► Tyre choices and emergency repairs

+5 on the Conti Trail Attacks!!!

Original Death Wings were history at 9k - rear very squared off and front really worn - reluctant to turn-in. Mind, they did feel very very fast to turn-in for the first couple of weeks after replacing the 'Wings.

You'll always get this when going from squared off tyres to new!
 
You'll always get this when going from squared off tyres to new!

Agreed - but having come from sports bikes (with their 180 rears) I was surprised at the difference in "speed" of turn-in between squared-off and new tyres.

I guess it's due to the steeper angle between squared-off tread and remaining tread on the higher profile GS tyre than the low-profile sports tyre.
 
Dunlop Trailmax TR91

Anyone tried these yet?

I wasn't happy with the Anakees that I put on 2-3k miles ago, so I bit the bullet, removed them, and sought something new.
I only ride tarmac, and in the summer I can ride quite hard, so I wanted a street tyre. Mine came with Pirelli Scorpion Trail, which were a very good tyre. I wondered if anything else might match them

So now I'm trying the Trailmax. The related RoadSmarts get brilliant write-ups.

Anyone out there rate them?
I've only got 50 miles on them, so will report back once they are scrubbed in.

Aran

BTW if anyone in the Gr Manchester area wants the part-worn Anakees (4mm remaining on front, 6-7mm on rear), send me a PM
 
Aran, the Trailmax is great as a dual tyre but i've always found that the Battlewings that came with my bike has been the best for road use. i've used them for at least 20000miles now and no problems, the other 12000miles were spent on Mitas knobblies for my Africa trip, brilliant as well. the Battlewings lasted me 14000miles + on the rear tyre
 
Anyone out there rate them?
I've only got 50 miles on them, so will report back once they are scrubbed in.

Aran

I had a set fitted to my 1150 last Thursday Aran and have just over 400 miles on them now. They seem to be very grippy indeed either solo or two up and do feel better than the Tournaces they replaced.

Some of that could be down to the new tyre thing, in that any new tyre feels good, so it will be intersting to see how long they last and if the feel changes as they get more miles on. Initial reports say that they are very good in the wet but so far I haven't had a chance to try them yet.
 
Aran, the Trailmax is great as a dual tyre but i've always found that the Battlewings that came with my bike has been the best for road use. i've used them for at least 20000miles now and no problems, the other 12000miles were spent on Mitas knobblies for my Africa trip, brilliant as well. the Battlewings lasted me 14000miles + on the rear tyre

On the flip side I did not like the original tombstone deathwings,. must say in the dry spot on, but in the wet got the odd twitch witch knocked the confidence, could have been my nervouse ticks !.

much better results right now from the metzeler tourance's!

but soon going to TXC 80's (my wire wheels are now at the ready) which have been in zero supply at one point in the UK (I dont know why)
but have come back now and cost an absolute arm and a leg :confused: :eek: .... If anyone the knows best place to buy the TKC's right now (not history previouse prices) but current for sale right now? Please post up or pm me.

Thanks,

Dean
 
riding them for a year now....

and this is what I posted then:

Finally got our dunlop TR91 tyres!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And what an upgrading of the bikes (my wife and I both ride F650GS's) they are, to sum it up, they transformed a blunt instrument into a precision instrument, a hacksaw into a scalpel. Finally the bikes show their full potential, and what a pleasure that gives, we experienced that in a 5 day tour to and in Luxembourg last weekend.
First impression was: hey, this feels relaxed, and so stable. As if I mounted a steering damper. With the Battlewings you're constantly making little steering corrections, which you are not aware of after a while, and gripping the handlebars quite tight to keep control. Now I hold the handlebars loosely, the bike is just going straight, bad tarmac, cobblestones, it goes straight. My wife said "I feel much less tired after a long ride". and "feels like you put cushions under my wheels, much more comfortable".
When turning into a corner you imagine a line that your bike should follow, with the BW's I was always 10-15cm's off, with the TR's spot on. In the wet, after a little while, you relax your tight ass and become confident, you feel the tyres grip the road, we had 2 days of rain, and no scary moments ever.
So far, I can't fault them, my riding pleasure has increased immensely, so what more do you want?? Yes, a few weeks off to do a looong trip......


and still I cannot fault them, excellent choice! hans
 
Bridgestone Battlewings

Has any one got any contacts for a good deal on a set of Battlewings?
90/90-21 and 150/70-17.
 
I was going to suggest Micheldever, but then saw you were in Norn Iron, so can't help.

However, although the Bridestones were fine, they're nowhere near as good as the Conti Trail Attacks. Wet or Dry.
 
I think Battlewings are crap, particularly the front which seems to wear oddly causing tracking and vibes. Rear seems to last well enough only reason to fit them is if they are particularly cheap :nenau, just changed to Trail Attacks on recommendations here, early days but lookin good so far.
 
I'll join in with support for Trail Attacks. In the dry the Battlewings are great but when cornering in the wet they will twitch a bit whereas I've never had any twitches with the Trail Attacks. Now on my second set of Trail Attacks. They're noticeably more sure footed.
 
I agree in the dry fine :thumb2 but in the wet they deff turn into Tomb-Stone death-Wings :( (they get tourette ticks on the curves which setts off my tourettes and shouting in your lid is not a good look :( )

I was in my local dealership yesterday and notice that the F800, F650 and G650 new ones are now booted with Metzeler Tourance :)
 
The difference between Battlewings and Tourances is night and day.
With day being the Tourances.
Though the Battlewings hung in for a very decent amount of mileage while I played skinflint and patiently waited for them to wear out. The Battlewings are like cockroaches, in that when you think they are finished they surprise you with a little bit of life left in them. Kind of like the Brave Sir Robin in the Monty Python movie!
 


Back
Top Bottom