cheng shin tires?anyone had em

Been using the hi-max and marquis for years—no complaints

I've run a couple cheng shins and they rode and wore just fine. Gotta admit I'm very frugal but this is one area where I just don't feel right looking for a bargain. I usually go for Dunlops whenever possible.

I tried to order a new Cheng-Shin Hi-Maxx from American Motorcycle Tire but was told they have been discontinued, as WG said in the other thread. I decided to buy a Bridgestone Spitfire instead. I would like to try the BT-45 the next time around, I hear they are good for the older bikes.

bountyhunter wrote:

anarki650 wrote:

I'm running Barracuda's on my cafe racer and love them. Good grip, I rail the bike, push it way past where I should, and these tires have never disappointed me. From the sounds of it though we're out of luck to get them anymore since they quit exporting street tires to the US...

JC Whitney still advertises them:

www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/Product/Pr-p...Group?Ntt=Cheng+Shin

There is a web address above this line, do a reply with quote on the post and it will show up.

Some retailers are still advertising and selling them, but once inventory is gone the tires are gone. Here's a quote from one of the guys on kz650.info...

"I ordered another Cheng-Shin rear tire from American Motorcycle Tire and got an email a few hours later; they said the Hi-Maxx has been discontinued and they refunded my money. So I went and bought the Bridgestone Spitfire for a few dollars more. I'll see how it works with the Hi-Maxx front tire I put on last summer."

don't get me wrong i'm as fashion trendy as the next guy....i did however suspect that i can't be the only one who's eyes drift across the new tire rack and drift back to the one marked 50 bucks....
and i was allways thinking jeez this tire(cheng shin,while riding)...while cheap..and shitty in everyones eyes is serving me well...allmost very well...then when it would begin to show a little early wear...i'd promise myself a dunlop tour elite and think , i can't wait for it to finish wearing ..i'll get my new tire.....then it would last a WHILE still...
finally i would replace it with a name brand and ..loose some handeling...have to now be very precise on laying into corners and re-learn cuase this new one is a"good'tire..even to the point of having the "good" tire gimme some "good" scares a few times.....stepping out on exits, channel(grooves) surfing on bad freeways....
so i wondered what you guys were getting for feedback from a cheng shin...turns out i aint alone on thisin

OKC_Kent wrote:

I would like to try the BT-45 the next time around, I hear they are good for the older bikes.

I saw those, they do look good and the price is reasonable. They say there is a dual compound thing used for long wear on the center strip and still have good handling on the edges.

www.motorcycle-superstore.com/1/28/396/6...uring-Rear-Tire.aspx

Chen shin means.............Chinese crap. Get yourself some Dunlops.

When I started to road-race superbikes back in 1979, everyone ran Dunlop and Continentals. These were all racing compound tires. Since I was in the Marines and could not afford a spare set of tires let alone rims to mount them on, I started running Avon street tires. They were quite a bit cheeper than most other tires and at the time Channies were just junk. Since this time, I have never looked back and have been running Avons since. They are not expensive today as they were not than. I have won a few races running avons over the Racing compound competitors. My Avons give me about 16000 mi doing commuter riding. I never hesitate to take a Clover-leaf at quite a bit higher speed than posted and they stick like glue. I have the jeans to prove it with scuff marks on the knees. I personally would never use anything els. That is just me.

Otto

arai60 wrote:

Chen shin means.............Chinese crap. Get yourself some Dunlops.

My 77 650 had Dunlop D404s on it when I bought it, still had plenty of tread and weren't weather hardened. I hated them. They were squirrelly as all hell and the back broke loose when I cornered too hard (which is frequently). Never had those issues with the Cheng Shin Barracudas. Just my experience.

I never had good experience with Dunlop. I will just use them for the vintage tires when I restore a bike to original. I have used them on the KZ1300 when nothing els was available in a 17" rear.

To each his own..............as for me, nothing out of China would I trust my hide or life on. Suit yourself. Ride safe.

let me see i'll trust the asains on bikes but not tires...
or should i say the japanese and the chinese...but i'll trust beavis and but head in bowdunk u.s.a ...