New Member Here - Is there a tire thread?

Folks,

Hey there. New member here in San Antonio, TX. I've got a red 2007 VFR, and I LOVE it! I've been riding crusiers for years (HD & Victory), and I'd been wanting to ride a sportbike for a long time. Bought a Ninja 650 last year, but it really wasn't my style. Did my research and figured the VFR was right up my alley, and it is. Still have my other bikes and really enjoy all kinds of riding, but I've been riding the VFR almost exclusively lately.

So okay, that said, the bike I bought has close to 6,000 miles on it. TIres still look good, but I want to plan ahead and get an idea of what the most popular tire seems to be for year 'round riders in warmer, mostly dry climates. Like everyone else, I'm looking for the best tradeoff between cost, handling (performance), wear & comfort.

Thanks in advance. This looks like a very cool very active forum and I look forward to getting to know you guys 'n gals, especially if there are any South Texas riders! Also, I'll try to figure it out and post a picture thingamajig with my forum name, pictures of the bike, etc.

 

Hello and welcome!

A tyre question, Oh Boy LOL! That's like asking what oil do you use on this thread which usually starts some kind of riot! Some of use do track days so our tyre choices obviously lean (pun intended) torward sticky, some just ride to and from work or have little cash so they have bought Shinko's. But if I had to say what are the two to three tyres that fall in between and the members on VFRW seem to like they are:

1. Continetal Road Attacks
2. Dunlop Road Smarts
3. Pirelli Diablo Stradas

Your choice!

BZ

 

The dreaded tire riot...

Yeah, I know what yo mean. I used to drive a C5 Corvette. Bringing up tire or oil or ??? was about the same as bringing up politics or religion at the dinner table. Still, you gave me some good choices to consider.

Thanks!
DK

 

No problem Denman!

 

howdy and welcome, i have the red 07 like you and have recently put a set of conti road attacks on. when i got my bike it had about the same mileage as yours (one previous owner) and it had a mismatched set of tyres which always creeps me out(bridgstone front/dunlop rear)and i took a good look at the various tyre threads here in the forum, did a bit of follow up on the web before making a D.
The conti's generally got pretty good owner feedback and i also wanted to try something differant. plus i really liked the tread pattern and the fact the name is cast in the tyre (sort of like a wear indicator). So far I have about 1000 kms on them and they are doing a great job for me, admittedly in our summer conditions, as they are at the moment.
now thats its good and scrubbed in ive been experimenting with progresively pushing them harder and they feel very solid and planted under acceleration while leaned over at the various angles ive tried.

so far im pretty happy with them as a general sport tyre, touring tyre and general duties tyre. will have to wait for a track day to feed back on the super sports capabilities. but my general impression in this area is that the solid planted feeling may also be slowing down the steering a smidgeon at higher speeds.
but i have to be careful with thta analysis because my gen 4 is shod with perillis and that is a faster steering bike, so it may just be a differential impression on my part.
any way heres a pic of the rear, taken from this saturday, at the xmas toy run(hence the soft toys onboard)

RT

 

Thanks, Richard

Yeah, I've always been comfortable with Contis, with both cars and bikes. I'll probably need to put a set on the VFR in six months, give or take. Depends on how much riding I do over the winter, which we can usually do a lot of in South Texas.

So far, I haven't done anything to the bike, and frankly, i doubt I'll do all that much. I did order a set of Heli bars, as I'm 51 years old and kinda beat up and can use all the help I can get. I also ordered a Zero Gravity touring windshield, but that will probably be all I do. The bike is smokin hot fast as it is, so I can't see (for me, anyway) messing around with the fuel management system, intake or exhaust. I've modded both of my Harleys to hell and back, and it really IS true that the Harley itself is just a down payment for the accessories!

So, that aside, I really do need to ask you this - does the water in the toilet REALLY spin counter clockwise, down there in the Southern Henisphere?

Huh...
Dennis

 

hahahaha....yes! our toilets are differant too. i noted the american pan is longer and shallower, ours are shorter in the front but deeper.

wierd huh??

Heli bars sounds like a great idea( i was contemplating these on sunday) i could possibly recommend a seat change also-either corbin or sargent to assisit in the comfort area. i'm undecided on the touring screen, i quite like the lines of the stock screen, but maybe the helibars will change the whole wind deflection thing?

do you have the hard bags?

post up a pic when you get a chance, nice to chat.

RT

 

I've been quite pleased with my Michelin Pilot Road 2's. I can tell a world of difference between these and the original stock Dunlops. I've also heard good things about the Avon Storm ST's, and the Conti RA's.

Regards,
Rollin

 

Welcome to the site! I've used the Conti Road Attacks for the last 2 tire changes. they have good grip in the dry and wet. I was carving them this past Sunday and had no issues even though the rear tire could be near retirement. These tires last a bit longer than some i've seen used on the VFR which is a plus as well.

As for oil, I'm considering using Slick 50 :bs: from the advise of another poster (poser???) on the site! :heh: Oil is a very touchy subject as well as tires. The best advice i can give you is try a set and hope for the best! :thumb:

 

I ride a red '07 FVR 800A, shod with Michelin Road Pilot 2CT's (40 psi front; 42 psi rear).

 

Thanks for the feedback, everyone. I'll most likely end up going with the Contis, as I've already got a comfort level with them.

Richard, thanks for the specs on NZ potties, and no, I don't have hard bags for the VFR. I've got an '05 HD Electra Glide for any serious touring I may do. I'll post pics of the VFR if I can ever get my damn head above water.

As far as oil (uh oh...), I run synthetic in all of my bikes. Hope that isn't heresy on this forum...HAH!

Later,
DK

 

Welcome to the Site! We like any new members, but especially someone from the Dark Side (Harley), lol!
I have the same color and year but still am on the original Metzlers. I'd be leaning towards the Conti's though.
Enjoy the ride!

 

Reg is a shinko fan.

 

Welcome aboard! Cool Bike! I almost bought a red "07 last summer, but became a "victim" of the economy (waah! not really, I'm OK) and bought a '94 instead.

Check out Cyclegear.com. They have some smokin' deals on tires. I got a set of Bridgestone BT016's for my '94. Can't give a review on the tires as my bike is officially down for winter to redo the paintwork and I haven't ridden it with the new tires. If their combos deals don't have the exact sizes you want give a call and they'll set you up with what you want/need. Seem like good folks. They're doing a Pirelli Diablo Supersport deal right now for $189 the pair + shipping.

I run Rotella T Synthetic in all the wet clutch bikes I've owned and no problems at all.

Paul

 

Hi denman4453 and welcome.

I cant see where in NZ you live but I live in Tasmania where we have a reasonably high rainfall and changeable weather. I too have been investigating new tyres to replace a set of Dunlop D205's the previous owner fitted. I have had about 12000km (8000 miles in US lingo) out of them but want something a bit grippier and with good wet grip. have narrowed it down to Michelin Plot Road 2 or Metzeler Z6, (would like to choose the new Z6 Interact but they're not available here yet) so think I'll go with the PR2s for the moment.

 

just realised that's an old pic of my bike on my profile!!!! I wrote it off and now have an 01 red one - much faster- lol. I'd better organise a new pic...

 

New tyres now on

Well I finally decided on and had fitted yesterday my new tyres. Michelin Pilot Road 2's front & rear. Today of course is belting down with rain but regardless have to ride 150km this evening in order to attend a level 2 advanced cornering and baking course tomorrow, so will report when I get back. The dealer buffed them a little and took the bike for a longish ride for me, to check on and give me his impressions of its handling, braking etc. We have tweaked the rear settings a bit and on the ride home 20km mixed city/freeway commute it already felt much better, so am looking forward to some constructive advice, learning and track practice tomorrow. Suspension settings for anyone interested are as follows: my weight about 95kg (210lb) fully kitted up. Rear preload 3 clicks off soft, rear rebound 1.75 turns off full hard, front spring preload 2 rings showing and have dropped the triple clamp down the forks 10mm. I'm always interested on other's opinions about this stuff. I also plan to replace the fork oil sometime soon. :unsure::smile: