Tyres for Streetbike (V Twin)

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Kwackerz
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Tyres for Streetbike (V Twin)

#1 Post by Kwackerz » Mon Mar 19, 2007 9:50 pm

Please post your tyre reviews in here! Found a decent tyre for your bike? Tell us about it! Be sure to include the Bike Make and Model and main use, as well as your write up on the tyres!
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Fausto
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#2 Post by Fausto » Tue Mar 20, 2007 3:35 pm

Bike - Aprilia SL1000 Falco.

Tyres - Michelin Pilot Sport Front and Rear.

Very nice tyres. I have never pushed them beyond their limits in the dry or wet. The rear has an odd profile in that it flares out a little at the edges bringing a little more tyre into contact at full lean angles. Quite reassuring and avoids unsightly chicken strips!

Life - They were on when I bought the bike about 3000 miles ago. I think they were almost new then. The front is still plenty good but the back is on the limit now, not helped by winter riding squareing it off a bit.

Riding - mostly local hacking about. No long tours on this pair.

So - would I buy another. Well I will replace the rear soon with another Michelin in order to match the front. However as I plan some big mile trips this spring/summer it will have to be a sport/tourer as 3000 miles won't do. And in the long term I'll probably try another brand but mainly because I like to experiment - not because of any complaint about the Pilot Sports (mileage aside)

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#3 Post by Viking » Wed Mar 21, 2007 12:38 am

Bike: Aprilia Falco (SL-1000R)

Tyres: Metzeler Z6 (front and rear)

These are more a touring compound than a sporting compound tyre. The rear has 7000km on it (99% of that is commuting) and is only barely squared off. The front has about 5000km and still looks like new.

Grip so far is excellent - the only slides have been caused by patches of oil or painted road markings in the rain.

I have no idea how they'd go on a track, but for long distance touring or commuting, they're great.

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#4 Post by sabestian » Sun May 06, 2007 7:51 am

have a look here (Z6 ruled in this test). Sorry for poor translation.

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#5 Post by Falco9 » Sun May 06, 2007 1:06 pm

Bike: Aprilia Tuono 07

Tyres, Metzler Rennsports (F&R)

Pros:
Unbelievable!! :smt003 , had them to the edge within 40 miles of picking up the bike. The confidence levels these tyres give you is amazing, neutral steering with lots of feedback both front & rear. Just need just a few miles to get some heat in them and then your off.

Cons:
Very little visible tread means I don't think I'd be at all happy if I got caught out in the rain, and the wear factor is worrying, Looking at them today (640 mile on the clock) I reckon they'll be toast in about 1200-1500 miles maximum, could be a lot less now the T has had it's first service!

Conclusion,
A new 190 rear can be had for £85 so the costs are not horrendous, I'm not Rossi (although these tyres have me thinking I am) but I know I am faster on these tyres. So the old argument of wear v grip (or perceived grip) continues.
The confidence they give whether real or percieved could just swing it for me though, I've never been happier on any previous sets of tyres period!

F9 :smt006

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Re: Tyres for Streetbike (V Twin)

#6 Post by Gio » Sun May 06, 2007 3:36 pm

Kwackerz wrote:Please post your tyre reviews in here! Found a decent tyre for your bike? Tell us about it! Be sure to include the Bike Make and Model and main use, as well as your write up on the tyres!
Pirelli Diablo's, They're great on the Falco, in fact the mutts nuts. :smt003

Loads of grip, I'll even get them on the edges on our shit roads before long.

Doesn't seem to suffer from road markings wobble, I.E. paint or overbands.

Only downside is I don't think they'll last long, but at £175 the pair including balancing I won't complain :smt003

Main use is pleasure, in fact thats all its ridden for.

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#7 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Sun May 06, 2007 5:55 pm

Falco

conti road attacks

though not used on the track, very good life so far

only downside, i think they take warmer to warm up than some other tyres....

have done about 2500 miles on mine so far and the wear rate is very good

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#8 Post by snapdragon » Sun May 06, 2007 7:11 pm

V Raptor thou BT 020 rear BT 010 front
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#9 Post by sabestian » Sun May 06, 2007 7:53 pm

snapdragon wrote:V Raptor thou BT 020 rear BT 010 front
That's a good review. Short and spot on. I'll try to follow. :smt005

Stock Falco's Metzelers Z3: C. R. A. P. One good thing about them - they wear fast! :smt003

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#10 Post by Aladinsaneuk » Sun May 06, 2007 11:46 pm

not certain sab, but think that many falco pilots do not rate the bridgestones that highly - they are ok, but no more than that iirc

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#11 Post by Viking » Mon May 07, 2007 1:41 am

sabestian wrote:have a look here (Z6 ruled in this test). Sorry for poor translation.
Thanks Sebastian.

I'm pleasantly surprised that a 'touring' tyre would do so well. :smt020

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#12 Post by Viney » Wed May 09, 2007 6:01 pm

Bike:SV 650S
Type of riding:Commuting 90% through London
Tyre:Metz Z6/Diablo Strada

Well i have done 50000 miles on my sv and its staple tyre was in the form a the 020 from Bridgestone. 3 or 4 sets i hd of these, returning anything from 4500-7600 miles from the rear and managing 14k from a front! Anyhoo, the price went up and i needed tyres quick, so bought some conti road attacks after good reviews from the SV comunity! I hated them from about 1 mile in. Ragged on the edge, poor wet weather grip, and to be honest poor milage (About 4200 from a rear) All the total opposite to what had been written. So it came for another change. Well, its a lie, the girlfirend needed new tyres on her SV. After a lot of umming and ahhing, she had Metz Z6's put on her bike. She loved htem, and has no real idea of different feels. We swapped bikes, and the difference was amazing. More like the 020 in feel, but with better grip. I had a set fitted to my SV. 800 mile later i had a un-repairable puncture in the rear and had a Diablo Strada fitted as they didnt have stock of the Z6 and as its essentialy the same tyre i wasnt botherd.

Wet weather grip is far beyond my talent, hig speed stability is good, dry grip is phenominal. Im on about 4-5k i reckon and the rear still has a lot on it so hoping for nearer 7kish for the rear which'll be nice.

However, i think that tyres are a personal thing and what i think might not be what someone elses wants. thinks. Im more than happy with the Z6/Diablo, and will deffo have another set fitted.

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#13 Post by mangocrazy » Thu Jun 18, 2009 11:24 am

Bike: Aprilia Falco
Type of riding: Pleasure, touring, hooning, two-up (delete as appropriate)
Tyre: Dunlop Sportmax Roadsmart (120/70-17 & 180/55-17)

I fitted a pair of Roadsmarts over the winter as replacements for the unlamented and unloved MEZ3s. To date I've only done about 500 miles on them, but the improvement was dramatic (as hoped).

The tyres seemed to scrub in quite quickly. I noticed a bit of vagueness in the first few miles, but that rapidly disappeared. The overwhelming sensation with these tyres is one of confidence, particularly in the front end; it just feels planted and gives plenty of positive feedback. On the first ride out on the Roadsmarts I covered about 130 miles, and by the time I got home the rear tyre was fully scrubbed in, right to the edge.

The bike changes direction beautifully, feels totally stable and is quite happy to change line mid-corner. I've found no tendency for the bike to try and stand up when trail braking and behaviour over white lines and irregularities in the road is exemplary.

I can only apologise if this post sounds gushing, but I really am racking my brains to try and find something even slightly negative about these tyres. They also warm up quickly and felt very at ease in the few miles of wet roads I've encountered since fitting them.

To be honest they feel as good in terms of grip and handling responses as dedicated trackday tyres I was using 4 or 5 years ago. They are now classified as Sport-Touring tyres and I think that's a measure of how much the game has moved on. While I can't speak about mileage and wear rates yet (they still look new), I think they should last well. I can unhesitatingly recommend these tyres to anybody.

Lastly, when fitting these tyres (I did that myself) I used 'EasyBalance' compound (very similar to DynaBalls, I believe). The wheels have no balance weights on them and the ride is smooth and vibration free. ITWFM (it works for me).

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#14 Post by Nooj » Sun Jul 12, 2009 6:19 pm

BIKE: Falco

BT020: Not bad, plenty of feedback, wear well. Tend to let go gently when on the track and feel a bit 'wooden' when worn down on the road especially in the wet.

Mez6: Very good tyres for sports/touring. Plenty of feel, very good in the wet on the road, last a good while, suit the Falco very well for all year riding. A hardened track rider will find their limits quickly, great on the road though. Also as there is no treat pattern at the centre of the tyre it's difficult to tell when they need replacing, you won't know untill you can see the next ply of rubber showing!

Corsa III: Excellent rubber, capable in the wet (though not as sure footed as the Z6) and plenty of grip on the track, not too expensive either. For fast road riding mostly in the dry with the occasional wet outing and odd track day these are the best I've found so far.
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Tyres

#15 Post by old git » Thu May 06, 2010 6:45 pm

Falco
Avon Storm Ultra 2 180/55 on the back std. 120/70 on the front.
Just had the hoops changed, had the Storm ST on before, and they were totally planted, these are the new replacements.
Only just 30 miles so far, but already am feeling confident with them like I did the old Storm ST's.
Had the ST's from new on the SV650 as well, hard wearing & very stable at all lean angles, never once twitched no matter what I did on the road.
Guy at the shop balaced them as well while I watched & they were so good back needed no weight & front only a spot, so is all good.

C U soon,
Keith
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