I have recently purchased a 2002 VTR1000 and the Michelin Macadams (OE on Australian sold bikes, not sure what you get in the UK) are close to needing replacement and I am after something a bit sticker. The bike is used 70% for commutting / 30% for weekend fun and I am willing to take grip over mileage but I also need wet weather grip. After a bit of research this is the short list I have come up with:
1. Michelin Pilot Sport
2. Metzeler Sportec M1
3. Bridgestone 012
4. Dunlop D208ZR
What are your thoughts on these tyres and are there others I should consider? Please say why you like a particular tyre rather than just saying which one I should go for.
Hiya Dessy, I've had my storm now for over 2 years and gone through some tyres believe me. I've had Metzelers, Bridgestone's,Avon's 45/46, Dunlop's GP 207s(very good for stickiness but a little unstable at high speeds and nobody told me how much they expand when warm(one hole in carbon hugger.)The problem with a big twin is they eat back tyres. I've now gone back to Dunlop 207s which were on the bike when i bought it.Having now done 26,000 miles on my baby the Dunlops are the one i like the most, for all round use.Regards Dodger.
I use the BT010 and get goog mileage out of them, but I know a lot of guys will put a BT010 on the front and an BT020 on the rear to get max mileage. My commute is about 100 M to my shop, so I don't use the bike for that
I'm trying out the new 001, and they stick really well, at the track!
i've done about 18k miles in the last 13 months on my storm, i've stuck with Dunlop 207's. getting about 6-7k miles out of the rear,and had about 12k out of the front.....
I've never had a problem with grip, (apart from compression sliding of course)........
I normally run 010's front and rear but due to a lot of mileage trips this year (Scotland and Assen) I've got an 020 on the rear.
It's got plenty of grip when leant over (pegs and rear brake down) but I find it CAN skip around a bit under very heavy braking.
Personally I've always favoured the Bridgestones for the following reasons
1) Good mileage without squaring off due to dual compound (hard middle,
soft edges)
2) More grip than you'd ever reasonably use on the road and most track
use
3) Excellent in the wet (knee down in the pissing rain at Donington)
4) Stable but not heavy steering
The bad points
1) More expensive than the Dunlops
2) Stable (if you'd prefer twitchy steering)
I went from Pirelli Dragon corsas (excellent even down to the steel belt) to Dunlop 208 the rears fine but I hate the front, anyone tried a 208 rear with a 207rr front as I think I'm gonna try these next before I go back to Pirellis
I've found that the 208's can feel strange if the pressure is even about 1 psi out. Good tyre though but needs a good bit of scrubbing in and regular use the keep it good
I have recently purchased a 2002 VTR1000 and the Michelin Macadams (OE on Australian sold bikes, not sure what you get in the UK) are close to needing replacement and I am after something a bit sticker. The bike is used 70% for commutting / 30% for weekend fun and I am willing to take grip over mileage but I also need wet weather grip. After a bit of research this is the short list I have come up with:
