After running on Anakees which came with the bike, and a new rear donated by the dealer at point of sale, I had to run with them. At first they were quite good (or was that the bike ?) but as time went by I was unhappy with them. They didn't inspire confidence in the wet and only ever felt okay twos-up in the dry.
I did get a healthy mileage out of them, 11.5k front and 7.5k rear, but they were gone and riding was tentative, confidence in 'safe-mode' and not-the-full-enjoyment-package was the norm.
Fast forward to service last Thursday and a new set of boots had been ordered.
Conti Trail Attacks
Didn't have much time to go places after the service, but on the return journey home through some of Yorkshire's twisties ( and taking it easy so as to scrub them), the bike felt really different.
I wondered if the tyre pressure was too high as they felt frisky, like a colt. On corners they wanted to turn in, not so much lean was required, very, very different experience to the Anakees... almost worrying as the whole feel of the bike felt so different.
Now they are scrubbed in, the feel is light yet solid on the road with no squirms or danger signals. Riding Yorkshires back roads now becomes more exciting and confidence inspiring with the limits of what this bike can do, on a decent set of tyres, not yet apparent and the boundaries being pushed out. On roads that I know, the difference in performance between the two makes of tyres is staggering. Time will tell about the longevity of the Contis, but first impressions are very, very good.
With less lean-in required, it seems that I am taking corners too slowly, the level of grip and turn-in is an all new experience for me on the GSA. Granted they are a more road based tyre with a rounded profile, but...
I like them, I really do
I can ride like a hooligan again
I did get a healthy mileage out of them, 11.5k front and 7.5k rear, but they were gone and riding was tentative, confidence in 'safe-mode' and not-the-full-enjoyment-package was the norm.
Fast forward to service last Thursday and a new set of boots had been ordered.
Conti Trail Attacks
Didn't have much time to go places after the service, but on the return journey home through some of Yorkshire's twisties ( and taking it easy so as to scrub them), the bike felt really different.
I wondered if the tyre pressure was too high as they felt frisky, like a colt. On corners they wanted to turn in, not so much lean was required, very, very different experience to the Anakees... almost worrying as the whole feel of the bike felt so different.
Now they are scrubbed in, the feel is light yet solid on the road with no squirms or danger signals. Riding Yorkshires back roads now becomes more exciting and confidence inspiring with the limits of what this bike can do, on a decent set of tyres, not yet apparent and the boundaries being pushed out. On roads that I know, the difference in performance between the two makes of tyres is staggering. Time will tell about the longevity of the Contis, but first impressions are very, very good.
With less lean-in required, it seems that I am taking corners too slowly, the level of grip and turn-in is an all new experience for me on the GSA. Granted they are a more road based tyre with a rounded profile, but...
I like them, I really do
I can ride like a hooligan again
