TYRES - which suit the Gen 1 Thou for hitting the back roads.......

[Camshaft]

Currently using Conti Road Attack 2's and so far are happy with them.


Amy suggestions for a good tyre not worrying too much about tread life but more emphasis on grip and feel.

[Slaninar]

For road use I don't think you can go better than RA2s. No way. For grip AND feel.   There are some almost as good, that last a bit longer and are a bit more puncture resistant, but not better grip and feel. RA2s warm up in no time, hold perfectly, let you know when they're about to loose grip about 30 minutes earlier (joking , but they are very predictable).  My only trouble with them was seeing how thin and soft they are - some really bad roads round where I ride.

[Camshaft]

Thats great to hear. I knew they were good tyres just haven't heard from other users of these tyres.


The PR2 was tempting at the time never tried them though. They owner of the bike shop (ex racer - aren't they all) strongly recommended the RA2's. He also sold Mich's & Dunlops.  The Dunlops caught me eye 


I recently saw a very new looking S1000R with Dunlops and may try them in the future.


I have a German car so for now German tyres it is.

[Slaninar]

Thats great to hear. I knew they were good tyres just haven't heard from other users of these tyres.


The PR2 was tempting at the time never tried them though. They owner of the bike shop (ex racer - aren't they all) strongly recommended the RA2's. He also sold Mich's & Dunlops.  The Dunlops caught me eye 


I recently saw a very new looking S1000RR with Dunlops and may try them in the future.


I have a German car so for now German tyres it is.

An ex racer I hang out with spits on Conti tyres. Michelines as well. They are much thinner, softer. He says when a tyre punctures, or slices on rough bad road, the thicker, tougher tyre will not burst instantly and will give you some time to slow down or stop. He praises Metzelers and Pirellis. Says he makes more money on Michelins, but strongly advised me against them and the Contis. He also said Bridgestone 16 PRO (not the older non-pro version) is perhaps the best tyre for a sport-touring motorcycle.

Mind you roads in Serbia are really slippery - so tyres last twice as long as they do in England, but also very bad - cracked pavement, potholes holes, pieces of rocks etc. So for any kind of spirited riding, one's a lot better of with sport tyres, than touring ones. Tyres like Metzeler Roadtec Z6 for example are not grippy enough.


Anyhow, I was lucky not to have any accidents with RA2s and they gave me very good ride - no running them in, no long warm up, good on braking and cornering.

[bigbluebear]

Just put a set of Dunlop's on mine on Saturday.....starting raining soon after so not scrubbed in properly yet....I hope they perform as good as they look

[PaulSmith]

My new Bridgestone T30s are proving very, very nice compared to the BT023's I have been using the last few years. They warm up quickly and wet/greasy roads are no problem. They feel a little more neutal/stable/planted but fast side-to-side stuff actually feels more confident and accurate. I don't yet know what wear or cold weather will be like, but I am very happy so far.

[JZS 600]

Mmm, T30's next then!


Never had an issue with the 23's but if they last as long and are better, bring it on!

[Fazer TIM]

dunlops on my gen 2 warm up quick, no issues as of yet

[AyJay]

Mmm T30s getting good write ups. That's my next set. I've been using BT023s for years and as a do it all tyre they are tremendous. Twice I've put new BTs on, done a full trackday and then 5000 miles, mainly because trackdays don't wear the centre much. But it gives you an idea of how long they can last and what their performance envelope is like.

[PieEater]

Currently using Conti Road Attack 2's and so far are happy with them.


Amy suggestions for a good tyre not worrying too much about tread life but more emphasis on grip and feel.

Most folks tend to find a tyre they are happy with and stick with it, you say you're happy with the RA2s but are evidently not happy enough to stick with them. Perhaps if you said where you feel the RA2s are lacking it might help people be a bit more specific.

I was always a Bridgestone fan until the 021s which gave really bad mileage, I switched to Avon Storms which suit my riding style a lot better and give shed loads more feel and confidence. I've tried the 023s and am now back on the new Storm 3D XMs which I much prefer, even the misses could tell from the pillion seat that the bike was handling noticeably better with the Avons fitted.

I'd be wary about taking peoples given mileage as a guide, different sized people ride in different styles on different roads with different loads - I had two BT023 rears and they both only lasted 2800 miles ........

[AyJay]

How far have you got on the Avons? Are they're wearing well, because those are the other tyres I'm considering.

[PieEater]

How far have you got on the Avons? Are they're wearing well, because those are the other tyres I'm considering.

I haven't put in much mileage since I had them fitted so can't really comment yet, the XM in the name stands for eXtra Mileage so I'd be surprised if they don't have a decent lifespan. As a direct comparison I was getting at least 3400 from the Storm 2 Ultra rear so that's over 20% more than the 023s - an additional 1000 miles if you normally get 5000 out of an 023 !!

As an aside I don't ride in the wet so can't comment on handling in poor weather conditions, but for a tyre with Storm in it's name I wouldn't think they'd be too bad.

[Camshaft]

Yes, am happy with the RA2's however it is always good to hear on others thoughts and recommendations and to stay with what you are happy with is safe yes but not exactly adventurous.


To find the best tyre for your needs can be narrowed down with other peoples experience and tyre are not generally changed every month or so.


The new Bridgestone T30 is definitely a consideration in the future. I have always been very please with their car tyres and the 23's have had their share of happy users.

[Camshaft]

Currently using Conti Road Attack 2's and so far are happy with them.


Amy suggestions for a good tyre not worrying too much about tread life but more emphasis on grip and feel.

Most folks tend to find a tyre they are happy with and stick with it, you say you're happy with the RA2s but are evidently not happy enough to stick with them. Perhaps if you said where you feel the RA2s are lacking it might help people be a bit more specific.

I was always a Bridgestone fan until the 021s which gave really bad mileage, I switched to Avon Storms which suit my riding style a lot better and give shed loads more feel and confidence. I've tried the 023s and am now back on the new Storm 3D XMs which I much prefer, even the misses could tell from the pillion seat that the bike was handling noticeably better with the Avons fitted.

I'd be wary about taking peoples given mileage as a guide, different sized people ride in different styles on different roads with different loads - I had two BT023 rears and they both only lasted 2800 miles ........



-----------------------------


Yes, am happy with the RA2's however it is always good to hear on others thoughts and recommendations and to stay with what you are happy with is safe yes but not exactly adventurous.


To find the best tyre for your needs can be narrowed down with other peoples experience and tyre are not generally changed every month or so.


The new Bridgestone T30 is definitely a consideration in the future. I have always been very please with their car tyres and the 23's have had their share of happy users.

[sadlonelygit]

pirelli diablo super corsa's, i got 800 miles out of mine on the road. not so great in the wet tho'.
currently on angel's and have done 4k on them (2.5k was upright to rome and back) and they still have 3.5mm in the centre and still have enough grip to do this
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?action=media;sa=media;in=1079;preview

[Camshaft]

Nice ground pegs.


Mine look like that from the previous owner who tracked it on Powers. I'm off to Thailand Oct and hope to buy a full set of pegs cheap from a
Yam dealer there.


On the Thailand note. I hired a Kawa ER6n great bike. Was riding up North above Chiang Mai and decided to pull over at a small road side market for a rest and a drink (not a pint) when parking the bike the centre stand was a bit forward and it got away from me gently landing it on its left hand side,,,,,breaking off the left foot peg. FUCKKKKKKK  plenty of twists to nearby small town Pia Fu.......again where I saw 3 guys servicing scooters under a tin roof. / they welded up a scooter peg to fit the kawa. Great guys I paid them above their asking fee.


When back in Chiang Mai I went to the local Kawa dealer 600BT, AUD$6, UK guess 2.5 for a new peg,,, so when back in Thailand later this year I will try to by some pegs for my machine at give away prices for original equipment.


As we all know local OE charge the big bucks.

[macmivvi]

Angels at 4k miles after a track night, they are about 2yr old .

I like them, they dont have the feel and feedback of a sports tyre but manage 12 laps or so before spinning up .

[Simon.Pieman]

On the Thailand note. I hired a Kawa ER6n great bike. Was riding up North above Chiang Mai and decided to pull over at a small road side market for a rest and a drink (not a pint) when parking the bike the centre stand was a bit forward and it got away from me gently landing it on its left hand side,,,,,breaking off the left foot peg. FUCKKKKKKK  plenty of twists to nearby small town Pia Fu....

 I did the Mae Hong Son loop earlier this year, I did it all solo on a Honda Wave (as I was on a budget) but it was a hoot no less. Did you start from Chiang Mai? I spent a couple of nights there in the Riders Bar in the NE corner of the 'moat' -you probably know it! I did the loop clockwise staying on Doi Inthanon and at Khun Yuan, Mai Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Pai then back to Chiang Mai. I then went SE to Lampang and then East to the Laos border and followed the Mekong South and then on to Bangkok. Am doing Vietnam next.

[JZS 600]

Don't get me started,,,,,


I've always wanted to go to Vietnam/Cambodia but on a bike?  golden!

[Simon.Pieman]

I've always wanted to go to Vietnam/Cambodia but on a bike?  golden!

 I done some of Vietnam already, I can't begin to describe it. I know there are some great tours to be done around the world but Vietnam is rather special -and cheap. Go on, watch this vid, hang on til the end because it has an amusing ending

Great ride to far north east Vietnam on 650cc Ural motorbikes

[AyJay]

As an aside I don't ride in the wet so can't comment on handling in poor weather conditions, but for a tyre with Storm in it's name I wouldn't think they'd be too bad.

Funny you should say that, I wore out two sets Storm Ultra 2s on my ZZR1400 and they were lethal in the wet. Utterly lethal. The slightest throttle over a white line at low speed and it was spinning up. Scared me every time I went out on it. Just put 023s on it and they grip like they should. The Storms were amazingly long lived though. 8500 miles. And they were fine in the dry.

[PieEater]

Funny you should say that, I wore out two sets Storm Ultra 2s on my ZZR1400 and they were lethal in the wet. [/font]

The Storm 3D-XM is a totally different design so they may be better than the 2 Ultras in the wet.

[Camshaft]

On the Thailand note. I hired a Kawa ER6n great bike. Was riding up North above Chiang Mai and decided to pull over at a small road side market for a rest and a drink (not a pint) when parking the bike the centre stand was a bit forward and it got away from me gently landing it on its left hand side,,,,,breaking off the left foot peg. FUCKKKKKKK  plenty of twists to nearby small town Pia Fu....

 I did the Mae Hong Son loop earlier this year, I did it all solo on a Honda Wave (as I was on a budget) but it was a hoot no less. Did you start from Chiang Mai? I spent a couple of nights there in the Riders Bar in the NE corner of the 'moat' -you probably know it! I did the loop clockwise staying on Doi Inthanon and at Khun Yuan, Mai Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Pai then back to Chiang Mai. I then went SE to Lampang and then East to the Laos border and followed the Mekong South and then on to Bangkok. Am doing Vietnam next.

Sound like a great trip. BIG distance on the Wave - well done!!  The Yamaha Elegance 135 could be a good scooter also if you'll be doing it again. Surprising acceleration.


I started in Chiang Mai, then to Chiang Rai then Chiang Sean (Golden Triangle right there on the Meekong). Also went through May Rim and a few other places for a day trip out from Chiang Mai.


The roads right up north are excellent quality and very little traffic. The Chiang Rai to Chiang Sean leg I took the twisty way instead of the big fat highway. Up and down mother big mountains and spectacular scenery and so many well banked corners. i had to stop myself from pulling over to take another photo". Some temples right at the tip of small mountains with windy banked corners all the way.


I went to Pai (I think most go through it as part of Mae Hong Son loop?) some poor roads including badly potholed hairpins to be taken at walking speed plus some sand/dirt on the road at times.


I didn't know about the Riders Bar but will definitely check it out next time. Enjoy Vietnam!

[unfazed]

I am a big fan or the Metzeler Sportec M5 on the Gen 1.  There are great wet or dry and speed up the steering of the Gen 1. I find that they give great confidence in the front. At present I have PR3 which I also find quite good, but the M5s are that little bit better and will be going back to them at the next tyre change.

[Camshaft]

Could be an option for me next. Big fan of german engineering and have heard plenty of good suff from Metzler users.


You say "speed up the steering on the Gen 1's" the RA2's on now feel great but have only had the bike for a few months. It is evident these beasts have some weight so faster steering would not go astray. If the Met's improve that I'll be a fan of them.