New rubber

[andrewsmith]

Hi all

The joys of motorcycling new rubber :smt041
I'm wondering what everyone is putting on as I'm a bit of a quandary where to put me cash.
I've recommended BT021's (sorry now the triple compound 023's) by a few bandit owner for the mileage I'm doing.

I have also been recommended the Michelain Pilot CT's and Dunlop Roadsmarts by a police instructor :plod:.

I've still got about month or so remaining on me Mezlers Z4's that came with the bike, so I ain't a massive rush.:drink:

[Mr Speirs]

I currently run Pilot Road 2's. Brilliant tyre, especially in the wet.
You are still running the original Mez4's????? Jesus they are 10 years old.

I'd be getting new rubber asap. I found the Mez4's bad in the wet and not much better in the dry. Anything will be a revelation after them especially if they are indeed the original Mez4's.

But yeah my recommendation is Pilot Road 2's however a lot of people swear by the Avon Storms and tbh if I didn't crash my bike I would have gone for the Avons too.

[andrewsmith]

haha yes they are the factory tires, came with the bike!

Tbh I've used them in extreme wet and they are ****e, not had any major probs in the dry.

I've run a pilot sporty (125 variant of the ct's) and found they were spot on in the wet.

[Mr Speirs]

My god, 10 years is a very long time and tyre technology has moved on light years.
Im really suprised you haven't had any issues like squared off tyres, how many miles has the bike done? The compounds are so hard that although they last a long time they are naff in the wet and reasonable but still not great in the dry.
I rode mine with the Mez4's on and the first time I went out in the wet decided straight away they needed changing.

[andrewsmith]

the bikes got 4600 miles on it. The tires are now starting to square at the centre but not v badly atm.
I've been thinking about new tires since the good(ish) weather is back.

I did start finding their limits last weekend on the Miltary Road (Heddon-on the-wall to Chollerford) and they has nice trick of lighting the rear when on a 2nd gear full throttle roll on

[Mr Speirs]

Yeah you need new tyres. The SV doesn't develop enough power to easily break rear traction in 2nd gear, not with a decent tyre anyway and the softness of the rear shock, should be just power all the way.

[andrewsmith]

Thats what I thought. Just me mate fright when he disappeared ahead and a re-appeared at about 110

[fizzwheel]

Have a read of the tyre section, plenty of threads on this subject.

I'd wager now you'll get a thread full of people recommending Avon Storms nwo though.

I'd definately suggest something Sport Touring orientated if you are doing alot of miles which is what the bridgestones are that you have been recommended already.

[andrewsmith]

fizz just had a look and that's what the section pretty much says!
Think I'm going to get them changed tomorrow and I'll see what they've got in.

[andrewsmith]

To give you an update.
got the tires changed this morning and plumped for roadsmarts.
There around 20 quid cheaper (supply and fit) than the avon storms and BT 023's

[BanditPat]

Remember you can use them more than once but its best not to.

[Gumboot50]

I've just had some BT021's put on the SV, replacing the Dunlops that came with it. The ride seems rather jogglier (if that's a word) now. Also the bike seems to respond to steering inputs much more than it used to.

Does that square the others' experiences, or ami I just imagining it?

[Stu]

I've just had some BT021's put on the SV, replacing the Dunlops that came with it. The ride seems rather jogglier (if that's a word) now. Also the bike seems to respond to steering inputs much more than it used to.

Does that square the others' experiences, or ami I just imagining it?
No it's not a word ;)
New tyres are always gong to be better than old tyres and yes it will steer better than on a squared of rear, also not difficult to find a tyre that's better than the OE dunlops