| Author | Message | ||
     Arch379 |
need to replace tires on my 2003 xb9s.any ideas on whats best. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Michelin Pilot Power That's all there is to it:-) | ||
| Glitch |
Metzler M1 is my choice. But then again, just about any tire is better than the Stock Lops. Good tire, and since a few more tires have been released since the M1s were new the price is very good. GentleJon, you got mail. | ||
| Dago |
I'm on the Diablo Corsas currently. It's a great tire that dramatically improved the handling of my bike over the 207/8's. But I'm discovering you can find the M1 for a bit less than the Pirelli's. So I'm waiting for my front to go before I switch brands again. | ||
| Tpoppa |
Depends on you riding style. Metzeler Z6's handle great and will last twice as long as the stock 207's. At street operating temperatures, they have been excellent, and I push them hard. I would go with something else if you plan on many track days. | ||
| Truk |
I use Metzler M1 in the front and Metzler Z6 for the rear. Handles great for "spirited" riding and get better mileage out of the rear. I too push them hard. | ||
| Scitz |
I have the Dunlop 208 and it seem to wear down a bit to quickly on the rear for me. Switching to Metzler M-1, will see how it does. the Dunlop Seems to slip a lot when trying to pop a wheelie on asphalt, even after warming up. No problems on the curves though. I have noticed a few times that they need to really warm up before aggressive riding. | ||
| Jajarm |
I just put a set of Conti Road Attacks on my XB12S so far so good. | ||
| Fzrider |
I just changed the original Dunlop for the Pirelli Sync. Major improvement as everyone on this site commented, plus they are the cheapest quality tires I could find. Paid $245. The dealer wanted $370. Thieves! | ||
| M1combat |
I have used Metzelers so far (The Sportecs), but I'm going to put a set of Pilot's on next just to see if they offer more grip from the front tire with my current setup. As it is... My front slides around the corners if I don't get on the gas hard enough. I could fix it with a half of a line of front pre-load or an adjustment to the damping on either the rear or front, but I don't want to. | ||
| Gentleman_jon |
Just curious M1 - I was wondering why you don't want to change preload or damping if you feel it might solve your front end grip problem? Will it produce some other result that you want to avoid? | ||
| Glitch |
Just curious M1 - Me too. With the rear preload being so damn easy. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I use Metzler M1 in the front and Metzler Z6 for the rear." The fastest Buell rider I've ever ridden with uses and recommends this combo. I went with an M1 on the rear because I don't put nearly as many miles on my bike as he does. | ||
| Jessicasdad |
Pilot Roads for me .. they are awesome ..about 2000 miles on them and they still look new .... | ||
| Buellerx |
Scorpions  or anything but the stock Dunlops | ||
| Truk |
Ditto | ||
| Dagwood |
Any Pirelli's...Scorpion Syncs for general purpose or Diablos for more performance. My .02 | ||
| Chasespeed |
I am running D208s. And before they are warmed up, they can be kinda spooky, but its predictable.. But man, once they are wamred up, they stick, like velcro, I love them, and I will continue to use them, unless someone can find me a stickier tire, for similar money...I would ratehr burn up tires faster, adn NOT have eitehr the front or rear sliding, unless I induce it... FWIW, I have run various models of Pirellis on other bikes, and have been pleased..but for my combo, and different types of riding, the Dunlops are working for me so far.... Chase My 2 cents... | ||
| Dagwood |
Wow, I believe that is the first (and only?) positive comment about the Dunlops I've heard. Bottom line is, if they work for your style then go with 'em. | ||
| Moboy516 |
I ride 208s and I like 'em. They handle great and once warm they stick like glue. I do wish they wore a little slower and when it is cold out and the tires are cold, they are extremely slippery. I ran Metzler m1s once and the 207 and didn't like either one of those at all. The Metzlers didn't get a fair test though, I had my suspension set up wrong and the turn in was terrible, but it was my fault. | ||
| Rpmchris |
Michelin Pilot Roads, if you wanna "very good" sport tire and an "excellent" commuter tire. If you're going for "excellent" sport tire, then Pilot Powers. I'm probably 80% commute and 20% sport. | ||
| Scitz |
Does Pirelli make the Metzler tires? I just got my Metzler M-1's in today and one had a sticker from Pirelli Deutschland to Pats Unlimited CA. | ||
| Dilysi73 |
I have a Mich Pilot Power out back pilot road up front. front grips good but last thru almost 3 rears! Aaron  | ||
| Truk |
I think there is some degree of relationship between Metzler and Pirelli. I was told that they are made out of the same factory... but I do not know that for sure | ||
| M1combat |
The feel coming out of a corner is AWESOME. Any time I'm on the gas leaned over the bike feels perfect (to me I suppose) and just hooks up and goes and the front never gets too light (Which can cause a wobble over bumps). I can induce a little oversteer when the sides of my feet are dragging but I don't like to... my air-fence is made of rocks on one side and cliff/guardrail on the other. I suppose if I wasn't careful I could step the rear out as far as I'd like, but... see the last sentence  . I may go to 2.5 lines of preload on the front (I'm at three now) because if I do switch to the Michelin's I'll need to start over on the balance. I have had the front wheel hop off the ground in a near full throttle transition from right to left in second gear but when it touched down it just SNAPPED the bars back into exactly where they should have been and dove into the left. I ended up with a line about 3-4" outside of where I wanted to be. Good thing the geometry is right and I didn't have a death grip on the bars . The cliff was on the right... so it could have been ugly  . In case you are wondering... I think a little more rebound damping would have kept the wheel from losing contact (When I turned to the right to snap over to left lean angle I compressed the springs, about the time I was getting towards vertical they released enough energy to bring the front up) but that would exacerbate the sliding issue. The proper fix (I think) would have been to use more speed and less steering input to transition from my right lean angle to left lean angle... More skill... When I head to the track I'll most certainly go to 2 lines. I'll deal with a wobble if I have run off area. I'll also be riding with the balls of my feet on the pegs so I'll be getting it leaned over that last few degrees. I expect at that point that the front tire sliding issue will magnify itself so it will be worth it. On the street I tuck my feet into the primary/clutch covers but leave my heel on the peg. When the edges of my feet touch I know I'm going plenty fast for the street. (Message edited by m1combat on August 04, 2005) | ||
| Krassh |
You can get the Michelin Pilot Road for about $200.00 (front and rear combined) at Chaparral. Excellent Sport Touring tire, great wet and dry tire. | ||
| Trac95ker |
I put a set of Tomahawks on. I'm sold. They stuck like glue. Don't know how long they will last but they still look new after being at the track all day. Here's a link to the thread with pics from trackday: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/4062/131582.html?1123210578 | ||
| Firebolt1203 |
Well I just mounted a set of pilot powers on my bike, the dunslops made a nice smiley face out back at work :-). As far as the Metzler-Pirelli connection, Metzler is Pirelli's motorcycle only division, look at the Z6 and the new diablo stradas. On my old bolt I had the old 207s which lasted a whopping 3500 miles for a rear and I ran my front tire till it was bald (I don't recommend it) my experience with the 208s is that they are good tires when they're new but when they get a little worn they suck. The front tire gets cupped no matter how much you watch the air pressure. I've also ridden with a 190 rear tire, yes it will fit but it sucks. You cant use the whole tire cause a 190 is made for a 6" rim and it doesn't give the back tire that "fat tire" look cause its squeezed on there. The owner of the bike before me put a 190 on the rear after a flat tire, so it turned like a tug boat and took a lot more effort than a 180. I've only had the powers for a hundred miles or so, but they feel so different. The powers drop over easier and hold a line better than the dunlops, you almost have to counter steer to get the bike upright again. I haven't gotten to really thrash them but the powers give me the feeling that I can just point the bike in the right direction and go. |
