| Author | Message | ||
     Buellbum |
because i'm in florida and it's approaching the rainy season, i'm thinking about putting dual sport tires on my 2000 Cyclone. has anyone else done this? | ||
| S1owner |
Pilots | ||
| Upthemaiden |
I'm just thinking out loud here, without any real personal experience with dual sport tires... but wouldn't they be worse in wet weather than road tires? Knobbies work on the road, but have never been ideal as far as traction on pavement goes. You have less grip since there's less rubber on the road. I would think something like a standard/sport touring tire would be the way to go. | ||
| Lasbuell |
I like the look of them. I jumped on JP cycles page for tire and saw these. Pirelli Scorpion Trail 2 120/70ZR17 Front Tire • Pirelli tire for the latest-generation of enduro street riders • Increased mileage, improved wet grip with an incredible performance consistency throughout its entire life cycle • Innovative tread pattern combines the typical off-road style of the Pirelli Scorpion range with the experience directly derived from the Angel GT (Pirelli top sport touring product) • Peak performance of enduro and sport touring blended into one product • Larger center compound stripe to guarantee enhanced cornering performance • Central compound developed for higher mileage and improved behavior in wet conditions • Side compound for optimized balance between dry and wet performance • High performance for heavy, fully-loaded bikes • Incredible versatility ensures peak performance on long, straight journeys or twisty roads with the most adverse weather conditions  | ||
| Upthemaiden |
If you're looking at tires like Lasbuell posted, then I retract my previous comments. What's what I was picturing when I was thinking about sport touring tires. My comments were more towards on road/off road tires that actual have meaty tread on them. Side note... that's an interesting idea they came up with for spoked wheels that'll accept tubeless tires. My supermoto had spoked wheels, and I did the garage-fix of silicone caulking over the nipples, and gorilla tape wrapped around the center of the rim a couple times to make them air tight. Worked well! | ||
| Buellbum |
well, i need something with more tread because here in florida even on dry days the pavement often has sand on the curves and corners and the daily rains in the summer. i'm thinking about something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/120-70R-17-170-60R-17-Shinko-705-Series-Dual-Sport-Tire-Kit/322409995454?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649 (Message edited by buellbum on March 16, 2018) (Message edited by buellbum on March 16, 2018) (Message edited by buellbum on March 16, 2018) | ||
| Ratbuell |
The shinkos are cheap. Some folks have had decent luck with them in soft stuff (i.e. actual dirt and gravel) but my understanding is they're pretty sucky on pavement, and treadlife isn't great either. I run Michelin Pilot Road 4's on just about all my bikes and love them. Not much for off-pavement (hence the "just about" comment; my Uly is getting some Avon Trailmasters soon), but the Road 4's are awesome in rain - I've hit a half-inch of stnading water with no issues at all - and their treadlife ROCKS at nearly 12k per rear tire for me. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
No tread is going to help you with sand in corners. Off road tires give you grip in real dirt because they can dig into the rough surface a bit, but that's not going to help you with debris that's sitting on top of pavement. | ||
| Steveford |
Michelin Pilots are real good in the rain. | ||
| Airbozo |
I third/fourth the pro pilots. Running the 3's on my S3T and they handle the rain pretty well, even in the twisites. I don't get anywhere near 12k on them though. 6k would be pushing it. (Message edited by airbozo on March 16, 2018) | ||
| Buellbum |
ok, i'll probably get the Michelin Pilot Road 4. now to find my best deal.... | ||
| Mike_lee |
Ive had the pilot 3’s on the x1 and liked them. Got caught in a torrential downpour on the interstate last summer (first time in that kind of weather and it just happened to be in the interstate) but they did well. The rear wore out kinda quick at about 3k, guess thats prob my fault tho. No burnouts, just aggressive driving.The front will last another season so i just picked up another 3 for the rear. I believe the 3’s are going to be discontinued tho... So with that in mind.... I went with the michelin rs on the s1. Havent gotten a chance to try them out but hopefully theyll do their job for our trip to tennesse this spring. Ill try and remember to review this tire. | ||
| Steveford |
You'll like the Pilot Road 4s, they're excellent. I run 36 front/38 rear solo with good results. They seem to last longer than the earlier versions, I only know of one person who is running the 5s but he doesn't have enough mileage to offer any meaningful input. | ||
| Buellbum |
today at the HD dealer i noticed some aggressive treads on some new cruisers. they're Dunlop 429. gotta search for them... see, this is what i want but $423.50! https://www.ebay.com/itm/TYRE-D429-HARLEY-DAVIDSON -150-80-16-71H-DUNLOP-88D/382386345273?epid=270152 24565&hash=item5908009539:g:hC4AAOSw7p5ai2hJ&vxp=m tr | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
I've had good experience with the scorpion trail 2s, 8-9k out of a rear and 17 out of the front, on the uly. Road 3/4s have always treated me well too with similar results. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Road 3/4 are all dual compound. NO WAY you should burn through them under 10k miles. Tire pressures have to be waaaay off. I am not gentle with mine. Aggressive riding, aggressive downshifting, proper pressures. Get a GT (I think that's what they call it) rear for Buells as they're the ones designed for sport-tour / heavier bikes. Run higher pressures - the soft tire shoulders have plenty of grip, no need to run low psi to try and build heat. I run 38/40 F/R on the Uly and S2, and 36/38 on the S1W and CR. Easy 10k on the rears. Hell, I still have PR*2*s on the S2 they last so long!! I'd burn through a D616 on the Uly in 4k. It's going to get Avon Trailriders next since I do want a thicker carcass and some dirt work again. I miss my fire roads! And the Avons are dual compound too so they should last as well. | ||
| Mike_lee |
My rear had a flat spot right down the middle about 1.5” wide. Pretty much just a slick that wouldnt pass pa inspection. The sides however, looked untouched for the most part. Need to corner more  | ||
| Screamer |
Pilot Road 3s have given me the best tire life so far (Uly). I'm somewhat fanatical about tire pressure maintenance, and with 5800 miles on the rear - it was worn pretty evenly, but needed to be replaced. Anxious to see how much will be gained by going to the 4s. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Get the GT version, it's a heavier carcass, thicker sidewalks, and I think a different compound designed for heavier (i.e. Not supersport) motorcycles. | ||
| Robertl |
I'm in FL also and I put Pilot 4s on my 1125r last May. Left dealer and headed to Daytona for lunch. Rained like all hell on my way home...lol. I've felt them slip a few times but never lose confidence in them and would highly recommend. About 5k miles in 11 months and can see a little wear on rear and none on front. | ||
| Buellbum |
ok, thanks for the replies. gotta find my best deal on the pilots... | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
Hell, you live in Florida. You're only going to wear out the middle anyway.  | ||
| Upthemaiden |
"Hell, you live in Florida. You're only going to wear out the middle anyway. " Haha my wife always says we should move to florida when we're older, with "you could ride all year!" as her argument. We're down there a few times a year visiting her dad, and every time we're there I just look at those boring straight roads and think I'd rather ride 6 months a year on fun roads. | ||
| Buellbum |
the roads are not straight at all especially in central florida. they have to curve to go around the numerous lakes and ponds. oh, and NO INSURANCE REQUIRED ON MOTORCYCLES. i'm in heaven.... here's a pic of the alligator behind home depot. he's HUGE. don't show this to your wife. lol... i love this place.  (Message edited by buellbum on March 20, 2018) | ||
| Upthemaiden |
All I do every time we're down there is look for alligators. Nothing would make me happier than driving down the road and seeing an alligator just hanging out in someone's front yard. We spend all of our time closer to Taramac/Ft Lauderdale. I agree they're not laid out in the same ruler straight grid as NYC, but I'll gladly pay my $75 a year in full coverage in trade for the hilly/twisty roads we have here. | ||
| Ratbuell |
There's hills in FL...they call them "bridges". | ||
| Steveford |
There is a 7-11 in Coral Gables which has a really nice curve to the entrance. It's a little short but if you like right handers you'll be in heaven. | ||
| Buellbum |
if you take curves fast you WILL go down eventually. way too much risk for to little reward. all it takes is some coyote crap on the road or blown sand and you are DEAD or worse, in a wheelchair. when i ride my superglide, i like to get on the interstate and just f'n cruise. no worries about side-street, stop-sign runners et. i like straight roads and loud pipes. | ||
| Buellbum |
here's the tread pattern i want. it will shed water well in the monsoon season but still grab on curves. the price is enough to make me put a car tire on the buell. damn... Michelin-Anakee-III-Adventure-Touring-Tire  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Godzilla!!! Up in the frozen hell of Massachusetts, our problem animals are all mammals. ~edit spelling of Japanese Export Monster fail! (Message edited by natexlh1000 on March 21, 2018) | ||
| Buellbum |
you're lucky that you don't have any reptilian Haitians. biting monkeys would be preferable. | ||
| Upthemaiden |
That's a really good looking tire! | ||
| Buellbum |
yes, it has the tread pattern that i want. good for dry and wet roads. |
