What are some of the 17 rears people ride around here? I will be looking for a new pair soon. Current tire:
Michelin Macadam 90X 170/60 ZR 17 (no idea how old but has a bad commuter flat on it and is very slippery around bends).
I drive lots with two on the bike and am looking for good overall wear/performance.
Michelin Pilot Road or Pilot Power in 180/55.
Not cheap, not really long lasting either, but they do GRIP. :biggrin:
Harvy
Quote from: scapello on April 27, 2009, 11:42:29 PM
What are some of the 17 rears people ride around here? looking for good overall wear/performance.
Pirelli Diablo Strada. They're not quite as sweet & sticky as the Pilot Road 2's, but they perform well, last a little longer and cost less.
your results may vary.
TIRE MILEAGE PERF/TRACTION
Strada = 3500+ 8
Pilotroad2= 3000+ 9
Pilotpower2CT= 2000+ 10
Scapello -
What is the width of your rear wheel? If its under 5.5 inches you probably want to stay with the 170.
I've been running a 4.5" x 17 wheel for a long time and my current tire is a Metzler Z6. I've also had Bridgestone BT020, Pirelli MTR 04, The Pirelli gave me the best wear, but I get about 14,000 kms out of any of these. You do the math.
Cheers,
Arnie
x-90's were a while back. Your traction problem could just be the age of the tire. The x-100 I'm running now (16") is done, got about 7k out of it, I didn't have any traction problems, except during ham fisted throttle application in the rain, but it was real predictable when it did spin. I'll probably go with a pilot road next. I'm thinking I should get a bit more miles out of it than TRoy, but then I'm not near the rider he is. But if another x-100 comes my way really cheap I'd get another.
Fred,
i normally get between 5000 and 7000 miles from a pilot road.... they offer the best in performance and long life that i've found so far.
the pilot road fronts could easily go 10,000 miles on my FJ
KOokaloo!
Hey Frank, just for comparison, what mileage do you get from a Pilot Power?
Harvy
Quote from: Harvy on April 28, 2009, 09:20:09 PM
Hey Frank, just for comparison, what mileage do you get from a Pilot Power?
Harvy
not so good for a rear pilot power Harvy.. about 2500 miles .. brutus is hard on the rear tires but they stick like they were meant to .
front pilot power will go about 3500-5000 miles for me.... depending on how hot it is... they dont wear as bad in the winter.
i am currently running pilot road 2's and unlike T Roy i already have over 3500 miles on them and they look brand new
. this is including fully loaded camping trip to the indy GP last year.... everything including the kitchen sink and there isnt even hardly a flat spot on the rear center tread.
my next set (yeah i plan ahead ) is a pilot road rear tire which i will be running with a pilot power front tire....i am trying to find the combo which is going to let me have two completely shagged tires at the exact same time.... cause ya know i hate tossin good rubber .....but i love new tires in sets of two more than i hate wasting tread.
trying to find that balance is tough but i'm gettin there :wacko3:
KOokaloo! :good:
Thanks Frank...yep I know what you mean.....I am managing a new front to every second rear, so I have fresh rubber both ends around 1/2 the time.. :)....... seems around the same or a little more mileage for me.
I have settled on Powers as my choice both ends (last 2 fronts a 3 rears)......
Been playing with a Suzuki RM125 that my son bought a few weeks ago........what a mess........water pump leaking into clutch/transmission, air filter disintegrated and sucked thru reeds, busted bolts/stripped threads here and there. Gave the carby a thorough clean out (surprising good condition inside considering the state of the non-existant filter). Just waiting on a spark plug (ouch $70.....have to find a cheaper alternative to the OEM one) and new air filter.
Cheers mate
Harvy
Harvey, What year RM125? most twin air and unifilters go for around 20-25 USD over here. It couldn't cost that much to ship, could it?
On tires, On the YZF i really liked the Diablo Strada. It seemed to outlast most and wore pretty evenly front and rear. Last year at the falll rally I ran Bridgestone BT-021 sport tour tires and they cupped badly under hard abuse. Did I mention that I tend to abuse tires...
Bill, its '95 model mate..... Aus$500...... if I'd have known it was in the condition it was in, would have spent MY money elsewhere.
The air filter is not an issue...... just about any Jap 125 2-stroke filter of that era will fit....... I got one for a Kawasaki at the local bloke for next to nothing.....took the remains of the basket thingy that the filter material sits over down and he just pulled one of the shelf - it said Kawasaki something or other, but it was the same.
Just been reading up on spark plugs....... seems the opinion on one site I was reading is to stick to the OEM plug..... something about it having a beefier electrode specially designed to counter harmonics in the motor which tends to break the cheaper mass produced NGKs.....(specifically, the electrode breaks off and bounces around in the cylinder and head....... :bomb:!
I have found them on a few US web sites, if need be I'll get a couple shipped cos US$20 each is a whole lot better than AUS$70.
CHeers mate
Harvy
Most guys over here ran the NGK BR9-ES or in the RM125 with no issues. For a few years Suzuki used oddball sparkplugs. In the US the NGK R4118S-9 (suzuki spec plug) retails for around $10usd and the OEM (same plug) goes for a few cents more.
When I asked, Gary at Mondak said that he will ship to australia, so if you find that you need a bunch of stuff for that bike that might be a solution.
Thanks for that info Bill, I will contact Gary and have a couple of OEM plugs shipped over....it will still be cheaper than buying 1 here (its now been on order at the local AutoOne store for over a week - called in yesterday and still no plug).
Is there a RM group on the net that comes close to the quality of our group? I've done a bit of group trawling but have not found a decent one yet.
Harvy
Not that I am aware of. Dirty bikes tend to be fairly simple. If you run into any issues I may be able to help. I was part owner of a small KTM/accessory shop for a few years and worked at a service/accessory shop for several years (not to mention about 30 years of being too poor to have someone else work on my ditrbikes...)
Thanks Bill, if I run into anything I can't figure out :scratch_one-s_head: for myself I'll be giving you a shout!
Harvy
I just changed over from Michelin Pilot Power 2ct's to Pilot Road2's on my YZF750 (180/55 17 rear & 120/70 17 front). I wore the centre of the Power 2ct rear out in under 3000 kilometres. I live in the tropics so the heat does have an effect on wear rates. I have found that the Pilot Road2's are a less agressive profile (not as pointed) and seem a bit more stable at speed in a straight line. Don't get me wrong, the Pilot Power 2ct's are a brilliant tire but in my opinion are more suited to an agressive rider who spends most of their riding time in twisties.
The reality is that I spend less than 25% of my riding in twisties so the road2's should suit me better............................Time will tell.
TeeCee
Quote from: teeeeeceeeee on April 29, 2009, 10:06:53 PM
The reality is that I spend less than 25% of my riding in twisties so the road2's should suit me better............................Time will tell.
TeeCee
I'm sorry to hear about that...... poor poor YZF750 :unknown:
Hey TeeCee, good to hear your still around mate..... I have not tried the 2ct's in either road or power versions yet... The standard powers are all I need for daily commuting and weekend runs.
Harvy
I currently have a Road2 on the rear and a Power on the front. The last set were both Powers, which I was very happy with. I honestly haven't done a whole lot of spirited riding on the Road2 but I will find out how well it sticks at the WCR. The profile of the Road2 isn't as rounded as the Power but it doesn't seem to be an issue so far.
The Powers are a great set of tires and I never had any issues with them. Even riding 1-1/2 days in the rain heading to a WCR.
I can't remember what K-man has on his FJ. They were good tires, although I didn't push things hard. Whole riding a borrowed bike on the wrong side of the road thing. :sarcastic:
I think they are Metzlers mate.
G'day Harvy,
I was just down your way. I had a week with my kids on the Sunshine Coast (They live at Noosa) & another week on the Gold Coast. Geez.................it's changed down there, the Sunshine Coast has to be the roundabout capital of the world...........talk about make you dizzy. Between the roundabouts and the new Sunshine Motorway I kept getting completely lost.
The Gold Coast is another story, the southern beaches are f***ed. I wanted to take by sons surfing at my old stomping ground Kirra Point but the surf has been stuffed by all the sand pumping at the Tweed river mouth, the beaches are now 400 metres of sand before you hit the water which has stuffed the surf. Sure, the sand pumping has created the "Superbank" between D'bar & Kirra but all the old point breaks have been destroyed.
Back to tires..............Pilot Road2's have a softer compound (same as the old powers) on the outer tread and the harder compound in the centre so they should wear well but hang on in the twisties. Sort of the best of both worlds.
TeeCee.
Anyone tried the Battlax 021's?
I did on my YZF. I was not impressed.
See post #9 in this thread.
Over in the UK the most popular tyre for those who have converted the rear, is the Avon Storm but not sure if you get them there. We run storms on 3 out of our 4 bikes. Mileage is great, dry gip has never been a problem with good wet grip (well we are in England).
021's are generally disliked over here and I know on the FJR's they aren't lasting long, especially on the fronts so I assume they'd be similar on the FJ's.
If you talk to Phil (Doc) who runs our club he recommends Conti Motions which I've just put on my FJ, although I've only done 50 miles so far so can't comment on them really.
http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/default.asp?spid=25 (http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/default.asp?spid=25)
http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/?page=tyres&method=showtyre&id=25 (http://www.avon-tyres.co.uk/motorcycle/?page=tyres&method=showtyre&id=25)
Well... here is the list with rough price, looks like price is within 25 bucks for the pair except for the Road 2's which are a bit more. I was expecting a larger spread. Anyone done the Conti's?
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/181_01_05_09_4_54_46.jpeg)
Disclaimer: I have no association with either of these vendors...blah blah blah I just wanted a comaprison
Also check www.swmototires.com (http://www.swmototires.com) and even Cyclegear if you have one close to you. Plus there is www.ronayers.com (http://www.ronayers.com)
Cyclegear might be a little more than the other places, but when you factor in shipping the prices might not be too far off. Plus C.G. will take $5 off a tire for mount and balance if you purchase from them.
I don't know of anyone that has run the Conti's. Seems most people run Dunlop, Metzeler, or Michelin from what I have observed at rallies.
I noticed that you used a 120/60-17 as the baseline size in your quote.
If you are running the stock front wheel you might want to rethink that. The 60 series tire is designed for a 3.5" wide rim and does not fit well on the stock 17 x 3" FJ wheel. I have sold and installed alot of tires in the past and would never recommend installing the 60 series front on the narrow wheel. It distorts the carcass way too much and there is no benefit to running it that can not be mimicked by raising the forks 6mm in the tubes.
Thanks for the advice. What is actually interesting is that I am running non-stock wheels a 5.5" in the back and a 3.5" in the front but I just saw that my front currently actually is a 120/70 (I assumed it was a 60 when I did the pricing). Based on these rim widths what would be your recommended sizes? In the back I am running about ten millimeters clearance on either side of the current 170-60 and I think I want to keep it with that size since there is some fluctuations in width between manufacturers but maybe going to a 60 in the front wouldn't be bad. Less distortion under high side loads, correct?
i like the 70 series for the front.... the ride is much harsher on the 60 series tire and i can only tell minimal difference in the side loading/handling between the two.
KOokaloo! :good2:
On a long slow turning bike like the FJ, I would go with the 120/70 front and a 170/60 rear. the 170 is slightly taller than the 180 (3mm) and will offer slightly better turn in.
on the other hand, 180's are pretty common and can usually be found fairly cheap...
LOL i dont have no problem with turn in.... i fixed that issue with ride height
...... just another reason to own a Penske or other aftermarket shock that provides that feature.
KOokaloo!
:good2:
Frank,
If I can get the YZF back in one piece in time you will love the new look. i installed a fox shock, shorter dogbines, and a 5.5" GSXR rear wheel since last you saw it... and extra 30mm of ride height does indeed cure the 180 turn in blues. :ireful:
Hey guys!
I had Continental Road Attacks last year in the 120/70-17 and 160/60-18 sizes (1988 FZR1000 wheels). The rear was changed at approx 15000 kms (9500 miles) and the front one still had some life in it. Very good sport-touring tire, excellent in the rain. In fact I did a lot of riding under rainy conditions, this may have helped me in getting that much milleage from these tires. When the rear was close to the end of it's life it was a bit slippery on the edge but nothing too scary. If you're not pushing it to the edge and trying to scrape your pegs in every corner you drive into, you will like these tires.
TeeCee, are you sure about the side compound of the PR2, i.e.the same as the Pilot Power? I need a set in the days to come and I still hesitate between the PR2 and the new BT-16 (it is available in the 160/60-18 size... yessss!!). The set of Bridgestone is approx 25% cheaper than the Michelins. BT-16 will wear faster than the PR2 but with the difference in cost I guess it's worth it. I also like Frank's idea of a front PP combined with a rear PR2. I don't know what to do... :scratch_one-s_head:
I actually ride Dunlop Roadsmarts... Awesome grip for a ST tire (rode the Dragon with these tires) but the front wears out way before the rear, and with some strange wear pattern (a 1 inch wide step in the middle of the tire... no, the front is NOT a dual compound!). Dealer says eveything is OK, but I've seen a lot of similar stories on the net about this tire. In some cases Dunlop even replaced the tires at their expense. Apparently this could be a case of belt separation... Definitely, no more Roadsmarts for me... :negative:
Cheers!
Richard
i'm still on my first set of pilot road 2 tires.... testing was put on hold due to engine maladys but they survived all last summer and a road trip to Indy for the motoGP - 2880miles and they still look very good.
Quote from: Griffon on May 07, 2009, 08:57:46 PM
I actually ride Dunlop Roadsmarts... Awesome grip for a ST tire (rode the Dragon with these tires) but the front wears out way before the rear, and with some strange wear pattern (a 1 inch wide step in the middle of the tire... no, the front is NOT a dual compound!). Dealer says everything is OK, but I've seen a lot of similar stories on the net about this tire. In some cases Dunlop even replaced the tires at their expense. Apparently this could be a case of belt separation... Definitely, no more Roadsmarts for me... :negative:
Really? Damn...I just ordered 2 sets of Dunlop Roadsmarts today...I've heard only positive things about them so far...hmmm. Klavdy and I both came to the same conclusion that we would give them a try.
I'm a BIG fan of the Avon AV 45/46. Went through several sets of those. That front tire had a bad wear pattern too. Would cup a bit...but it didn't bother me.
Then the Pirelli Diablo Strada...took longer to warm up...but the traction was on par with the Avons after warmup. But I had a blowout on the rear with a decent amount of tread left...just a thin spot on the inside that tore. So no more of those.
Then the Avon AV55/56. Much better wear pattern on the front than the AV45...no more cupping...but the rear tire was WAY wider than the AV46...like over 1/4 inch. Big problem for me cuz I run a VERY tight chain clearance with my 180/55-17 rear. I had to take a sanding block to the side and shave the damn thing down....chain shaved it down even more.
So that brings me to try the Dunlop Roadsmarts....I'll mount them up next week and see. I hope the rear 180 is the same width as the AV46. I guess my ideal combo with what I've tested so far would be the AV55 front and AV46 rear...but I have not been able to find any more of the AV46 left anywhere.
Hey Frank, what's wrong with Brutus?
Quote from: racerman_27410 on May 07, 2009, 09:10:46 PM
i'm still on my first set of pilot road 2 tires.... testing was put on hold due to engine maladys but they survived all last summer and a road trip to Indy for the motoGP - 2880miles and they still look very good.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 08, 2009, 05:17:39 PM
Hey Frank, what's wrong with Brutus?
nothing now (i hope) we had a problem with it blowing oil out (like the Exxon valdese) and Andy /Ken have had Brutus over in Tennessee since last september :dash2: and i just got it back last week.....new pistons .. some custom rings and they want me to run the stock carbs :unknown: so i am..... at least until the rings are seated.
its been quite the ordeal..... but then so have lots of things so i guess im just getting used to it.
KOokaloo!
Frank
Marsh,
Just like you, I have also read a lot of positive reviews on this tire. Doesn't mean you're gonna have the same issue with yours, it could have been just a bad batch, I don't know. Here's the link if you want to read more about it... http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42528&st=0 (http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=42528&st=0)
You're going to like the grip of this tire. If it wasn't for this problem I had I would definitely buy a second set.
I'm curious... If you get a chance, please let us know how things are going with the Roadsmarts after a few thousand miles.
Thanks. Richard
Quote from: racerman_27410 on May 08, 2009, 07:37:09 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on May 08, 2009, 05:17:39 PM
Hey Frank, what's wrong with Brutus?
nothing now (i hope) we had a problem with it blowing oil out (like the Exxon valdese) and Andy /Ken have had Brutus over in Tennessee since last september :dash2: and i just got it back last week.....new pistons .. some custom rings and they want me to run the stock carbs :unknown: so i am..... at least until the rings are seated.
its been quite the ordeal..... but then so have lots of things so i guess im just getting used to it.
KOokaloo!
Frank
Why the stock carbs? Were the others fuel-washing the cylinder walls?
Rich,
they dont know...... i was getting about 38mpg after i rejetted the Keihins.... BUT they were really fat at the beginning of Brutus's life... which could have washed the cylinder walls during the critical break-in period.
anyhoo i am gonna run the stocker carbs for a bit.... and see what happens.
KOokaloo!
Frank
I can get Dunlop D220's in town for $75 each. New never mounted. Thoughts?
Dan, my observation of the D220 is that it is not as good wear or grip wise as the earlier D205.......that's mainly why I now use Michelin. Of course with tyres, opinions will vary........I guess at that price its a case of "suck it and see for yourself".
Cheers
Harvy
That's nearly half the price I paid for my 2CT's Sports. I doubt they'll wear more than 2X as fast, sounds like a stonkin deal to me -that is if you're not getting raped for installation....
Dan
Mounting and balancing for $25 per wheel at a different place though.
Here is the link, they are about 10 minutes drive from where I am.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUNLOP-D220-170-60-17-170-60-17-Rear-Tire-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35601QQihZ020QQitemZ300315053420QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ht_606wt_1595 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUNLOP-D220-170-60-17-170-60-17-Rear-Tire-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35601QQihZ020QQitemZ300315053420QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW#ht_606wt_1595)
Set with a 120/60 front
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUNLOP-D220-170-60-17-D220-120-60-17-Tire-Set-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ35601QQihZ020QQitemZ300298214402QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V#ht_626wt_1595 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/DUNLOP-D220-170-60-17-D220-120-60-17-Tire-Set-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247QQcategoryZ35601QQihZ020QQitemZ300298214402QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V#ht_626wt_1595)