| Author | Message | ||
     Aaron |
Clearance has more to do with size than tire model. A 170/60 ought to fit no matter who makes it or what model it is. If you have PM's, you can fit 180/55's, some have even fit 190/50's. Variations in the exact dimensions of a given size only become important when you're pushing the envelope of what will fit, which the stock size does not. IMO, a Cyclone doesn't offer enough lean clearance to make a soft tire like a D207 worthwhile. You'll get shorter tire life for performance you can't use. | ||
| Budo |
This wheel thing is kinda a dirty little secret. My right side bearings (rear wheel) were loose at 25,500 miles. The only option my dealership offered me was to try to sell me a new wheel for $475.00. I called Modesto Buell (Modesto rocks!) looking for a used wheel. Deanne informed me that the wheel is a warranty item replaced at no charge to me! Deanne said that one of every five or six bikes they see have a bad rear wheel. Where the bearings have enlarged the bore in the hub. I noticed on the paperwork that Deanne sent me that the retail price on the wheel was $325.00. | ||
| Djkaplan |
Aaron, I've got to respectfully disagree with the statement that a 207 would not be worthwhile on a M2 because of the lean clearance. I've run both tires to the point of breakaway and consider the slightly softer compound of the 207 a plus. The tire life is shorter, but not short enough to offset the higher traction. I plan on replacing my tires very soon. What would you recommend besides the 207's (in the stock size). | ||
| Aaron |
Well, I guess on my M2, I'm dragging hard parts well before I'm sliding, even with longer lasting tires, at least on typical surfaces. But whatever. I rarely use the same tire twice just because I'm not happy with any of them. That said, my favorite medium-performance tire so far has been the BT020. I use these on my M2 and S2, neither of which leans far enough to need a gumball, IMO. I've slid on them but only in unusually poor traction conditions. I currently have BT010's on the S1, hoping to replicate my semi-satisfaction in the BT020 with it's stickier sibling. No comment yet. I liked the stickiness and mostly the predictability of the BT56SS I had on there before but man that tire wore out fast. AW | ||
| Spike |
AW, Have you tried increasing rear preload for more ground clearance on the M2? I tightened up the rear just to compensate for the extra weight of a passenger, it ended up making a tremendous difference in cornering clearance. I used to drag parts everywhere. I was dragging parts so hard that I accidentally upshifted once. Now that I've increased the rear preload I really have to work just to put a peg down. Hope this helps. Spike '99 Cyclone AIM: cheetahRX7 | ||
| Jerome |
Yes, this clearance discussion probably depends on how preload is adjusted on each bike. I concure with Djkaplan statement regarding 205 versus 207. On my Cyclone I often experienced slow sliding on hard turns with the 205, not anymore with the 207. I dragged the pegs only once... And I'm not one of these laisy riders as my game-yard since 15 years is french Alps curvy roads... I wear the 207 up to about one tenth of an inch before their edge on each side. This may help to figure out clearance versus grip in the discussion. Aaron, thanks for your comments on the Bridgestones. | ||
| Blake |
Then in addition to lean angle, there's always throttle/brake input to help grip go away.  | ||
| Aaron |
Well, the biggest difference is probably that I'm not much of a hot-dog rider  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Anybody tried the D-207 on the front with the D-205 on the rear? I almost tried it after my dealer mounted the wrong tire, but made them change it back to the correct D-205 when I found a slit in the side (from whoever unpacked the tires). My first set of D-205's, the rear got good and worn out, but the front was replaced due to cracking in the tread grooves and into the sidewalls when it still had significant tread depth left. So I don't think I want a softer rear, it would get too expensive, but a softer front might not get replaced any sooner then the D-207, and give me a little extra braking margin. Does the D-205 and D-207 family have the same profile characteristic that would allow them to be mixed? Anybody tried this? Bill | ||
| Henrik |
I've always been happy with the Metzler MeZ4 tires, both on street and track. They take a bit of time to warm up, but once warm provides plenty of grip, even for excessive lean angles. For comparison, I used these tires for 2 years of track days. The S3 was set up with correct spring and preload on a 1" shorter (i.e. higher rear ride height) Penske shock, Banke peg relocators and shifter. I finally went to an MeZ3 on the rear when I got so far over that I had to remove the kickstand as well ... =:0 Btw. while there might be poser points in dragging hard parts, it's not a very good idea. Once dragging parts lever your rear wheel off the ground, traction suffers greatly . Before I started removing the kickstand I did exactly that one day at Pocono East. In my favorite turn - a long, slightly uphill left-hander leading onto the front straight - all of a sudden my rear wheel stepped out about 10". Big time pucker factor. There was an instructor right behind me, who got a good scare himself. he pulled me off the track and told me not to out-ride the hardware. I got the message ... Henrik (yeah, I know - I do it too :-) | ||
| Ccryder |
AW: You may not be a Hot-dog rider (yeah sure)but for some reason you go through boots on Battletrax and the S2 sure looks pretty leaned waaaaay over in the Rockies (at least it did from my perspective). GOt2Work Neil | ||
| Aaron |
Everything's relative. I think I'm below average. You should see how them European fellers ride. I'm waaaay below average in that crowd, trust me. | ||
| Bomber |
my Ma Duece grounds the end of the side stand pretty easily (not just on track days, but on the street as well) . . . trimming the rubber bumper that holds it away from the frame (in the up position) with a hacksaw to approx half it's original thickness gained alot of ground . .. . that said, my 205s were feeling kinda greasy at the end of a track day in 90+ degree heat (F) . . . . think I'm going for something else . . .the bridgestones sound good | ||
| Jerome |
Aaron, you're correct that we are often riding pretty hard on open roads here in Europe. Maybe it's because our bike culture is too much imprinted by the Isle of Man Tourist Trophy... :-)) But one must keep in mind that we don't have cops behind every turns, like you have in the good old US of A ! Among all bikes that I owned, the Buell is anyway the most demanding on tires. Its leaning capability combined with the torque monster inside the frame is a good test for tire makers. One of my good Buell fellows here in the Alps once went to change his rear tire at a Ducati store (wheel alone, they didn't know which bike he owned). The guys were pretty much impressed to see the tire worn out on the edge and with still a good 2K miles in the central part... Trying to figure out if he owned a GSXR or a ZZR, they almost fall down when he said "BUELL !"... :-))) | ||
| Jerome |
I must add that this french Buell fellow lives at 3000 feet elevation and goes to work everyday with his Buell at...600 feet elevation. Pretty nice road in between, I never counted the number of turns. ;-) | ||
| Peter |
I think Aaron is correct on the lean angle of the M2. I have Banke risers on mine, and the suspension is setup for my weight (heavier springs etc) but the pegs and sidestand hit the road before I reach the edge of the tyres. I'm using Pilot Sports at the moment which have given a nice compromise between grip and life. Gotta agree on the Euro guys also, they're crazy, especially that copper PPiA | ||
| Djkaplan |
You guys are flying. I've never ground my sidestand! There are no real fast sweepers in my domain. Almost all the twisties are very tight, slow corners. Still, you guys are flyin'. 2000 M2 | ||
| Blake |
Peter: You especially should give some rearsets a try. Forget about ever dragging pegs/shifter on street tires. | ||
| Peter |
Blake, I have plans in my head for modifying that whole rear peg assembly for rearsets. PPiA | ||
| Racinswifty |
hehehe.......go scrape an elbow! | ||
| Stoef |
 My black coated discs are ready for Croix!!! | ||
| Stoef |
Does anybody know the cause of the strange wear out of my fronttire??(is that correct english?) There is a difference to feel in profiledepth especially in the middle of the tire and a little at the side. You can feel it real good with your hands.... The tire is treated on the normal way (no wheelies, no stoppies and a correct tirepressure) and is used for 5000mls now.     Thanks Stoef | ||
| Buelliedan |
Looks like tire cupping to me. Pretty normal stuff with the Dunlop 207s. | ||
| Mikej |
Yep, Looks like "normal" tire wear due to tread configuration and rubber-dynamics (enter analytical mathematical formuli and equations here). Some tires and tread patterns show this more so than others. Just run slicks. Anybody who gets full wear clear to the sidewalls of their tires don't need tread patterns anyway. | ||
| Blake |
Yep, Stoef, on braking and leaning the leading edge of each treadblock gets peeled back and wears more quickly than the trailing edges that can bend into the groove and spring back into place having avoided abrasion. I saw that a LOT after my trips up and down the twisty 600 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway the past couple summers. | ||
| Racinswifty |
Blake is right. I have the same problem with the X1 and my kawasaki zx9r. These are normal wear for D207. My next set for both of these bikes is Pirelli dragons evo. expensive but grips good. | ||
| V2win |
Its simple, you have been on the front tire too much. MORE WHEELIES!!!!!! On a seriious note: The Metzler MEZ4 does not cup so much because of the tread design. Also, the Michelin 100X is supposed to be designed not to cup so bad. I have just put a pair on but have not put enough miles on yet to find out. | ||
| Bigblock |
I have a few hundred miles on my new Metzeler Sportec M1's, And I must say these tires are awesome! The grip is incredible, the farther you lean it, and the more gas you give it while leaned, the better they feel! The turn in is incredible, almost too good, excellent stability, I haven't been able to induce any noticeable headshake, even under extreme conditions at high speed on lousy pavement! ( this has been a problem for me in the past, especially with Dunlops) They look like they will probably hold up quite well, although it is a bit early to judge tire life, yet. The bike also seems to respond real well to footpeg weighting now, allowing me to adjust the line taken by weighting the inside or outside peg, with a much better feeling of stability and confidence now. I give these tires a A+ rating, far superior to 207's or Michelin Pilots, and also better than Avon Azarros, my previous favorite. They also give excellent braking feel and grip, and the best grip under power that I have experienced. And outstanding wet and cold and mixed condition traction, incredible I would have to say, and they warm up FAST, and don't seem to get excessively hot after severe abuse. They do turn in fast, though, and may not be for everyone, especially if you are mostly touring. Ray | ||
| Bigblock |
Stoef, Yes the cause of wear on your tires is caused by 5,000 miles! :-) | ||
| Bigblock |
A 2000 M2 with banke rearsets- I can't drag the pegs, but I have scraped that kickstand a couple times, I try to avoid that now! |
