Pirelli Diablo Rosso 2 review

**Furyos J** · 30th April 2012, 17:16

Bike: 2000 CBR600f
Tyrres: Pirreli Diablo Rosso2. 180/55/17, 120/70/17
Kms: 3000
Type of riding: Motorway commuting, spirited weekend riding. 2 full track days. 1@ Taupo, 1@ Manfield
Tyre Pressures: Everyday: 42psi rear 40psi Front, Trackday: 32psi front and rear.
Previous tyres: Dunlop Qualifiers

I know many think sports tyres are a waste of money,it was a hard call on getting sports/touring or sports, but i have always had the intention of using these at track days so i went sports.
While this is only my second set of tyres on this bike, and i cant remember what tyres i had on my old vfr, i have never ridden on tyres that have given me such confidence and felt so natural. The first thing i noticed was the smooth turn in compared to the qualifiers, and towards the end, the qualifiers got very squared off, and were not the best at turning in.The diablos at 3000kms are still very even all around, and still feel brand new. They are also very good in damp conditions, but i never push it in the wet so cant say for shure, but i can say that the dunlops were much slicker in the wet.
At the track they offered heaps of grip for an average rider, and felt super sticky when warmed up and on full lean over, trail braking into corners and hard acceleration out felt shure footed all day.Maybe a better rider would have found the limits of these tyres, but i couldnt. I never got the dunlops out on the track, so cant compare them there.

Im pretty shure they are not even close to half worn yet, so i am thinking i may get 8000- 10000 kms on them, and i would be very happy with that. So far, these are the best tyres i have owned. Here are pics at 3000kms

**Hitcher** · 30th April 2012, 18:09

Good luck with your distance objectives. I ran a set of these on my GSX1250FA, out of necessity. I was decidedly unimpressed, particularly by their piss poor handling, but also by their lack of wear life.

There are sports touring tyres (indeed most of those) that will out handle and out wear the Rossos.

Once again, good luck. I will be most interested to read your end-of-life report for these.

**Pwalo** · 1st May 2012, 09:59

Originally Posted by Hitcher

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Good luck with your distance objectives. I ran a set of these on my GSX1250FA, out of necessity. I was decidedly unimpressed, particularly by their piss poor handling, but also by their lack of wear life.

There are sports touring tyres (indeed most of those) that will out handle and out wear the Rossos.

Once again, good luck. I will be most interested to read your end-of-life report for these.

Well they seem to be working ok on the SV at the mo. Perhaps they didn't suit the extra weight and power delivery of the 1250.

**Furyos J** · 22nd May 2012, 17:26

Have had these tyres for 6 months now
Fitted at 65125kms
Now at 68872
Traveled 3747 kms
Tread depth fitted 3.15mm front 4.8mm rear
Tread depth at WOF check today 2.9mm front, 3.5mm rear

My wof guy (ritchards motorcycles in jville) made comment on how well the rosso 2s were wearing, and very even. It is somthing he says he has noticed with all the rosso2 sets he has sold is they are all wearing very well for sports tyres. Looks like two rears to one front

Maybe my little ol 600 doesnt chew the tyres so bad as a big bike, but im super stoked with these tyres. A lot of my commuting kms are 2up aswell. Have been riding on some of the frosty mornings with no problems with grip. They still turn in just the same as when they were new, smooth and shure footed.

**actungbaby** · 22nd May 2012, 22:00

Originally Posted by Furyos J

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Have had these tyres for 6 months now
Fitted at 65125kms
Now at 68872
Traveled 3747 kms
Tread depth fitted 3.15mm front 4.8mm rear
Tread depth at WOF check today 2.9mm front, 3.5mm rear

My wof guy (ritchards motorcycles in jville) made comment on how well the rosso 2s were wearing, and very even. It is somthing he says he has noticed with all the rosso2 sets he has sold is they are all wearing very well for sports tyres. Looks like two rears to one front

Maybe my little ol 600 doesnt chew the tyres so bad as a big bike, but im super stoked with these tyres. A lot of my commuting kms are 2up aswell. Have been riding on some of the frosty mornings with no problems with grip. They still turn in just the same as when they were new, smooth and shure footed.

Nice review yes got same brand on my vfr 750 i do like the grip i need new rear so are they good value price wise too

**Furyos J** · 24th May 2012, 06:20

I paid around $550 for the set fitted. So i guess that they arnt that cheap.

**Hitcher** · 24th May 2012, 19:23

Originally Posted by Furyos J

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I paid around $550 for the set fitted. So i guess that they arnt that cheap.

Cheaper than $760 (including fitment) in Gisborne.

**akiwibloke** · 24th February 2013, 11:02

Originally Posted by Hitcher

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Cheaper than $760 (including fitment) in Gisborne.

Boyd Motorcyles. $495 for a set fitted or shipped. 190/50 & 120/70
Get mine fitted next week. Will see how fast the K1200S rips them apart and get back to you.
Cheers

**nakedsv** · 24th February 2013, 11:19

I've got these on my sv650 also, finding them very good so far, nicer feel than the pilot road 2's that were on my old sv. Done approximately 5000k on them so far with juyst the slightest hint of flattening on the rear. Still turns in very nicely and great grip in the wet ( not that there has been much of that lately ). Just my two cents.

**DMNTD:Me** · 24th February 2013, 14:07

Originally Posted by Furyos J

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I paid around $550 for the set fitted. So i guess that they arnt that cheap.

LOL....jebus, my back Rosso2 reartyre's RRP is $489 + fitting
Ok granted it is a 240/45/17 but I have got nearly 4,500kms out of it and it is time for replacement so quite happy with it's wear rate, considering.

**MaxCannon** · 26th March 2013, 13:04

Fitted a set a couple of months ago on the BMW.
Done one track day and then mostly commuting since then.

I like them. Good grip, communicative, wearing very well. Hasn't rained much lately but I didn't fall off when it did so they seem pretty good.
Wet grip seemed better than the BT016's they replaced.

Turn in feels slightly more relaxed than the bridgestones. Ride feels a little smoother, softer sideways I think as I check pressures every week and they are the same as before.

So far on this bike I've had
Metzler M3
Pilot Pures
Conti Sport Attack
BT016

The Conti's made the bike feel a bit nervous. The Bridgestones were slippery in the wet. The Metlzers I like and had no complaints. The Pures were best in the wet but ran out of grip on the track.
So the Rosso IIs seem to be top of the pile - till I wear them out at least.

**kiwi cowboy** · 27th March 2013, 17:51

Originally Posted by DMNTD

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LOL....jebus, my back Rosso2 reartyre's RRP is $489 + fitting
Ok granted it is a 240/45/17 but I have got nearly 4,500kms out of it and it is time for replacement so quite happy with it's wear rate, considering.

so how does a ginny125 handle with that tire