[Bilgemaster]

It was sort of a giggle that they were less than $40 ea.

On this topic, is there a recognized good price to aim toward for Dunlop K 70's ?

DG

I get my Dunlop K70s from BikeBandit, but then I just get the standard 3.25x19 (Front, currently $77.13) and 3.50x19 (Rear, currently $81.29) for my 2005 "Military". I believe the only 4" one they carry is a 4.00x18 for 18" wheels.

They have a "Lowest Price Guarantee" where they claim they'll match any lower price you may find elsewhere, so I guess they cannot be too far off rock bottom retail. As it stands, if you buy a pair you make the minimum nut ($100?) to qualify for free and very quick shipping. And when I say quick, I swear, with both my orders over the last couple of years it seemed like the delivery guy must have been squatting in the hedges waiting for me to hit that "Place Order" button they got here so quickly. Whatever you do, just don't sign up for their email alerts, 'cause they'll commence coming at your Inbox like a psychotic needy ex-girlfriend. But anyhow, here for your ready reference is some linky goodness: https://www.bikebandit.com/tires-tubes/motorcycle-tires/dunlop-k70-vintage-gold-seal-motorcycle-tire/p/3557

I've been perfectly content with the K70s. They replaced what must have been the well-worn 12 year old OEM Avon Speedmaster IIs that were on there when I got the bike. I didn't HATE the Avon's for the couple-thousand miles I put on them. Hell, I was happy to have ANYTHING to ride. But once I mounted those fresh new Dunlops it was like riding a MotoGP by comparison.

As for those Duro HF308s, while I've never used them nor known anyone who has, with some of the photos I've seen of them online they seem like straight-up squared profile sidecar tires. Perhaps it's just how some of those photos are cropped, but that "flattery" gets me nowhere. I dunno about their H307s, but even if I could find 'em in a size to fit mine, I don't think I'd want their H308s, except in real pinch--like after a blowout in West Texas, where there are no curves for over 100 miles anyhow.

The Duro H308: A Real "Square Deal?"

[axman88]

I don't know how crowned the Duro HF308 is, I do see some of the soviet stallion guys referring to it as "low profile".  In some pictures it looks more crowned.
https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/242561129935144017/

Here's a shot of one mounted:
https://www.dotheton.com/proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fi736.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx8%2Fjbutland%2Fduro_zps5c103656.jpg&hash=ef0e8ced549e15ed68749641fc853efa 

If somebody is looking for the Duro HF308 in 3.50-19, ChapMoto's site says they have six in stock, $56, ships free, at least to me.

What do folks think of the Metzler Block C?
I'm finding this in 3.00, 3.25, & 3.50 - 19.
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/metzeler-block-c-tires?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_Iumm5Tv6gIVCr7ACh2dagoLEAQYASABEgIuCvD_BwE

[DavidGraves]

Thanks Bilgemaster

I could not get Bike Bandits "buy a set" button to work.

Off hand did you remember buying a set when you ordered?

Also, are you happy with the 3:25 up front and 3:50 at the rear?

You seem to ride quite a lot more than many of us....has the tread wear and handling/grip been acceptable?

David Graves

[Bilgemaster]

Thanks Bilgemaster

I could not get Bike Bandits "buy a set" button to work.

Off hand did you remember buying a set when you ordered?

Also, are you happy with the 3:25 up front and 3:50 at the rear?

You seem to ride quite a lot more than many of us....has the tread wear and handling/grip been acceptable?

David Graves

My first order with them was for a set, front and rear. My next order was just for a fresh rear. I think I also bought some other random gimcrack to make the Free Shipping minimum.

If memory serves, that 1st rear hung in there for over 7,000 miles, and could have easily squeaked out another grand or so without undue hazard. But having a State Inspection imminent, I just went ahead with the swap a tad earlier than I might otherwise.

As for whether I'm happy with the stock  19-inch tire sizes of 3.25" front and 3.50" rear on my model, sure I guess so. But then, I don't know any better or differently.

[tooseevee]

........ and very quick shipping. And when I say quick, I swear, with both my orders over the last couple of years it seemed like the delivery guy must have been squatting in the hedges waiting for me to hit that "Place Order" button they got here so quickly.

       Just a quick aside:

            I've made similar comments here about delivery. Some is amazing! The Tap I ordered in the AM for the petcock saga was here the next day in the PM.

             There's a large water company buildingon the river a few minutes from my house where the 100 year old pumps and motors are housed and I've often said that the stuff I order is kept there ready to deliver to me on a moment's notice 

[axman88]

I get my Dunlop K70s from BikeBandit, but then I just get the standard 3.25x19

They have a "Lowest Price Guarantee" where they claim they'll match any lower price you may find elsewhere, so I guess they cannot be too far off rock bottom retail. As it stands, if you buy a pair you make the minimum nut ($100?) to qualify for free and very quick shipping.

For what it is worth, in a couple other forums, I've seen multiple posts complaining specifically about Bike Bandit shipping times being quite long right now.  One guy said "three months for what used to take a week".  Folks are also saying that communication is bad, not getting return phone calls, not being told that parts are backordered, and so on.  Folks are also saying that the website isn't accurately representing actual stock levels.

I'm not down on Bike Bandit, but they were specifically called out in titles of threads elsewhere, so be advised.  This is related to Covid 19, the supply chain has been disrupted throughout the world.  I suspect many other vendors are similarly affected.  I'll be calling in advance to confirm stock and place my order.
 

[Bilgemaster]

Axman88's point is well taken. My orders were both made long before the present Kung Flu unpleasantness. I would point out that, unlike then, their website currently seems to be going to extra lengths to assure customers of rapid same-day out-the-door shipping, at least for their tires. This may well be in reaction to some recent ball-droppings as reported in those forums Axmann88 mentioned, and perhaps elsewhere. Still, David's thought of perhaps calling first to verify stock isn't the worst I've heard. As it happens, I actually called in my first order for the pair in order to verify the type of tubes needed (both tires can use the 3.50x19), and I can still recall being quite pleased at the time to speak with a tire specialist actually named "Tim", and not have to conduct an English as a Second Language tutorial over a dodgy VOIP line with some fellow who sounded like he was calling in a fire mission from a smouldering hootch in Mindanao.

[t120rbullet]

I just got done taking one of the old Duro 4.00x19 2ply (4 ply rated) HF-308 off my 99.  Handled poorly, and while it did fit in there there was no way to actually align the wheel correctly. You have to adjust it back and forth so it clears everything and leave it at that. 
They have quit making the 2 ply version of this tire and only make the 4 ply (6 ply rated) for the Urals.

Dunlop K70s the Avon Speedmaster/Safety Millage or the Avon AM26 (If you can get past the looks) in the stock sizes are your best bet IMHO.   

[AzCal Retred]

I'm waiting on a 4.00x19 Duro from Chapparral Cycle Supply, maybe next week. I'm thinking add a link or so to the chain may give useful clearance. My K70 3.50x19 rear has about 2K on it and is half used up. I remember the K70's in the "wayback" ( 1970's) as having a much longer lifespan. Maybe I'll end up with the Avons. I can't really see why a tire would buff off in 4K on a 22 crankshaft BHP machine at an average speed of probably 35-40 MPH.

[DavidGraves]

Triumph friends way in the way back used Dunlop K70s and they did seem to be pretty hard compound, long wearing tires.

Hmm.

I was about to buy some.

DG

[AzCal Retred]

I'm thinking that the present sticky, soft K70 rubber is intended to just to hold up the rims of heirloom bikes that get ridden 1,000 - 1,500 miles per year. The K70's I have are made by Sumitomo Rubber Industries, who I know are painfully aware of how to make good tires. I don't have any complaints with the road performance, just the lack of longevity. The corporate strategy must be to not spec the good long lasting compounds on an application they figure doesn't matter anyway - the tires will probably rot off with age long before they would get worn out. Bilgemaster seemed to get good wear, maybe there is more than one licensee making these K70's. My front would easily go another 6K. It's just rolling along 99% of the time and only occasionally has to deal with the awesome braking forces generated by the TLS.

I'll post pix of how the HF308 fits up on the rear of my bike. As T120rBullet says it's now a 780 pound load range, 6 ply (3 tread, 3 sidewall, all nylon). I'm hoping the wider profile and higher load rating translate into adequate road stiction and improved wear. Maybe I'll get lucky.

[AzCal Retred]

I have the rear Duro HF-308 on the machine. My results were about the same as Tarnand's, nominally 1/4" to 1/2" left & right. Pretty good agreement for two separate installations. Center stand works the same, tire height is virtually the same as the K70, maybe 1/4" larger. Didn't have the alignment issues t120Rbullet did, but this was a newer & different ply tire, 6 ply vs. 2 ply. Maybe these have actually gotten a bit smaller over time as a cost savings measure...? Anyway, the profile is rounder than my K70 at 2K miles. If the Duro still has air in the morning that means the Tyre Gawds were smiling (and I lucked out with my tire irons again) and I'll do a test ride. I'm not too demanding on rubber, I just want more than 2K-3K out of a tire. In a month or so I'll try one on the front. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the "loosen struts, lift the rear fender" built in 1940's engineering. Obviously these guys were enthusiastic motorcycle riders, a quality lacking in industry today.

Mrunderhill1975a & cyrusb were helpfully commenting on rear wheel bearings on another link. I have the QD wheel (thank gawd) and the sprocket bearing at 8,400 miles was greasy but shot, the cage was busted up and the balls were orbiting eccentrically at random. Didn't seem to have a lot of noise. My sprocket bearing as found was unshielded. I replaced it with another unshielded out of a NOS kit I had. I'll have to order a full new set, front & rear, rubber shielded. It's always something, eh?

ANYWAY - the Duro HF-308 fit my 1999 Bullet's rear end with zero modification. It is rated at 780 pounds vs. 506 for the 3.50 x 19. Theoretically it's wider than the 3.50x19 K70 Dunlop/Sumitomo it replaced. I can't see how it wouldn't last longer, and for my needs it should suffice. It is really stiff when mounting, a lot like a tubeless tire carcass. Max Pressure on the sidewall says 35 PSI, and with those sidewalls I suspect 32 - 34 PSI is a good place to run it. Time will tell. Mine was about $60 from Chaparral thru Amazon, free shipping. Dennis Kirk should have them back in stock soon, even cheaper, according to an e-mail I received from them a few days back. - ACR -

[DavidGraves]

Good Luck with them....hope you have air pressure in the morning ; )

I worked mounting car/truck tires in a Western Auto as a kid.

It was not surprising for car tires to wear out in 10K miles and retreads even earlier....this was in the late sixties.

DG

[AzCal Retred]

Me too - Flagstaff, early 70's. Bucked a lot of retreads. Studding snow tires in December in an open air shop was memorable. Down in Phoenix there was a shop called "In the Name of Jesus Guaranteed Used Tires"...Arizona's a trip.

[AzCal Retred]

No luck 1st time around, pinched it with my levers. On to tube #2, this time more talc, just a bit of pressure in the tube. This was a LOT easier 40 years ago...   - ACR -