| Author | Message | ||
     Xbimmer |
Anybody have personal experience and opinions? Love the Syncs but my non-paved riding is under 5% and I'm wanting more than 5-6k out of the rears... | ||
| Crempel |
I put on the RSs after my Syncs in the hope of significantly more mileage too. I got about 3500 miles from the Sync rear. The Sync gripped and handled well, but 3500, come on! Dunlop advertises them on bikes like the tanker Concours 1400. The Uly isn't a very powerful or heavy bike. I have now had the RSs on for about 5k and I'm down to the wear bars in the middle. Just did a 800 mile two day trip through the twisties in southwestern Colorado and while the tires gripped and handled flawlessly, it sure took its tole on the center of the tire. Strangely, with so many miles of twisty roads, the allegedly softer sides of the tires look fine as far as wear goes, although several times when I stopped and inspected the tires the rear show a shiny stripe on the sides where they must have gotten a bit hot. I was hitting the corners pretty hard (as a 30 over ticket on the south side of Wolf Creek Pass will attest), but have never seen this on any other tire before. The shiny stripe disappeared after a while. I imagine if I run it until the center groove is completely gone, I will get about 6 to 7k out of them. I was really hoping for 10k, but...I really thought with the dual compound, I would wear off the sides more than the middle, but no luck. I did check the tire pressure religiously too. I have no idea how some people on this forum get 10 k or more out of a rear. The front RS still looks almost new. Has anyone tried the Bridgestone BT021 dual compound on the Uly yet? | ||
| Wrongway2 |
I have not tried any of the dual compound tire. I do however have 11 k on a set of Metzler ME880 Marathons, and the rear looks to have at least a couple of k's left in it. They don't offer it in a 180/55/17, so I opted for the 170/60/17. I average around 20k per year. I believe this is my 7th rear tire. I stand corrected. I just looked and Metzler now offers a ME-880 Marathon in 180/55/17. (Message edited by wrongway2 on June 16, 2009) | ||
| Rwven |
I got 8500 out of my Diablo Strada. | ||
| Froggy |
PEBHAS - Problem exists between handlebar and seat. | ||
| Dfishman |
I just ordered a RoadSmart today to replace my Strada.I get between 4000-5500 miles out of the strada's.Hoping for a little better.I ride 400 miles of 55-80 mph straight roads to get to the mountains about 3-4 times a year.Then I put about 7500 miles of fast twisty road miles a year.I don't ride my Uly local much because of the boring nature of riding on Hatteras Island(One straight flat road)I use my XR650R for my commuter bike. I feel like location,temp,length of ride,and how much wrist action effect tire wear. | ||
| Ulynut |
5K out of a Strada. Got the same from the 616s. | ||
| Bosh |
I'm midway through a set of dual compound tires right now. I've never been able to get more than 2800 miles out of any tire before, D616's 3 sets all about 2800 miles for the rear. Right now I have a Bridgestone BT021 dual compound on back and a BT016 on front. I wore the BT021 front tire out before the rear at 6300 miles, the rear is still going strong and will probably last 8.5K or so. Cant recommend the BT021 front tire as it's too easy to push when riding hard but the rear is at least as sticky as the D616, The BT016 front if frigin AWESOME (the rear 016 is probably too soft for good mileage), and paired makes a perfect for me combo. Bike turns quick but doesn't fall in to hard and tracks through turns like a sportbike, also I noticed it doesn't want to stand up if you brake in mid turn like it did with the sock tires. I'm sticking with this combo until they don't make em anymore.  | ||
| Dfishman |
I got 10 days out of the 616's .2800 miles.I liked the tire but could not afford to replace a tire every 2 weeks of a trip.The front tire was good too 5000,then it started cupping & gave the dreaded head shake.I must say they were impressive in the rain.I was riding with 4 good riders on a rainy day & I had to keep stopping for them to catch up.I never had the feeling like I was going to lose traction. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I got a good 10K out of my last set of Roadsmarts. All paved roads. I think I could have gotten more out of them, but I have a couple trips to take soon and didn't want to mess with a tire change while on the road. Most of the miles were cross country, so mostly interstate miles. | ||
| Armymedic |
Bien, what pressures do you run in your RS? | ||
| Rotorhead |
I got 10,000 out of my roadsmarts. Only got about 8,200 out of the Avon storms. never had a set of sync's sorry but if your looking for mileage and handling I'd go the roadsmart way. Yeah, they are dunlops but I liked them enough to order another set tonight. Rain slab and serious twisties they did the job. | ||
| Jphish |
Ive got RoadSmarts on my ST-1300. Only about 2K miles so can't provide any wear data, but they do handle nicely on a 700# bike. When my Uly's Distanzias wear out I'm putting on the Pilot Road 2's for any pavement oriented long hauls. Been recommended by lots of folks that get up to 12K...and I've already got a set waiting in the garage. j | ||
| Crusty |
I've had good luck with Pirelli Diablo Stradas, but I've got a set of Roadsmarts on the way. They'll be going on the XT in the not too distant future. | ||
| Cyclonedon |
I've had really good luck with my Dunlop D616's. the first two rear tires got 10,000 each and the front was changed at 20,000. But since I don't do any off-road riding, I might just switch to the Roadsmarts to see if they will get a little more mileage for me. I've only got 5,000 on my set of D616's now so it's going to be awhile before I do any tire changing. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
Kevin, Been running 36/38 psi on the interstate. Bob | ||
| Jphish |
When I contacted Dunlop they said 42/42 on the RS pressures. Just FYI. j | ||
| Xbimmer |
Thanks for all this input guys. My main interest is how the Roadsmarts compare with the Syncs. I know lots of people like the 616's but I didn't, and the one rear Strada I tried only got me 4k and I didn't like the handling either. I didn't want this to be another Best Tire thread, just a specific comparo or Roadsmart opinions. They seem to get rave reviews on vendors' feedback links and I was hoping some Uly riders could chime in.  | ||
| Crusty |
I just went to the Dunlop site, and they recommend 36PSI front and 38PSI Rear for Roadsmarts on an XT | ||
| Armymedic |
Thx Crusty. That's what I put in as a default. Didn't know if people were running higher numbers than that. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I switched from Syncs (2 sets, about 5k miles on rears in WNC area) to Michelin Pilot Road 2's this year. I am bout 2K miles into them, and like them a lot. Seem to handle at least as well as Syncs, and have no significant wear in center so far. Sides have "fuzzed" up nicely with some recent aggressive rides near Deal Gap, clearly showing the difference in compounds. No funny feeling during transitions across the rubber zones, which I was originally concerned with. I'd guess I will get 1.5 to 2X the mileage of my Syncs easily, with no downside so far. Did well in the rain also (even better than the Syncs, and I really was a Sync fan). I had bad experience with Bridgestone 020/021, but that was on a Ducati, not the Uly, and before I moved to the twisties. | ||
| Crempel |
In response to Froggy, on my bike the only thing between the handlebars and the seat is the airbox???  I ran mine at the stock recommendation of 34/36 I think. I imagine running 42 on both could help. | ||
| Etennuly |
Like Arcticktm, I was a fan of the Syncs. Ran nearly all of the rears to 6000 miles. The last rear one I had wore to the wear indicators in three separate areas with little wear in others, but it ran smoothly. It only had 3500 miles on it. I switched to PR2 on the rear. The first one lasted 10,000 miles and handled better in all respects, except for wet grass and mud. Easier turn in, less lean for the same speed in a particular corner, wet handling amazes me. I will have a new PR2 on the front fairly soon. I have not tried the Roadsmarts. As long as the PR2's stay as good as they are I don't see a reason to try them. The sales guy told they were less likely to last as long as the PR2. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Think I'll pull the trigger on a set of Roadsmarts then. Hopefully the sectional profile is closer to the Sync than the 616. Be great if Dunlop would update the 616 with the Roadsmart multi-compound construction and get rid of that center groove and half of the slots in the front. Thanks!  | ||
| Armymedic |
I'm liking my RS. About only 200 miles so far and they really ride nice, esp. after the 616s. They feel very neutral in handling and have been good in the rain. | ||
| Snowscum |
Im running the RS's for a couple of K now and I like them over the 616's for the pavement. I will get another set when mine are done. | ||
| Crempel |
The Dunlop website publishes 42/42 for all sizes of the RS but when I emailed them directly the reply was to tun 36/38 f/r on the Uly. FWIW | ||
| Crusty |
This is from the Fitment Guide on the Dunlop site: Make: Buell | Model: XB12XT (08-09) - Ulysses Front Rim Size: 3.50x17 | Rear Rim Size: 5.50x17 -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Recommended Front Tire: Tire : SPORTMAX ROADSMART | Size : 120/70ZR17 | Loaded PSI : 36 No Image Available Recommended Rear Tire: Tire : SPORTMAX ROADSMART | Size : 180/55ZR17 | Loaded PSI : 38 No Image Available Alternative Front Tire: Tire : SPORTMAX QUALIFIER | Size : 120/70ZR17 | Loaded PSI : 36 Alternative Rear Tire: Tire : SPORTMAX QUALIFIER | Size : 180/55ZR17 | Loaded PSI : 38 |
