks, Paul

I was always under the impression that Burgy 650’s had radial tires on both ends.

When I had a darkside tire (Sumitomo) on my 2003 SW it was a radial. While the front tire was a traditional bias ply Pirelli or Michelin. Other than the fact that it didn’t wear out even with 40,000 miles on it I never noticed anything remarkable about the Silverwing’s handling.

It's a recommended mix provided the stiffer tyre is on the rear, so bias ply front and rear has to be bias ply or radial.
Feel free to try them the other way round, send us a report from whichever ditch your lying in while awaiting the ambulance

After two years ownership of a 650 Burgman fitted with OE Bridgestone Hoops, there's no way you'd have razor sharp handling with one whatever tyres were fitted. It's grossly overweight for anything except effortlessly covering motorway/freeway miles with or without a passenger.

Thanks gents, I'm not going to try that!

I prefer to believe that radial tyres were invented for a reason, particularly for motorcycles.

Racing, or pretending to be a racer, is usually the reason for the adoption of any technology in bikes
The thing is tyres form part of the suspension so changing to radials on a bike designed for a bias belt or crossply will create a harder ride. It depends what your priorities are.

Both my scoots have bias ply tires. Never had any complaints. That said, my Honda Goldwing 1800 had Dunlop radial tires. Not sure if handling was better, had nothing to compare it to but it did well. However the rear radial lasted over 15K miles! Most I have ever gotten off a rear tire, not sure if the radial made a difference but...