Stickiest tire for older VFR750/700F?

I've run Metzelers, Dunlops, Bridgestones and now Pirelli Sport Demons. I have 5K on the Pirelli's and like them the best. They have incredible grip, they are quite. I ride them hard in the twisties and have never lost faith in them.

 

Where are you finding the Pirelli Sport Demons in 130/80-18 at? They list the fitment, but I can't find anyone that carries them.

And I'd really like to pick those up, vs. the ones I have. Wife's bike has those, and they're pretty nice, and mine I don't feel stick like they should (especially at off angles like a decreasing radius turn with a crest in the middle of it). Not blaming the tires, but I know they're at least 2 years old, not much mielage on them (think they're the dunlops), and aren't exactly confidence inspiring...

 

Any dealer should be able to order them through Parts Unlimited.

 

I checked out today what these tires cost today, and werry suprised how much they change in a year.
Lats year the pirelli was cheapest, then michelin, Bridgs, avon and conti mid prize nad Metz high, Dunlop highest.
Now Bridg is cheapest, 247€ a set (asking prize)
then Dunlop 254€, Michelin 261€, Pirelli 265€, Conti 276€, Avon 280€ and Metzeler costiest 326€ a set! Thats nealy 80€ deffrent! Huge to me.
I know I get 10% off for Pirelli, Metzeler and Dunlop, 20% of Bridgestons, and 13% of Contis (mounted thro!)
Starts to look like the Bridgestones is a good deal, even Pirelli and Dunlop seems intresting...

 

Those prices are surprisingly high. I expected those numbers with USD, and with the USD at 1.5:1 of the Euro...

 

Great thread!

I've been happy enough with the BT's but will prolly give the Pirellis a try next.

 

I got my BT45s two days ago, the compared the the rubber that's been on the bike since I bought it (Dunlops), the difference is massive and I can tell without even having put them on yet, they're really soft, I dented the wheel with my nail a day ago l and the mark is still there.

I was disappointed to find out that the dealer I bought them from wouldn't even mount them for me, even though they have a full size service center, dealership and parts service, :frusty: . Their excuse... they don't work on pre 1998 bikes, I was so confused by this information I forgot to ask why.

 

I'm running a 140x70 on the rear and a 110x90 on the front. Haven't noticed any ill effects from the different profiles.

 

Basically a CYA thing for dealers that apparently make to much money to begin with. The CYA part being parts availability if they where to damage something. The way to avoid this is just show up w/ your rims & don't tell them what there for. Smaller shops are the way to go for tires, they are hungrier & appreciate your business more.

 

interesting that the only Dunlop tire listed here is the GT501, which is a decent tire, but I am running a Dunlop K205 (140/70/V18) on the rear and am quite amazed at the handling in the corners. I come back from rides and have used every last inch of the tire to the edges (if you know what i mean) and have never popped out or slid out with the K205.

also, just like tbones says, shop the local and small tire stores. customer service tends to be considerably better.

 

Have those that have gone from a 130/80 to a 140/70 rear noticed any change in steering from the extra width?

 

steering changes

I have heard many opinions on this regarding steering and/or handling issues when changing to the larger size. However from a purely personal standpoint I have noticed better handling from slow to go and back down again.

I would say that I would always choose more meat down than less but know there is a limit when it comes to any machine. In this case it was a good decision all the way around.

Hope that helps.
D

 

I called around smaller shops to see who would first off would do the work on my bike and second who did it most economically.

My local Cycle Gear said they would do it at 25 per tire, but I would have to remove the tires from the bike before I brought them in.

I called C&D Cycle, they're willing to take check-in my whole bike, swap the tires at 30 per. and made sure they didn't have any pre-19** rule. I hope I understood them correctly and that they're going to do the labor of removing and reinstalling at 30 per, seem a little off to anyone? Almost seems to good to be true.

 

the only thing on top of that might be a minimum shop chargem but otherwise, i get mine mounted and balanced for $35 per every time by a local guy in a small shop.

 

I just got my bike back from the shop. taking a 4 hour northward trip to visit an old friend to break them in, the bike feels a way different, but a LOT better. Smoother and I don't have that uneasy "the rear tire's going to slide out from under me" feeling. I'm taking it easy for the first 200 miles or so, then I'll work on getting rid of chicken strips .

I can hear the wheels gripping now (from when the pavement grabs rubber and it kinda snaps back).

 

Please don't take this as an argument or anything, but isn't that the same thing that happens every time you get new tires? You go from one extreme to the other. You had a cashed-out set which certainly weren't performing anywhere near the level they once did (this is regardless of brand/model). Now you have brand new tires on there which are performing at the highest level they can offer. The "gripping the pavement" is only from the oils leaching out, once they are scrubbed in that should go away.

My point is that your experiences are more of an "old vs. new" rather than a comparison between tire models. I don't claim to be a tire expert but I need a new set of tires every year so this is something I've gone through many times.

 

You are correct, any brand would have probably made a significant difference. I was just remarking at how apparent the difference was. When I put new tires on my car, I hardly notice a difference, the dynamics of a bike are still something that's new to me is all.

 

I'd tell them to kiss my ass! Idiots. I wouldn't buy anything else from them either.


Lane

 

Yeah, I took my bike to a smaller bike shop that's just kinda a hole in the wall. When they did my tires they took the time to caution me on the first couple hundred miles, 100% cleaned/lubed my chain, cleaned up my plastics and the tech chatted with me for 10 minutes about my bikes.

At the other place they probably just had me sign that the work had been done and sent me on my way.

I'll definitely take any work back to them in the future.

 

Its good to take the first miles carfully, the first 2 really cearfully.
I havent had any problems whit pirellis and metzelers, but I ones had a dunlop, and it was werry slipery the first miles, I did a 180 degree in first turn from home! I´m glad I didnt crash the bike! I have stayd away from dunlops since then.....