Road tyres

I don't care about mileage; grip, and behaviour in the wet come first.
I've had Conti Trail Attacks, will not be buying them again. Rear stepped sideways on different occasions without clear reason, and without my driving being any different than on other tyres. See other threads.
I've been riding on Tourance EXP since then, now on my 4th pair. Really grippy, handles better than anything else I've had, excellent behaviour in the wet. Described by Metzeler as 'sport', whereas regular Tourance is described as 'tourer'.
Both Trail attack and Tourance aren't real road tyres though. The Dunlop Roadsmart is, and it's getting rave reviews everywhere, so I'm going to try it later this season.
 
I thought that for pure road tyres the BT20/BT21 was one of the best combinations? Has anyone used them and what are they like?

(vested intrest as I am thinking of buying some in the next few weeks:augie)

Brian
 
I thought that for pure road tyres the BT20/BT21 was one of the best combinations? Has anyone used them and what are they like?

(vested intrest as I am thinking of buying some in the next few weeks:augie)

Brian

Tried the 021's on a recent tyre testing track day at Castle Combe in the wet and they were noticably horrible compared to the Pirelli Angel and Metzeler Z6 interact. The bt020 were good but the 021 were bad on a bumpy right hander they bounced and slipped not inspiring confidence the Pirelli's seemed to absorbed the bumps better with no slideing.
 
My GS1150 originally fitted with Tourance, good mileage but not brilliant in wet. Then changed to Bridgestone 020, very good wet and dry, fair mileage and had three sets, then went to Trail Attacks, again very good, sold bike before the tyres wore out.
I have Dunlop Roadsmarts fitted to my Triumph 1050 tiger, they are excellent in all conditions, better than the OE fitment Michelin Pilots. My Guzzi Stelvio was fitted with Pirelli Scorpion Syncs, gripped OK, but felt a bit vague and rear wore out quickly, have just replaced the Pirellis with Conti Road Attacks, which I expect will be well up to the job. My R100GS is fitted with old style Tourances which seem to suit the bike well.
Taking the above into consideration I cant say that any of the tyres I've had fitted have been particularly poor performers, at worst some were adequete, but some others just felt better in terms of grip and feedback.
So long as you don't buy a set of Teflon non stick tyres you'll be ok with just about anything from the major manufacturers IMHO.
 
How long is a piece of string?

I had Touraces on two previous GS's - then my new 2008 came with Bridgestone BW501 and 502. They give a smoother ride and seem more of a road tyre - but I am pretty sure that most of those mentioned above would suit me just as well. You will never get agreement on tyre choice, wear, performance in wet and dry.etc; There are too many other factors involved - just look at some of your fellow riders and their style of riding!
 
Looking to get some new tyres for road use only so i want something nice and sticky . Been told to go for conti road attack ? Anyone got any good advice or experience with them or a better tyre ???
My bike is a 2009 GSA

Ive got bridgestones on at the min and allthough they have been ok they seem to square off pretty quickly

AVON storms:thumb2
 
had a set of Pilot 2s followed by a set of BT021s...

Similar behaviour, both 100 times better than any touring tyre on the road, BTs lasted longer and were better in the wet imho...

Great idea overall, it really transformed the bike.

Tourances and Anarkees are quite cr@p in greenlaning anyway, so if you gonna do any off tarmac excursions for more than a few hundred meters you need to go the full monty... so for the rest of the time which will be effectively 99.98%of your mileage you may as well go full road...

After running GSs on road tyres for more that 4 years, I can't see any other way...
With a set of BT021s a GS 1200 eats CBR 600 et al in Alpine twisties for breaKfast! (until you break down from an FPC anyway..)
 
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Interested in Pilot Roads as I never go off road and dont go fast enough to appreciate the best, whatever they are this month, and PR are very good deal at the moment.
Question for those that have tried them is that I read they have soft sidewall and Michelins own website recommends them for medium size bikes,are they ok when loaded with luggage and (lightweight ) pillion, or do they go squidgy when loaded up ?
 
I've had Tourance which were a good all-rounder,
then Anakee 2 which I really had no confidence in -
followed by Road Attacks which were superb,
now running in with some Battlewings, which seem Ok.
A bit early to tell, but the Conti Road Attacks are the one's I'd buy again without a second thought (for road riding anyway).
 
Pirelli Scorpion Trail

Had these fitted today

DSC_0311.JPG


Will let you know how they are im felling a bit :D

Will go back to tourances for the winter

Jim
 
Sticky

Looking to get some new tyres for road use only so i want something nice and sticky . Been told to go for conti road attack ? Anyone got any good advice or experience with them or a better tyre ???
My bike is a 2009 GSA

Ive got bridgestones on at the min and allthough they have been ok they seem to square off pretty quickly

If tyres are sticky and grippy nine out of ten times they wear out - good intermediates are hard to find - if you want grip and ride hard look at 2000 to 2500 max but had a good time - touring type maybe 4000 max ridden hard before the tyre looses the profile of a good tyre.
Use road smarts now but not done to much on them yet (1800 miles) and have found them very good for my style of riding , which is described as fast 1 or 2 up . Tyre are purely up to how you ride and how much you are willing to spend on rubber , had a 990 ktm sm before and was changing Mich 2cts
(rears)at arond 1800 miles but hey it was fun !! Must ad tho that Tourances are a very good tyre in respect of the bike.
:jibber
 
Size

I have a Conti ROAD Attack on the rear. They do them in a 160/60 size, so I get more rubber at big lean angles.

Maybe wrong but if you alter the size/profile of a rear tyre you can change the handling of the bike the wrong way as the front tyre wont balance the rear and will push so when you get to low angles of lean -- opps slip crash ..... - i only say this as have built specials with 'big tyre back ends' and found the handling shit and went back to standard size and found the bike handled as it should (if im wrong sorry , but have been down this road before and found above).
:nenau
 
Tyres

BMW offer a range of tyres as original equipment on the GS. If you depart from this list it is presumably because you cannot find one of them which is OK - or could it be in your imagination?
 
Maybe wrong but if you alter the size/profile of a rear tyre you can change the handling of the bike ...........

My experience too.

The profile will be pinched and not give progressive tip in. At best it will slow the steering and make the front and back feel 'less connected' and at worse will do as you say.

When SM's first came out lots of peeps used to run 160's on 150 rims and (on a dirt bike) it often introduced high speed instability.

A wider tyre might look cool but that's the only advantage it offers if placed on a bike and rim not designed for it.

Andres
 


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