The Me880 Noise

[JMeese]

I have read most of the posts in the tire area some mention of the humm when yo go into a turn after you get 3,000 or more miles on your ME880 tires never had any other but ride year around haven't had much of a problem with my ME880's other then the humm on curves or slight lean even on the straight roads. So the hard head I am I thought of a way to FIX IT here is how I did it. I took a piece of METALITE R228 50X sand paper from a belt sander 4" or so wide stapled it on a wood block while the bike is on the stand ran in about 3rd or 4th gear at Idle. sanded the edge of the flat area where it meets the rounded area just a little to take off that tip from the tread design. only took a few minutes. rode the other day and did not notice the humm on curves so I think I got it stopped. also you can rough up the side of the tire a bit where if you ever have to really lean it over you won't have a smooth new surface meeting the pavement.
Do this at your own RISK and be careful not to touch the rim
Have a nice quiet ride
J Meese

[BkrK12]

Stanley Surform works, also. Get the one that's a foot long and you can brace it on the floor to get a high degree of control.

[woodysLT]

I'm a new rider to BMW bikes, I just got a LT 2002 and it had Mez ME 880 all around. They were cupped bad probably from under inflation. I just had them changed this weekend. Sunday we went for a 300 miles cruise and didn't hear that humming for the first time since I got the bike. It was nice and quite. So what are you running for PSI in your tires? The dealer told me 42 Frt and 42 Rear with one up and increase the rear to 48 for two-up and or loaded. Does that sound right to you. I don't to hear that hum anymore than the next guy. But I want these tires to last at least 10K miles.

Dave

[BkrK12]

Without opening up this can of worms too far, I use 39-40 in the front and six more than that in the back. I've found that the 6lb differential seems to be as important as anything with these bikes.

Since you have new tires, I'd advise experimenting a little, without going out of the ranges of the BMW recommendations (36 front,42-44 rear) on the low side and the max load rating on the high side. Find out what you like best and use that. It seems to be a highly individual preference.

The only thing I'd say about the real high pressures (max load limit and beyond) is to be careful in the wet until you know what to expect. These are bias tires and grip is definitely affected by pressure.

[petepeterson]

Woody, once this thread starts to fill up your going to find most(not all) run 42 to 44 psi in the front and 48 psi in the rear. I have always kept mine right at the 42/43 mark with good results.. Do a search and you will find allot of threads on this subject...........Regards Pete

[PePa]

As your new tires get some miles 3k or so, your noise will return as you lean. I'm on 3rd set and only quite for 3-4k miles. You should get over 10k mileage out of these tires.

[ErnieA]

Woody, once this thread starts to fill up your going to find most(not all) run 42 to 44 psi in the front and 48 psi in the rear. I have always kept mine right at the 42/43 mark with good results.. Do a search and you will find allot of threads on this subject...........Regards Pete

I run 40/46 two-up and 38/42 when riding by myself. But don't tell the S.O. or she'll shoot me for sayin' it. I notice the ME880's stick better if I run the pressures in this manner, but I'm moving to the Bridgestones to see what all the raving is about. That is when I can quit taking the pain pills and get on the bike.

[bikerkash]

If you switch to a BS radial rear you will not need to go though all this to get rid of the metzler howl. Also there is a belief in the BMW community that more tire PSI is better but I have not found to be the case. 38/40F & 44/46R depending on two up will provide the best handling and good tire life. Every pound of PSI that you add after a certain point will only provide you with less traction and for me traction on a two wheel vehicle trumps milage. I have found the avon front and BS rear, radials, to be the best combo for my style of riding and I'm pleased the the milage. RIDE SAFE

[meese]

Bikerkash,

What are you getting for mileage with the Avon/BT020 Radial combo?

[drmajor]

Bridgstone tire pressure= 42/48. This is from Bridgestone's mouth. They say they had a lot of trouble with less than 48 PSI in the rear. Tire pressure was one of the 1st questions he asked me, and he insisted that 48 PSI was very important.

[davek1]

My metzlers were so bad that when the bike was leaned into a curve, the noise / vibrtion created an oscilation rattle in my rear rotor. I had the rotor replaced under warranty and it did not fix it.

The owner of the dealership told me to "Replace the tires". Even though they were only about 50% worn new tires (Bridgestones) fixed the probelm.

No more Metzlers for me...