| Author | Message | ||
     Grlryder |
I've been searching and researching potential tires for me XB12Scg. My riding style is moderate to barely agressive. While I love corners, I will probably never see a track day. Stability is just as important as maneuverability. Im now seriously leaning towards the Metzeler - Roadtec Z6 Other considerations were... 2. Metzeler Sportec M-3 3. Michellin Pilot Power 2CT (seem to be just a tad to agressively designed for what I would use it for) 4. Conti Sport Attack Anyone running or know of someone who runs the Roadtec Z6? Your thoughts are appreciated.} | ||
| Henrik |
both the Sportec and the Roadtec are great tires. I run the Sportecs on my SV650 mostly track bike. My pace is mid-pack in the intermediary group, and I've only run out of traction when I did something stupid. I have the Roadtecs on my S2 and get both great mileage (all things considered) and plenty of grip for my riding - but I'm fairly conservative/sedate on the street. Never could seem to find a good place to crash on the street  That said, I ran the MeZ4 on my S3 on the track, same groups as the SV and never had an issue with traction. The Z6 is being advertised as having more traction than the Z4, so my guess would be that you'd be fine for "sane" street riding. Henrik | ||
| Reepicheep |
I ran a Z6 on my Cyclone, as well as Z4's. The Z6 would be my #2 choice of tire right now, but I like the scorpion syncs better. The Z6 was an excellent tire though. From what you describe, a z6 would be a good tire for you. | ||
| Jackbequick |
And I put about 2,300 miles on a set of Z6's on a 2000 M2. They were wonderful, very neutral. Confidence inspiring in the wet too. I was not an aggressive rider and the Z6's replaced the original and 5 year old Dunlops (D205s?). I did not realize how much the Dunlops were affecting the handling until I got the Z6's on. I used to find myself occasionally wondering where the D205s were going to take me and the Z6's just seemed to go where I wanted to go without any fuss. From talking to others, I think the Z6's would have lasted 6,000 miles or so with my riding style if I had kept the M2. Reep, what makes the Scorpion Syncs your first choice? Are they a little softer or grippier? Maybe better if you ride a little more on the aggressive side? Jack | ||
| Reepicheep |
They seem to grip better then the Z6's in the dry on the road (just barely though), stick in grass / gravel / mud in ways I would not have believed possible for a street tire, and work great in the wet as well. And the tread pattern looks cooler  I think they are lighter then the Z6 as well, but thats pure speculation. The syncs are insanely light. All that, and they seem to wear about as well as the Z6's did, and for about the same price. The real difference is off pavement. It may have saved me at least one lowside during a moment of adolescent judgement shortly after I got the bike, and it's great fun to be able to blow through gravel or take off across a field if situations warrant. | ||
| Grlryder |
Thanks for the responses! Funny you mentioned the syncs because I did like that tire as well, but Buell seemed to indicate they were for Cityx or Ulysses only. hmmm... guess I might have to research that one a bit further. Its nice to hear more positive back-up on the Z6's as they are a pretty sweet looking tire. All the google research on the tire is great, but hearing from Buell riders is far more meaningful to me. May have to get them through cycle gear. The local HD dealership said $502 tire/install out the door. I figure I can save at least $100 off that crazy price. by buying them myself and then pay the $120 for install | ||
| Reepicheep |
They might do it cheaper if you bring the wheel in off bike. That's how I do it with my Buell dealer. That requires you have some way to support the bike without any wheels though. If nothing else, it makes you appreciate that its a decent amount of work, and you mind paying $120 less. It would take me forever on the tuber, as I always felt the need to redo the belt tension and wheel alignment. I love the XB Zero Lash rear. Just bolt it together and go! (Message edited by reepicheep on February 25, 2007) | ||
| Mcdusa1 |
I have about 1000 miles on Z6. after I returned from about a 250 mile trip to bike week the other day I noticed a flat spot in the center of the tier. I went to this tier to avoid this. I don,t want to here about straight line riding I did not build the roads to Daytona. I am running 36lbs in the rear 34 in the front.What the heck? | ||
| Littlefield |
There's not a tire made that won't wear a flat strip in the middle of the rear tire if the bike is ridden in a straight line. That being said the Avon 45/46's I've run on the heavier BMW K1200GT seem to maintain a round profile longer on the front that Michelins. Can't understand that. I don't understand why a decent sport touring tire like the Avons or Pilot Roads won't get 7-8,000 on a rear tire. I get that on the BMW which is a lot heavier, is putting comparable torque to the ground, and is ridden the same. | ||
| 12r |
The 2CTs on my Firebolt have retained their profile even after several thousand miles. Admittedly I don't do much straightline work but compared to the set of 'std' Pilot Powers I had before they are a lot better in this respect. | ||
| Fdl3 |
Z6 Mileage: Rear 13K Front 18.6K Pilot Road Mileage: Rear 13.5K Front 15K I am now running my second set of Michelin Pilot ROADS. To me, the PRs provide slightly better wet grip. Both the PR and Z6 had real good dry grip (for sport touring tires). Since most of my riding is commuting (with 50/50 back roads/interstate), mileage is important to me. I feel I get the best mileage out of a Z6/PR without sacrificing too much grip. Toward the end of the life of the FRONT Z6, the tire began cupping - but only like maybe the last 2-3K miles. I had to replace the REAR Z6 because of wear down the middle. Toward the end of the life of the FRONT PR, it develops a kind of "stiction". It is somewhat hard to explain, but it occurs only at low speeds, say in bumper to bumper traffic where you are moving along a slow speeds. The front PR has a tendency to not want to turn initially. It is like it is stuck in some kind of goo that you have to get out of before the tire becomes responsive to turning. It is not as bad as it may sound - it is just an indication to me that I am due for a replacement tire. I had to replace the rear PR due to wear down the middle. I prefer the PR over the Z6. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Mcdusa1 & Fdl3, I totally agree with you.I do not rate the Z6 much. I had the same problem with the Z6 when I did a 1000km trip to Athens using the motorway, which is NOT 100% straight line. I kept my speed at 180km/h. When I got back to Thessaloniki the brand new Z6 rear tire was SQUARE. THAT WAS BAD. I never used them since. Also although the corner grip was OK the bike was not very stable at speeds around 200 km/h. So next time I went to Athens I put a Michelin Pilot Road on the rear and.......when I got back the tire was brand new! Also the Pilot Road is very stable at high speeds, OK grip on the dry and ABSOLUTELY the BEST tire on the rain. So I would choose Pilot Road over Z6 any time for sport&touring use over the summer. I bet the Roads can manage 15.000 km | ||
| Xbullet |
7 K miles on my scorpion syncs. barely a flat spot and LOTS of interstates. (long way to the mountains from my house....) and i ride moderately aggressive. i still have about 1000 miles left on these tires. i think i'm gonna get another set soon. | ||
| Gunslinger |
Tire life is one of the things that has kept me from doing long trips (time and money being the other two). I have determined that a new set of tires at the turn-around point is an unavoidable expense. It sounds like you get pretty good mileage out of the Syncs though. | ||
| Zcyclone |
AS I POSTED IN ANOTHER SECTION, IVE HAD DUNLOPS (YUK..OEM), LASTED 4900 MILES. CONTI FORCE LASTED ALSMOST 7000 M (ONLY $158 FOR FRONT/REAR. CURRENTLY ON Z-6 WITH 8000 MILES, 10K SHOULDNT BE A PROBLEM. DO ALOT OF SPORT TOURING/DESTINATION TYPE RIDES (RELUCTANTLY ON THE INTERSTATE 35% OF THE TIME). NO TRACK DAYS FOR MY 2001 M2. NEXT SET Z-6 OR PIRELLI STRADA (SAME FACTORY/OWNERS). | ||
| Josh_ |
I love the Z6s on the street and the track under my 145HP/600lb pig. Enough that I put them on the RS1200. I did get a chance to try the Dunlop Qualifiers and they do stick better and handle extreme heat better, but not enough for the milage difference - almost 4k on a rear Qualifier with 4 track days, but almost 10k with 4 track days on the Z6s. The Z6s handle better at the end of life also. I have not tried Pilots or Avons. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Z6's are my second favorite for sport touring... they are great tires. I prefer the scorpion syncs now, better on grass, gravel, or mud, lighter, and a little stickier. They wear a little faster though. The Z6's were great though, as were the Z4's (and they had a cooler looking tread pattern). | ||
| Tpoppa |
How can you get 13,000 miles on a Z6 rear? You must be really easy on the throttle. I got 15,100 miles out of three (3) Z6 Rear tires: 1st 5,200 2nd 5,100 3rd 4,800. I consider my riding style to be aggressive sport touring. | ||
| Zcyclone |
Tpoppa: Must be real aggressive. How about tire pressure? Type of roads make a big difference..i.e., concrete, black top, black top with gravel/cinders. Alot of interstate/high speed riding with incorrect pressure might be a possibility. | ||
| Josh_ |
My bike has twice the horsepower and weighs about 200lbs more, and I'm getting almost twice the miles plus 4 track days on a rear? Your riding is "Sport Touring" or "Sport burnouts" ? | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thats true. I probably used a good 15% or more of the total life of a Dunlop D205 in two days riding Deals Gap and the Chrohola Expressway on my old M2. You could see the difference at the end of the day. On my second trip on the 9sx, the scorpion syncs showed no additional wear. Of course, that was two days riding in the rain... | ||
| Bayou_flyer |
I have the Z6 on my bike it was bought with 6000 miles so i don't know how long they had before me but i now have 10000 miles on the bike so thats 4000 of riding to work and interstate the rear tire is just beginning to develop a flat spot | ||
| Werewulf |
ive used the z-6 on bmw and other bikes... best tire for the street that ive ever used..i like ME880s too... |
