RF900 and Pilot2 tyres

[cowpatz]

Anyone running this combo? My Pirelli Diablo Strada's dont have long left and the Pilots were recommended as a replacement tyre.
Just wondering if anyone can comment.

[cs363]

Anyone running this combo? My Pirelli Diablo Strada's dont have long left and the Pilots were recommended as a replacement tyre.
Just wondering if anyone can comment.

Yep...exactly what I'm running (Pilot 2CT's) and my 9 had the same Pirelli's on it when I got it. The Pilot's were a big improvement over the Pirelli's, though to be fair the previous owner wasn't big on cornering and the Pirelli's were worn a bit flat in the middle which didn't help...
I found that the Michelins did take a few km's to 'bed in' or whatever you want to call it, but now they have done some mileage I am really impressed with them. Talked a mate of mine with a ZX9 into fitting some and he is equally happy with them. So far wear rate seems to be very good and I really can't think of anything bad to say about them.

[MSTRS]

Second that. The Pilot Road 2s were made for bikes like the RF. Well, you'd think so.

[NZsarge]

Third that, just bought a second road 2 for the rear of the 14, most milage i've had out of any tyre i've had on my bikes and stuck plenty well enough for me but I will say i'm running power 2ct's on the front but the combo seems fine to me...

[Owl]

Another vote for Pilot Road 2's:yes:

[banditrider]

Me too! 10,310kms so far and still going strong on my big fat bike. They are breaking records for me now...

[cowpatz]

Well I guess that is sorted then! Now to source them at a good rate.

[Mully]

Well I guess that is sorted then! Now to source them at a good rate.

Let me know if you manage to get a good price - my Diablos are half dead so I may need some new ones now that the better weather is nearly upon us.

[PrincessBandit]

Have them on the bandit. Excellent tyres.

[banditrider]

Well I guess that is sorted then! Now to source them at a good rate.

Try Boyd Motorcycles in Hamilton. The did me a very good price - although I did buy 3 sets of tyres (not all for me) at once.

[beyond]

Awesome tyres.. I've tried many different types and combos but the best all around tyre for my bike is the Pilot Road 2's. I get more kilometres per set, better grip wet and dry and lots of confidence and feed back from these tyres.

A rear will do me around 4-4500kms and a front will stretch to 6-7,000kms.

That is bloody good for my bike. I do push them hard and love corners :)

Other tyres wear a lot quicker on my machine but theese are great!

[CookMySock]

Yep, I have PR2's on my 650 and they are like the hand of god.. particularly noticeable in the wet.

Steve

[cs363]

Well I guess that is sorted then! Now to source them at a good rate.

In theory Cycletreads in Barrys Point Rod, Takapuna should be able to give you the best deal seeing as they are owned by the importer of the tyres.... :)

[Colapop]

I have a second set of PR2's on my RF now. The first set I did approx. 17,000 k's on. Sure grip all the way through their life. Now onto the second set. First set I got through Bayride in TGA for $520 delivered. Second set I got from... ummm... the place in Hamilton on Te Rapa straights for $540 (picked up)

I got told before I got them that Michelin rubber goes off about 2/3rds through their wear but that turned out to be crap. PR2's rock!! :headbang:

[MSTRS]

The first set I did approx. 17,000 k's on.

Wastrel...
I got 18,000 and still WOFable

[crash harry]

Here's another vote for PR2s. Unless you ride the RF like a real demon there's no need to go to Powers - I'm running PR2s on the R1 and it does everything I want it to on the road. Track days would be a different story.

[NP82]

Well I guess that is sorted then! Now to source them at a good rate.

I'm also looking at putting some on my RF. I was quoted $300 for the front down here in Dunedin... (don't need to replace the rear yet)
Did you get a good price?
Cheers

[Grubber]

Yep to the pilot 2 ct's. Had some Metzlers before on my Daytona and thrashed them in no time. Put the 2ct's on and they are just awesome. Warm up quick and stick like the proverbial Sh;t to a blanket.
Cycletreads are the place to go. Got a good deal there about 3 months ago. $520 for a set i think.

[dogsnbikes]

Cycletreads are the place to go. Got a good deal there about 3 months ago. $520 for a set i think.

Was quoted that for a set Miches power 2 front road 2 rear for my daytona too,now my tyres wear out at the same rate around the 11000k mark compared to the 3-4000k mark I was getting from just a power 2 rear

Can't go wrong with the road 2's

[Owl]

Yep to the pilot 2 ct's. Had some Metzlers before on my Daytona and thrashed them in no time. Put the 2ct's on and they are just awesome. Warm up quick and stick like the proverbial Sh;t to a blanket.
Cycletreads are the place to go. Got a good deal there about 3 months ago. $520 for a set i think.

So are they Pilot Power 2CT's or Pilot Road 2CT's?

[NP82]

Yep to the pilot 2 ct's. Had some Metzlers before on my Daytona and thrashed them in no time. Put the 2ct's on and they are just awesome. Warm up quick and stick like the proverbial Sh;t to a blanket.
Cycletreads are the place to go. Got a good deal there about 3 months ago. $520 for a set i think.

I was quoted $700 for the set, plus fitting. Think I'll shop around a bit...

[cowpatz]

I was quoted $700 for the set, plus fitting. Think I'll shop around a bit...

Yep that is getting up there. I have not really started to shop around yet but the most was $650 from Bikesport in Helensville....close by. I have yet to try Cycletreads.
My front wheel still has a fair bit of tread left but I dont really like to mix tyres. The front is a Pirelli Diablo. Not sure what sort of compound it is but the PR2's are a dual compound. I prefer to have equal stickability.

[cowpatz]

Quoted $573 for both at cycletreads.

What would be the better rear tyre size...a 170/60 or 180/55 ?

Manufacturers website recommendation is for the 170/60

[MSTRS]

Have a look on one of the spokes on your rear rim. There will be some lettering. Somewhere in there will be a '5' or a '5.5' ... RF's don't all have the same width rim so fit the tyre that suits yours.
5 = 170
5.5 = 180

[cowpatz]

Cheers. Thanks for that.

[RDjase]

Quoted $573 for both at cycletreads.

What would be the better rear tyre size...a 170/60 or 180/55 ?

Manufacturers website recommendation is for the 170/60


Have a look on one of the spokes on your rear rim. There will be some lettering. Somewhere in there will be a '5' or a '5.5' ... RF's don't all have the same width rim so fit the tyre that suits yours.
5 = 170
5.5 = 180



My Ducati Monster has a 5.5 rear and says 170 tyre is recomended. It did have a 180 when i got it, i tryd a 170(cheap trademe 2nd hand metzler) and it turns in better on the twisty stuff. I think i will go with a power 2ct front and Road 2ct rear(in 170). The 170 size doesnt give you as much range in tyres as 180 and 190s

It shouldnt make much differnce with a 170 or 180 on your RF

[MSTRS]

Ah, yea, I run a 180 on a 6" rim and it turns in very smoothly too. I prefer the feel, compared to the 190 I ran before. However, the 190 is the 'recommended' tyre for a 6" rim...same goes for the sizes I stated above.

[Blackbird]

Ah, yea, I run a 180 on a 6" rim and it turns in very smoothly too. I prefer the feel, compared to the 190 I ran before. However, the 190 is the 'recommended' tyre for a 6" rim...same goes for the sizes I stated above.

Interestingly, some quoted 180 tyres are closer to a 190 in reality - the Avon Storm for instance. The newly-released Avon VP2 sport tyre which I've been recently testing for the importer is closer to a true 180.

[MSTRS]

True, that. The profile (shape of the curve of the treaded area, not the sidewall height) can make a huge difference.

[Blackbird]

True, that. The profile (shape of the curve of the treaded area, not the sidewall height) can make a huge difference.

Yep, both the width of the tyre in plan view and the curve as you say. The VP 2 has an 8mm higher crown than the Storm, presumably to aid turn-in and give a bigger footprint when leaned over.

[cowpatz]

Thanks but I guess it the choice is less clear now. It does have a 5.5 rim and the current tyre is a 180/55. As I have never run a 170 on it what do you reckon I opt for, the recommended 170 or the 180?

[Owl]

Ah, yea, I run a 180 on a 6" rim and it turns in very smoothly too. I prefer the feel, compared to the 190 I ran before. However, the 190 is the 'recommended' tyre for a 6" rim...same goes for the sizes I stated above.

Just out of curiosity MSTRS, have you tried a 190/55?

[Mully]

Thanks but I guess it the choice is less clear now. It does have a 5.5 rim and the current tyre is a 180/55. As I have never run a 170 on it what do you reckon I opt for, the recommended 170 or the 180?

Mine's running a 170 Diablo on the rear. You are welcome to come and take it for a ride to see what you think of the 170... Good comparison if you are running Diablos too....

(but not today or tomorrow, cos I just realised the WOF expired a couple if weeks ago......)

[MSTRS]

Thanks but I guess it the choice is less clear now. It does have a 5.5 rim and the current tyre is a 180/55. As I have never run a 170 on it what do you reckon I opt for, the recommended 170 or the 180?
Stick with what you are familiar with...if you are happy with it, that is.

Just out of curiosity MSTRS, have you tried a 190/55?

I ran a Pilot Sport in 190. I don't recall the profile. When it was fucked, I wanted to replace it with Road2, but all I could get was a 180, and I loved the difference.

[Colapop]

I found running a 180 meant I had to roll the old girl over into the corners and it took more effort to get her back up. I'm running a 170 now and she handles as good as can be expected for a RF.

Wastrel, Jonboy? Two more weekends travel would have made it to 18k...

[RDjase]

I found running a 180 meant I had to roll the old girl over into the corners and it took more effort to get her back up. I'm running a 170 now and she handles as good as can be expected for a RF.

Wastrel, Jonboy? Two more weekends travel would have made it to 18k...

Thats what i found with my Duke as well

[MSTRS]

Wastrel, Jonboy? Two more weekends travel would have made it to 18k...

Who, me? I got about 8000 out of the rear Sport, and it was so thin you could see light through it once off the rim. :pinch::sweatdrop
Conversely, the Road2 had done about 18000, and was still WOFable. Just.

[RDjase]

Was quoted that for a set Miches power 2 front road 2 rear for my daytona too,now my tyres wear out at the same rate around the 11000k mark compared to the 3-4000k mark I was getting from just a power 2 rear

Can't go wrong with the road 2's

What are the powers like in the wet? I want to go Power 2 front and a road 2 rear(170) Just wondering about the wet peformance between the two

[crazyhorse]

I know how you feel. I've used Diablo's on my SV for what seems like forever, and they never let me down once. It was not the best option to put on the GSXR1000 when I needed to put new tyres on it, as they would be chewed out too quickly. The boys here are all running Pilot Road 2's, so decided to try them out.

Personally, they seem to grip well, even in the wet, as I managed to ride bit quicker than some in the rain, and I never lost confidence in them.

Certainly a tyre I would recommend as they tend to stick as well as my favourite Pirrellis.

Sometimes you gotta try something, but the boys all rave about the PR2's, and now, so do I

[Blackbird]

Sometimes you gotta try something....

Yep, I've just been evaluating the new Avon VP2 sport tyres for the importer. They've lasted pretty well considering they were on a lardy old tub like the Blackbird but the grip...... bloody hell, my nerve failed well before they let go in all conditions.

The full life write-up should be in Kiwi Biker in the next couple of months, so there's another tyre well worth considering.

[Owl]

What are the powers like in the wet? I want to go Power 2 front and a road 2 rear(170) Just wondering about the wet peformance between the two

Powers are good as gold in the wet. I wanted to try a PR2 on the front of mine this time, but they didn't have any my size, so I opted for the trusty Power 2CT. I also like the standard Powers wet or dry.

[dogsnbikes]

What are the powers like in the wet? I want to go Power 2 front and a road 2 rear(170) Just wondering about the wet peformance between the two

I never had a problem in the wet.....lets say that I am just comfortable riding in the wet as I am in the dry.....

it took me 12 months to get the tyre/suspension combination right for my style of riding/weight and knowing where my comfort zone is

but everyone I know with road 2s seem to be happi with them and they are seasoned riders

j

[cowpatz]

Mine's running a 170 Diablo on the rear. You are welcome to come and take it for a ride to see what you think of the 170... Good comparison if you are running Diablos too....

(but not today or tomorrow, cos I just realised the WOF expired a couple if weeks ago......)

Many thanks for the offer there Mully. However I have decided on the 180/55.

[RDjase]

I know how you feel. I've used Diablo's on my SV for what seems like forever, and they never let me down once


What model Diablo's were you running on the SV?

I was going to try Diablo rosso's as they are available in 170 rear

[emaN]

I've had mine since May 03 & always run standard tyre sizes on it.
Can't really see the point of forking out the extra moolah for a 180.

At the moment I'm running Pilot Sport up front & a Road on rear.
It allows for knee down, black lines, good mileage, & all weather riding.

Sorted!

[Mully]

Many thanks for the offer there Mully. However I have decided on the 180/55.

Meh, no worries. Got the new WOF today anyway.

[cowpatz]

Where do you get your warrants done?
Hopefully get my new PR2's fitted tomorrow. Bikesport in Helensville gave me the best deal. $600 fitted.

[cowpatz]

Just got my new tyres fitted...it would be the shittiest day of September!
Very nice looking tyres. Of course it will take a few K's to scrub them in (riding back in the rain with new and unknown tyres was a pain but not far to go fortunately).

[cowpatz]

I have done a few K's now on the tyres but they still need more wearing in. Only just starting to push them a bit but so far I really like them.
The bike tips in really nicely and very controlled. They really do inspire confidence. I avoid the rain so I can't comment on the wet weather aspect.
Nice tyre and they probably suit the RF well. These will be keepers. :2thumbsup