Gen II (FZ1) tyre choice 2014 Annual Tour

[slap]

Hi all,

I have a 2008 FZ1 & am getting ready for my annual euro bike tour, which usually is about 2500 miles.

For the past 4 years I have been using Dunlop Road Smarts as the tyre of choice. I switched to the Road Smart II year before last & didn't really gel with them as much as the original road smarts as not as good feed back in handling but tyre life was exceptional.
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[/size]Last year i managed to source a pair of originals & was happy with the handling. but they were the last of stock.
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[/size]What choice of rubber do all use or what do you give a wide birth to..?
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[/size]I also use my bike for rest of year in all manner of riding but mainly spirited.
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[/size]To also add to the equation I was quite ill during my 2012 bike trip when using the road smarts II so may have been influenced by that..
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[/size]Ta, Neill

[AyJay]

Bridgestones 023s for me. 6 to 9k miles, great in the wet, track day grippy.


I'm trying the T30s at the mo on my other bike and they seem more stable than the 023s with stiffer carcasses, but even with stiffer carcasses, there's more grip. They are saying they'll last longer, so we will see….

[slap]

Thanks AyJay, was an option I didn't think of... my tyre fitter has suggested 'Metzler Road 3', but i will look at the Bridgestone option

[slimwilly]

my 07 came with Metzeler Z6s , i have been happy with them as i do hammer them a bit,well it is a thou
I have replaced the rear with the same,seems good in the wet,


I now need a new front so i see on the Metzeler web site they have a new compound all rounder the Z8 interact so i have ordered one of those,supposed to be good in the wet,,i will go with that.


http://www.metzeler.com/site/uk/products/tyres-catalogue/Roadtec-Z8-Interact.html

Details metzeler z8 interact

metzeler z8 interact

The Z6s are still about and i can recomend them, they are good.

[slimwilly]

Details metz3

metz3

these seem to be the only "3s" on the web site

[AyJay]

Thanks AyJay, was an option I didn't think of... my tyre fitter has suggested 'Metzler Road 3', but i will look at the Bridgestone option

The T30s are very expensive at the mo - £270, but if they last longer, it's worth it. It's a pain having to buy tyres all the time, the waste of time getting them fitted and so on, and I do massive mileages. My old Fazer's up around 124,000 miles now, so that 20 sets of tyres, I've gone through, mostly Bridgestones, with a few Pirellis, Avons, Metzelers mixed in.


It is a personal thing though. Bridgestone's just suit me. For me, they're incredibly confidence inspiring, especially in the wet, with great feel, but I know other people will find the feel of other makes more to their liking.


Here's my last 12 years worth. Interesting to see the mileages increase over time. A couple of tyres had punctures, which explains the very short bars, and the longer bars are either BT021s or BT023s.

[mickvp]

Ill be replacing my current tyres with Michelin's when they are due. Love the Pilot Road range of tyres.

Saying that, the Maxxis tyres I have on at the minute are actually fairly good all round as well, I never expected much from a "budget" set of tyres, but as they came on the bike I thought what the hey. but they are honestly really good.

[stevierst]

+1 for maxxis. Got a set of diamonds on the gen II atm, and I ride hard all the time (got another bike for cruising on which has supermaxx on it).
 The rear  has worn out now, but it's lasted just as long as the PR3, and the contimotion's I had before it. I get about 2500 out of a rear, that's giving them far more abuse than they deserve!

The diamonds are very good once you get used to the strange profile, I've edged the rear with ease and confidence. A few foc-ers saw my rear tyre on the last meet, and the wear is pretty even. They're excellent grip from cold, and good in the wet, although I don't ride hard in the wet, it ain't worth it!

 To top it all, it's about £100 fitted for a rear!

[PaulSmith]

Another vote for T30's from me. I would rate them significantly better then 023's which I used to love. I can't speak for life yet at as @6k they are still showing no signs of wear from the saddle. The threads aren't as deep and there is a hint of squaring on the back but they don't 'feel' like 023's did with the same milage.
I find this a little odd since because of their better grip and confidence, I ride them harder (higher corner speeds and bigger lean angles etc.) so I would have expected them to wear faster.

[NorthWestern]

I have done about 3000 miles on some Dunlop Qualifier 2's I fitted in Feburary, so far so good.  They are just starting to square very slightly, I wasn't expecting them to last as well as they are doing although admittedly its mostly motorway miles.

[AyJay]

I ride them harder (higher corner speeds and bigger lean angles etc.) so I would have expected them to wear faster.

That's why they're not squaring off - you're way over on the side all the time! Ho!


They are different though, in a good way. Can't wait to see how many miles I get out of them.

[peterjca]

Another vote for T30's from me. I would rate them significantly better then 023's which I used to love. I can't speak for life yet at as @6k they are still showing no signs of wear from the saddle. The threads aren't as deep and there is a hint of squaring on the back but they don't 'feel' like 023's did with the same milage.
I find this a little odd since because of their better grip and confidence, I ride them harder (higher corner speeds and bigger lean angles etc.) so I would have expected them to wear faster.

I've always had BT23s on my FZ1. I had them replaced with the T30s a few weeks ago. Still early days but they really do seem more stable and grippier than the BT23s. Haven't had a chance beyond the commute to properly test them yet.

[Ravenscar]

My fear about the pricey T30s would be getting a puncture and having them written off. I liked the BT21/23s for longevity. Only got my fzs1 a couple of weeks ago. It's got weird treads on the side. Might be Metzler? They do the job.

[PaulSmith]

My fear about the pricey T30s would be getting a puncture and having them written off. I liked the BT21/23s for longevity. Only got my fzs1 a couple of weeks ago. It's got weird treads on the side. Might be Metzler? They do the job.

I thought you knew. There is an agreement among all the main tyre manufactures that the molds used to make high priced tyres are oriented north-south. This means the molecules of new tyres are magnetically aligned to increase their attraction to screws and nails. The only tyres that are exempt are those nasty ones that feel horrible but never, ever wear out.

[slap]

Nice one "Paul Smith"... I always wondered how nails, screws & other general road crud gets attracted to the highly priced tyres... I would guess the newer they were the more magnetism to these deflating objects they attract...!


Reminds me of when I borrowed my mates R1, I came back with a bone china cup handle stuck out of a quickly defeating rear hoop... oops!


Thank you all for your input, I will be 'rubbering up' on the 10th May & am tempted for the Metzlers, just for a change.

[blackcabbie]

you can get a pair of pirelli diablo stradas for 128 delivered from bikespeed

[bigbluebear]

you can get a pair of pirelli diablo stradas for 128 delivered from bikespeed

NOOOOO for the love of the Fazer please don't....these are very old tyres compared to todays technology......I put these on my mighty thou due to being a bit short of cash and they were shite......replaced them as soon as I got the dosh........but if your skint and not planning on going round corners fast then straight line touring will get a turn out of them.

[sadlonelygit]

pirelli angels.
got 6K (never ever done that before) out of mine and the rear still has 2.5mm (front is toast tho')
grippy enough for knee down and providing you keep below 7k in 1/2 gears no worries in the wet.

[slap]

Got some Metzeler Z8's ordered for fitting on Saturday Morning..... £238 fitted.


Went out for a final blast on the Road Smarts last night & are well worn now... Auto Bahn Squared off now so makes corners a task instead of a pleasure!


Its just gonna kill me on the ride down to the ferry.... 200+ miles of motorway misery (setting off at 4am so needs must)..


Thanks Chaps & I'll keep you posted on how the Z8's perform.

[slimwilly]

Good luck with the trip.


i was lucky on Saturday and had dry roads to scrub my new front Z8 in , feel confident now when it rains.

[slap]

Cheers 'Slimwilly', we will give it a go. But sure to find good roads through Spain & France (Routes already Planned)


It will be a Fazer/FZ1 parade, I have a naked FZ1, one Mate has a Faired FZ1 & other has a Gen1 Fazer1000.


I have lots of euro routes on .GPX format if any one is interested?


Looking forward to the Z8's even more so to scrubbing them in.

[Drax]

Have managed to have a couple of decent rides recently & the BT023's seem to be performing quite well. Still got about 25mm of chicken strip as 1) the rear is a 190. 2) I'm a chicken