| Author | Message | ||
     Cataract2 |
Ok, for all of you who have done those 5000 miles journey's. What tire did you use and did you have to change it during the trip for wear. I'm currently running the Pirelli Scorpions and like how they wear and feel, but am always opens to something better. Mind you, my trip will be taking me to the Gap area. | ||
| Josh_ |
I plan my long rides to need tires sometime after the ride (and I prefer Metzeler Z6s). My dad typically has a tire changed in the middle of the trip and usually just stops at a dealer and asks to get a tire put on. | ||
| Tramp |
?? I use whatever's cheap... usually dunlop 208s... even when i haven't had to change tires during a 3-6k miles run, i've usually sh*tcanned 'em upon arriving at my destination, 'specially if i took rt 80 across the united states... the corn states, when windy, will give you lop-sided chicken strips as you lean, statically, into the wind on your straight-line journey... | ||
| Phillyblast |
Heh - I just hang off one side for a while, until the buttcheek goes numb.  "Course, my bike has a special carbon fiber tire protector built in  | ||
| Tramp |
I was gonna try that, but i was afraid that i might ....er.......enjoy it  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Cataract2: Metzeler Z6's are indeed good tires, but will NOT last anywhere close to 5k, at least on my FJR. the rear was toast (well into the wear bars) in 3000 easy miles. i hate the way Dunlops feel, especially the 207's and 208's. the original Sportmax II's that came on my S2 in '96 were a grand tire, but subsequent sets (D204s) over the years left me cold. Dunlops D205s are a great long-distance tire, but have a reputation (well-earned) for being slow to come up to temp, and for not being particularly "grippy." that said, i ran many sets on my S2 and S1W and they worked great, even on several BattleTrax courses. the D205s are no longer made, and availability in the "standard" sportbike sizes is getting tough. D220s, marketed by Dunlop as their replacement for the 205s, never gave me more than 2500 good miles. i think i ran three sets of them, and finally said enough is enough. great while they lasted, they just don't last very long. Bridgestone BT0220s worked the same for me as Dunlop's D220s, good for about 2000-2500 miles then they go away in a HURRY. i've run three sets of Avon AV45ST (front) and AV46ST (rear), and they are an EXCELLENT long-distance tire, with excellent grip and excellent wet-weather traits. when the new rear Z6 i just spooned on for Laguna is toast, a set of the these is going on the FJR. famous Iron Butter/endurance rider Gary Eagan swears by the AV45/46ST's, and says he receives no sponsorship from Avon for his blatant enthusiasm. my experience after running three sets (on a VFR) leads me to believe that Mr. Eagan knows what he's talking about. if your trip is "only" 5000 miles, you should be able to leave and return on the same tires, with some room to spare, and will certainly enjoy the way they work on the Dragon. one rider's opinion. ride to lean, Ferris | ||
| Tramp |
h*ll- just buy the cheapest ones ya can find.... longer-wear/less grippy makes for better throttle steer anyway...ride like ye'r on dirt  | ||
| Phillyblast |
BTW I love the Avons, and they're actually relatively cheap. Tramp, It's only enjoyable for the first 8-10 hours.  | ||
| Josh_ |
I put Z6s on the FJR before I went to CLASS and put about 300 fun miles on them at Road America (a VFR pilot said I was leaving black marks at every corner). I put another 700 on them before loading up for a 2-up, 9 day, 3100 mile ride on the East coast. Tires are now maybe halfway to the wear bars, I expect to get 6k at least out of them, probably 7-8k if not for the RA time. Just FYI | ||
| Chainsaw |
I run Avon Venom-X on my Sporty. I get 21,000 miles on the front and 28,000 on the rear before a large screw cut short it's life. Was getting 9,000 & 15,000 on the stock Dunlop 204's. The Avons stick well in the wet, too. | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
interesting Josh. most of the miles on mine were two-up with gear, but they were easy miles, if such a thing is possible with 127/90 at the rear. good to hear of your mileage numbers, i'm still going to try the Avons. Yamaha (and Metzeler) say you shouldn't/can't run other than the "factory recommended" rubber (i.e. Bridgestones or Metzelers), but the Avon rep at Laguna said the AV45/AV46's would work great (altho that's what one would expect to hear from an Avon rep...) thanks for the positive feedback. FB | ||
| Xbjelly9s |
I have over 6000miles on D220's, not exactly easy miles.  | ||
| Josh_ |
most of the guys on the FJR sites rave about the Avons, but they also like to run 42/42 psi and crank the suspensions as tight as they'll go... That said I'll probbaly try the Avons next. I will say the Z6s were simply incredible on the track and great in the rain. | ||
| Dale |
Do not forget pilot roads. A good tire for the long hall. | ||
| Cataract2 |
Well, how well would the Avon's do at the gap vs. the Pirelli Scorps? | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
i have no experience with Pirellis, but the Avon AV45/46ST's will handle the Dragon just fine. ps: based on the mileage some of you are getting, i seem to be hard on tires. makes the fact that i'm high on the Avons all the more noteworthy, eh? (Message edited by jerry_haughton on July 20, 2005) | ||
| M2nc |
I too am trying to find a good long lasting tire. I have K505 on my Nighthawk and D207/205 on the M2 (D207 on front, D205 on rear) The Nighthawk will get 5000 to 5500 on the rear and twice that on the front. I just took the bike in for front tire #3 after 22,000 miles over all. I enjoy the acceleration of a bike and riding long distances in a straight line bores me stupid. So I like to ride on back roads, which involves lots of stop signs, turning from one road to another and so on. Also in the south, the heat loves to eat tires. I noticed this on my trip back from Cincinnati last month. The bike road through Ohio and West Virginia with no sign of excessive wear. As soon as I started down the mountain in Virginia, you could see rubber building on the tires and it was picking up rocks like crazy. So the climate your in I believe will play as big of a role for tire wear as your riding style. The M2 is a bit different. Running the Dunlops, D207 & D205. The first new rear lasted 3500 miles doing the same duty as the Nighthawk. The second rear tire made it 5700 miles with a long journey back home from Cincinnati with a strip showing. That rear tire spent more time on the long trips. That tire went to Daytona, Suches GA, and Cincinnati. The long runs on the interstate help the life span of the tire. For those who have experience with the Avons, what kind of mileage did you get out of them and how much better is that than you experienced with other tires. That way I can estimate what mileage I can expect if I try a set the next go around. Chainsaw, quiet impressive mileage! thanks | ||
| Steve_mackay |
I've got approximately 3,300 Miles on scorpion syncs. 95% city commute riding and 1 track day. I have a minimum of half the tread left so far. I am EXTREMELY happy with the tires over the D207s. They warm up faster, MUCH better on wet roads, and are lasting longer. (Message edited by Steve_mackay on July 20, 2005) | ||
| Motoboss2 |
I just rode a set of the Z6's to the Moto Gp and back to Indiana. I've still got several thousand left in them. Quite the upgrade from the MEZ4's | ||
| Onebuell |
i'm confused. | ||
| Dino |
I'm confused too. Was that Jerry Haughton who said that he put easy miles on a set of tires. Hehehehe. No, couldn't have been. That'd be like a tea party breaking out at a WWF event. | ||
| Unibear12r |
I agree Dino!!!!! My tires don't last much longer trying to follow him! | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
i'm confused. | ||
| Buelliedan |
Bridgestone BT 020s will last a 5000 mile trip and they are great tires! Its all I run on my S2. | ||
| Dino |
Jerry - I know. The BT020s that came on my FZ1 were well browned by 3000 and were completely toasted by 3500. However, I may have gone for one or more rides with the above mentioned Mr. Haughton while on those tires. |
