I went for a ride in the rain

[ribbert]

I went for a ride in the rain.  Nothing unusual about that.  Rain has never stopped me going for a ride.  It has rained solidly for the last 3 days so the roads were not greasy.

I have 2 bikes, one with 17" rear with modern tyre and one with 16" and a Pirelli Sport Demon, not very old with about 80% tread remaining.

What was unusual was I took the 16" out in the rain, riding conservatively as you do in the wet when you just want to get somewhere, and, scared the shit out of myself.

In the wet the 17" (Conti Attack 2) occasionally will break traction at 6000+ rpm in 2nd (and no doubt 1st) at WOT, but not always.
I am now accustomed to that level of grip in the wet from this tyre and most of previous ones.

I had forgotten what the 16" tyre selection is like (at least here in Oz) and nearly got caught out jumping from one to the other.  For the rest of the trip I adjusted my riding accordingly but remained uneasy with the diminished reserve grip.

I've read of a lot of guys on here who intend staying with the 16" for "originality" or the misguided belief that because the bike was designed around crossplys, it will handle better with them.

I realise the 17" conversion is not possible for everyone for financial or skill level reasons but it should be right up there on everyone's wish list, if only for safety.

I've had many more "moments" than I deserved to get away with on the my 16", wet and dry, and very few since on better rubber.

Even conservative riders can find themselves too hot into a corner or needing maximum braking occasionally.

Don't underestimate the benefits of modern tyre technology.

Noel