cheap skins

Any body ever used Cheng Shin tires? I am considering buying a set of Cheng Shin Barracudas for a '73 Honda cb 450 that I am in the process of doing a mod/resto on.I know that in the 70's,I used to avoid cheap tires like the plague,but having too many financial commitments no longer affords me the luxury of spendy tires. As always,any insight will be greatly appreciated!

Dan

 

I've run Cheng Shins on cruiser bikes and not had a problem, but they don't handle like an XJ either. I do know that Cheng Shin is NOT the same cheapos they used to be. The tire is used in many racing events (not the commercially available versions, I'm sure), so that should testify to the quality they CAN put into a tire. Whether that quality transfers over to the commercial tires I don't know. I just know that I would and have used them.

Dave
'82 XJ650RJ

 

Thanks,Dave. I was wondering if Cheng Shin still carried the stigma it had in the '70s. Perhaps these tires will fill the bill.I am not looking to set a land speed record.After all,it IS a cb 450!

 

I've got a set of Barracudas on my XJ650. This is my first street bike, and I'm still a fairly new rider (this is my first set of street tires), but I'll give you my impressions.

1- I mounted and balanced the tires myself. The rear wheel got 1/4 oz weight, the front didn't need any weight. This tells me the construction of the tires was fairly uniform.

2- On clean dry pavement they grip like mad. No problem grinding the foot pegs in the turns.

3- I had thought they were a bit squirrely on wet pavement, but think that may have been more new rider issues. I avoid the rain so had only rode wet early in my experience. Last month we had a warm rainy day and I got in a quick ride between downpours, didn't have any problems.

4- You know how there is often an expansion joint between lanes on the freeway - right under the dotted white line. I find that the bike feels like it hangs up slightly when crossing those in a lane change. I've had some people opine that that is a characteristic of the Maxim handling. Still, I wonder if something with a bit more tread might bite the edges and pull through better. It's quite unnerving, and I really avoid lane changes to the inside of a curve. Outside curves don't show the issue. On straight portions of road I do an S-curve type lane change making sure I hit that joint at a pretty steep angle and upright.

5- They are flat out useless where there is any sand or gravel, slip sliding like mad. Again, I think more tread would help.

Summary: I think they are a good tire and an excellent value. I believe my issues are mostly with the handling of the Maxim and the fact that the Barracudas really don't have much tread. I think next time I'll try the Chen-Shin Marquis.

 

I`ve run Cheng Shen Hi-max tires on my Seca 900 for years with no problems.

 

I have run the Cheng Shin Barracudas on my Seca, I have also ridden with them on a CB750 and VF750, my brother put a set on his CB350 project bike. They are a good tire for the money, as Micarl pointed out they are not a good wet road tire. They are a softer tire so they stick to dry roads well but wear out fast, I think my rear wore out after 5k miles where the Brigestones I have I have been running since I have gotten about 10k miles out of.

 

I just installed a set of Cheng Shin Marque's on my 81. Although not the best right out of the box. After they wear into the road about 200 miles, they turned out to be one of the best tires I've run.

I've used their "Hi-Max" tires on my previous bike. I did not like them one bit. They didn't wear well at all. And the front had a very "flat" feel to it. The Marque has a better feel on the road.

I have never tried the Barracudas.

 

With all the issues with Chinese-made products in the news lately, I decided I'm a bit leary of the Cheng Shins and right or wrong did not want to risk my life on Chinese greed and indifference. I wound up tonight ordering an Avon AM26 Roadrider from Tire Express for $62.85. I decided that it was worth spending an extra $20 for the piece of mind of a well known brand that was an exact size match for my 550 Seca. I'll let you guys know how it works out once I get a few miles on it.

 

I am inclined to agree with you.It kind of reminds me of the old addage;If you have a ten dollar head,get a ten dollar helmet.Perhaps I shouldn't be so quick to skimp on such an important component.Thank you for sharing your perspective.

Dan

 

Tom - I've got the Avon Roadrunner's on my bike, and if the Roadrider's are anything like it (they're supposed to be the next generation) -- then you're going to love them! Honestly - I couldn't say anything bad about the Avon's at all - extremely happy with them.

 

I tend to think that Cheng Shins are not just a fly by night maker of cheap no-good tires. Their other brand is Maxxis which are considered as good as anything on the road. Just because somethng costs less does not mean it is less quality.HJC helmets cost much less than Bell, Suomy, Icon, etc., but they all pass the same DOT ad/or SNELL tests, and believe it or not, all fail at pretty much the same point in the tests as well.
Along the same vein, is a Harley better than a Yamaha, Honda, Suzuki, Triumph, etc.? They cost much more, so by the reasoning applied to Cheng Shin tires, they must be far superior to the imported bikes.
See how this reasoning is flawed? Just because it costs less, doesn't automatically mean it is lesser quality.

Dave

 

I don't have a problem with imported, low cost items if I know they are of good quality. Japanese and European and even American-made goods currently enjoy reputations for producing high quality merchandise. Unfortunately Chinese goods have taken repeated knocks on quality and safety the last few years.

I'm not trying to be a snob by saying I will only buy the more expensive items, especially now since I've been laid off and am looking for work. Right now I'm in a money stretching mode, which is one of the reasons why I'm getting the Seca back on the road - to save money on gas. (At least that's what I tell the family! :twisted: ) I don't have a problem with buying a Chinese product for things like consumer electronics and other household goods, I just don't want to trust life-critical items like tires and helmets to them. The extra $25.00 spent on a non Chinese-made new front tire will allow me more confidence in the tire and bike.

Also, the bike does currently have a Cheng Shin tire on the rear. It came on the bike when I got it.

And yes, I don't buy much at Wal-mart. I won't even begin to go into the damages to our economy and manufacturing base that imported Chinese goods have created.

 

Tom, you make a very good point. The tire is all there is between you and the tarmac. The contact patch of a tire at any given moment in time is the size of a postage stamp.....less while cornering. Let that sink in a moment.

So much rides (pun intended) on your tires on a motorcycle. It is the one area (beside protective gear) that you really can't afford to skimp on.

 

a postage stamp ? are we running knobbies ?

 

I've run both bicycle, car, and motorcycle Cheng Shins and I repeatedly find fault in them with lousy balance and poor traction issues. They have cost me more in wasted time trying to determine what was wrong with the suspension or inflation issues. I do not recommend them and replace any that pass through my garage straight away.
I'm with Kirk, you should think about how much rubber meets the road and what character it will exibit. If you are commuting on the freeway and not hanging pegs, the Chengs ought to do on a tight budget. But if you can spring an additional $30, get some quality.

 

Saturday night I ordered an Avon AM26 Roadrider front tire from Tire Express. After thinking it over and realizing the Cheng Shin mounted on the rear was actually a larger size than should have been mounted on the rear, I ordered an AM26 for the rear about mid-day on Sunday. Imagine my suprise when the big brown truck showed up mid-day today, two days later, with both tires. Suprisingly quick service. Hopefully will get them mounted in the next couple of days. They look like pretty decent tires.

 

Where do Kenda K673 KRUZ TIRES fit into the "cheap skins" category. Have a Kenda front and Bridgestone rear.(Both are tube/tubeless style) Dry rotted and need to be replaced when I get to that stage of rebuild.

Thanks

 

Kendas are an inexpensive tire, but not a "cheap" tire. Kenda, Cheng Shin, Hankook(cars), and numerous other brands are kicking butt at the race tracks, and that technology is making its way into street tires. As I said before, inexpensive doesn't have to mean cheap. But, I am not telling anyone what to ride on....its their choice. Still, buy the best you can afford!

Dave
Ace of Clubs

 

I used Cheng chins on a lot of bikes, ranging from CB360's to CB750's, and on one XV750 as well. Never had any problems except in the rain. As i am a bit older and more solvent (meaning i have more bills and a better job) I am running Dunlop 404's front and rear on the Seca. For the price they ;ast longer than the Shins and wear better, handling is great and wet performance is good. Some folks don't like them but I haven't had a problem ever. I paid about $90 for the front and $78 for the rear. cruzerjd