Got a Pirelli Sport Demon as back tyre and I am very disappointed

[Conquiztador]

Asked a while ago what was a good rear one for the old K100.
The Sport Demon was a recommendation.

In the meantime I picked up a spare wheel with a Michelin Macadam on. That one worked well. Could scrape the pegs (true!!). Not that I managed to do that more than twice, but still...

Got the Sport Demon fitted when the Macadam did run out of thread. And it honestly scares me! Aqua plans easily. When leaning the tyre lets go. The rear feels like it has a life of its own. Note that even with less than 1mm thread on the Michelin there was none of this going on. Have tried to change pressure but not much better sadly.

So I will get something else with grip ASAP. And then sell the Demon to highest bidder.

[Katman]

Well that certainly runs contrary to my experience of them.

They do move around a bit when cold but once up to temperature I've always found them to be highly controllable and predictable in the way they perform.

[Conquiztador]

Well that certainly runs contrary to my experience of them.

They do move around a bit when cold but once up to temperature I've always found them to be highly controllable and predictable in the way they perform.

And as I tend to sit a fraction above the speed limit I would be surprised if the tyre was cold!

After first ride (to Welly and back) I spent some time checking that all was Ok with the backend. I was sure something was loose. But did not find anything. So I fitted the old Michelin back on (is on the spare wheel) and she straight away changed personality and became predictable.

[Milts]

Have to say, I'm surprised to hear this as well. I got a sports demon as a replacement for the rear tyre which came with my bike and I love it. It handles significantly better than the previous one in the wet, and grips nearly non-stop once up to temperature in the dry, although this can take some time and the correct pressures. I also find that when it does let go, it does so in a controlled and gradual way rather.

[Slyer]

My sport demon front scared the hell out of me till it was worn in, since then it's been great, very nice tyre.
Going to get one to replace my commuter city demon rear as well.
It is designed for small and light bikes though, maybe that's your problem?

[Conquiztador]

It is designed for small and light bikes though, maybe that's your problem?

Good point! The K100 is far from light...

I will look for something sticky. I be OK to get below 10,000k's from it. Rather that and glued to the road than the other way around.

[mikemike104]

Sport Demon's came on the GPX250 I bought in May this year, both tyres have heaps of rubber left (<5mm) It feels like I have had up's and downs on them, I can relate both to the the "scary when wet" and then the "perfect in the dry" that the posts above relate to.

I had been feeling like they were shit but I have ridden on no other so it was a big call for me to make with no other experience on any other tyres, I then got talking to a guy (he's on here somewhere, a pom that rides a duke here in Hamilton) and he said to me that he had ridden Pirelli's all his life and that him having followed me on a LOR Sunday he reckoned it wasn't the tires that were my problem in the wet it was me accelerating over the slick patch's that was giving me issues :shit:

Haha, so I still have a open mind to them, I reckon they prob aren't that bad.

I do want to try a Michelin next tho just from what I'v heard.

[Neon]

I've got Sport Demons front and back on the the VFR (not by choice), front brand new and back getting pretty squared off, and am yet to be disappointed. This coming from Metzeler M3s on the Hornet which were awesome especially in the wet. Not sure I'd replace them with the same though, depends what's available for the kooky 170/60 rear.

[Conquiztador]

Sport Demon's came on the GPX250 I bought in May this year, both tyres have heaps of rubber left (<5mm) It feels like I have had up's and downs on them, I can relate both to the the "scary when wet" and then the "perfect in the dry" that the posts above relate to.

I had been feeling like they were shit but I have ridden on no other so it was a big call for me to make with no other experience on any other tyres, I then got talking to a guy (he's on here somewhere, a pom that rides a duke here in Hamilton) and he said to me that he had ridden Pirelli's all his life and that him having followed me on a LOR Sunday he reckoned it wasn't the tires that were my problem in the wet it was me accelerating over the slick patch's that was giving me issues :shit:

Haha, so I still have a open mind to them, I reckon they prob aren't that bad.

I do want to try a Michelin next tho just from what I'v heard.

Once you have had a tyre that sticks to the road you will be wondering why you did put up with what you had.

I am far from a tyre expert. In fact speedway tyres is only thing I used to know anything about. Road ones, well, whatever was available would do used to be my approach.

But in my book a tyre should stick to the road. If I have to worry about when to throttle on or off, how much I can lean in a corner w/o the tyre letting go, then the ride just becomes so much like hard work. OK, so in my past life I did ride Triumphs and HD's and customs. But there was long rides, wet roads etc. I have also been on some jappas etc. And the difference between a good tyre that keeps you glued to the road and one that you have to worry about can be life and death. Your riding style will be hugely affected.

So out she goes. Just hate the testing at $250+/tyre to find one that is good...

[Blinkwing]

Sorry to hijack the thread, but what tyres would people recommend for my trusty VL250?

[Slyer]

Go ask cycletreads, I think they know a thing or two about tyres. :P

[The Stranger]

Good point! The K100 is far from light...

I will look for something sticky. I be OK to get below 10,000k's from it. Rather that and glued to the road than the other way around.

The XT is comparatively light and my experience was similar to you yours - only even more treacherous as I had them both front and rear.
On the positive side, the rear tyre only lasted about 3,500 km then I got rid of both.

[Conquiztador]

The XT is comparatively light and my experience was similar to you yours - only even more treacherous as I had them both front and rear.
On the positive side, the rear tyre only lasted about 3,500 km then I got rid of both.

Someone agrees with me! What did you replace them with?

[AllanB]

Get a Pilot Road 2.

[The Stranger]

Someone agrees with me! What did you replace them with?

BT003. But wouldn't use them again either. Wet grip is not as good it could be and wear obviously sucks.
Have a pilot road 2 on the rear now and a Pilot Power 2ct on the front. Grip both wet and dry is good and wear is excellent.
Not so sure I would run the PP front again however as it has a bad tendancy to run off the inside of corners with this combination.

[98tls]

Havent tried the Sport Demon mate but briefly had a Macadam (spell) years back and quickly removed it.Heard good things about Contis and will give em a go.

[Reckless]

I've got sport demons on the Z1R and found them good don't have to much problem getting the thing as low as the old girl will allow!

They where recommended as the best modern type tyre for an older bike and I have found them good!

[SMOKEU]

I've got Sport Demons front and rear and I've had the foot pegs on my bike scraping the ground literally hundreds of times with out any problems. I can't comment on wet road conditions though as I ride very cautiously in wet weather.

[The Stranger]

I've got Sport Demons front and rear and I've had the foot pegs on my bike scraping the ground literally hundreds of times with out any problems. I can't comment on wet road conditions though as I ride very cautiously in wet weather.

Most any tyre will let you scrape hundreds of times - in the dry, on a 20yr old bike with sacked out suspension. What counts is how a tyre performs on a real bike and in a variety of conditions.

[Slyer]

They're a relatively cheap mid-end 250 tyre, designed for light bikes and riders who want to have sporty tyres on their 250 that will last a good amount of time.
My front sport demon cost me $135.

[Katman]

They're a relatively cheap mid-end 250 tyre, designed for light bikes and riders who want to have sporty tyres on their 250 that will last a good amount of time.
My front sport demon cost me $135.

I run them on my 1100. They may not be ideally suited to a bike of that weight but hey, I'm no Rossi.

[MSTRS]

A lot of the Post Classic racers use Sport Demons, as they are available in a lot of the old rim sizes and they do the job well.
My boy used them on his VT250 Spada with excellent results.
Yungatart has them on her EX500 without issues.
A comparable tyre for grip and wear (and is also dual compound) is the Bridgestone BT45.

[KiwiRat]

FWIW, I'm running my third set of Bridgestone BT-45s on my T100, and find them to be an excellent tyre, both in the wet and dry. They give you good warning when you are getting near the limits of traction.

(When I asked Cycletreads for a set of Sport Demons after not being able to get a set of my previously preffered Michelins, the guy looked at me as if I had asked to have sex with his Mum/wife/gran/daughter etc.)

[McDuck]

A lot of the Post Classic racers use Sport Demons, as they are available in a lot of the old rim sizes and they do the job well.
My boy used them on his VT250 Spada with excellent results.
Yungatart has them on her EX500 without issues.
A comparable tyre for grip and wear (and is also dual compound) is the Bridgestone BT45.

If you can get them, a few bike shops havnt been able to get them (in the right size for the kat) and aparently the importers are cunts.

[Conquiztador]

As much as the other stuff is a concern to me (cornering, the "lively" backend) what really put me off the Demon was that with 2 up in wet weather, after approx 30k riding (tyre warm by then) and doing approx 110k/h I got aqua planning in the back. Twice inside 500 m. And it was the normal wet road stuff, no deep puddles. Luckily it was on a straight piece of road. I can only imagine what it would have been in a corner...

[MSTRS]

What are you running on the front?
As I understand tyres, the front needs to have a compatible tread pattern (or something) designed to break the surface water before the back tyre hits it.

[Conquiztador]

What are you running on the front?
As I understand tyres, the front needs to have a compatible tread pattern (or something) designed to break the surface water before the back tyre hits it.

No, it is not the same. Need to have a look what I have there. I know very little re tyres, but somehow I doubt that this is the case. If I was riding superbikes at 250k+/h then maybe. But in straight line at 110k/h... And I had no problems with the Michelin Macadam. I took the bike to Nelson in rain with the worn Michelin on the back and not once did I have an issue. (It rained there and back nonstop!).

[Maha]

''And then sell the Demon to highest bidder''.

Surely that should read.....''And then sell the Demon to who ever wants it''?

[Katman]

As much as the other stuff is a concern to me (cornering, the "lively" backend) what really put me off the Demon was that with 2 up in wet weather, after approx 30k riding (tyre warm by then) and doing approx 110k/h I got aqua planning in the back. Twice inside 500 m. And it was the normal wet road stuff, no deep puddles. Luckily it was on a straight piece of road. I can only imagine what it would have been in a corner...

I would be inclined to suggest that those couple of times had everything to do with the road surface and very little to do with the tyre.

[george formby]

My TDM had sport demons when I got it. I never really had any problems with grip but the wear rate was a worry. The front & rear scalloped badly, the worst I have seen. I replaced them at cycle treads & was told they were cross plys & unsuitable for my bike. My fav tyre now is the BT 021, excellent grip wet & dry. I'm also pretty happy with the Conti road attack I have on the rear now, even though it has been provoked to slip in the wet.

[McDuck]

I would be interested to know how old the sport demon is in question, for all we know it has been in all different shops and wholesalers for the past 10 years and they have gone way hard and buggered.

[MSTRS]

That's a good point. Look for a 4 digit code inside a circle or elongated circle on the sidewall. it will only be on one side of the tyre. First 2 numbers are the day of the year and second 2 are the year.

[Str8 Jacket]

I would be interested to know how old the sport demon is in question, for all we know it has been in all different shops and wholesalers for the past 10 years and they have gone way hard and buggered.

Yeah good point! I have been lucky enough to be riding a VFR400 around for the past few weeks. It has a sports demon on the back which was used at Wnaganui '09, still has lots of life in it and is great in the wet and dry. Im quite enjoying being able to put faith in the tyres even in the wet. I find them quite comparable to the BT's I run on my FXR....

[Katman]

That's a good point. Look for a 4 digit code inside a circle or elongated circle on the sidewall. it will only be on one side of the tyre. First 2 numbers are the day of the year and second 2 are the year.

First two numbers are the week of the year.

[MSTRS]

Ooops. yea, you're right. This time...

[Str8 Jacket]

ooops. Yea, you're right. This time...

haha!!! Haha!!!

[Conquiztador]

That's a good point. Look for a 4 digit code inside a circle or elongated circle on the sidewall. it will only be on one side of the tyre. First 2 numbers are the day of the year and second 2 are the year.


First two numbers are the week of the year.

Found: 4809. So was made in 2009 first week of December. New enough.

[MSTRS]

Good. Age is not the problem.
Perhaps it is what we discussed...your bike just doesn't like the SD?

[Conquiztador]

The K100 is awaiting some work and has been replaced with a K1. A sport tourer of the same manufacturer (BMW). Still a bike from last part of 1980's. Heavy and best suitable for long rides on straight roads, but also able to corner if you just go for it. They have many similarities, but there is also differences. And to be honest at times I miss the K100 for what she is. But she will get back on the road. Soon...

Anyhow, the K1 came with a set of Michelin Pilot Road 2's. Almost new. At 14,000Km's they needed replacing. I fitted a second set and are now on my 3'rd set. Yet to let go in any condition. When the K100 is ready to be put back on the road she will also get a set (or if they are not available anymore, a set of Road 3's. As I understand Michelin has moved on from the Road 2's).

Reson I write this update is that yesterday as I was coming back from Welly, and had just gone through Masterton, I came up to a line of cars. The road was clear and even if there was a left bend coming up I could see way past it and knew there was no cars for a very long bit. So I started the overtake. As I came to the bend (and the 3rd car) I was accelerating to get the overtake over and done with. The road dipped suddenly and in the dip there was a wet patch. I was leaning heavily to the left and for a split second it got hairy: my left footpeg hit the ground hard and I was expecting the tyres to let go. But not a chance. The Pilot 2's kept me grounded and going in the direction I was aiming. I have a feeling that if she would have been fitted with Sport Demons I might not sit here writing this...

So until someone comes up with a tyre that costs 1/2 of the Road 2 that gets me double the mileage and holds on to the road the same, I have found my tyre!

[GrayWolf]

The K100 is awaiting some work and has been replaced with a K1. A sport tourer of the same manufacturer (BMW). Still a bike from last part of 1980's. Heavy and best suitable for long rides on straight roads, but also able to corner if you just go for it. They have many similarities, but there is also differences. And to be honest at times I miss the K100 for what she is. But she will get back on the road. Soon...

until someone comes up with a tyre that costs 1/2 of the Road 2 that gets me double the mileage and holds on to the road the same, I have found my tyre!

They aint cheap, but I have tried various tyres on big heavy bikes, FJ1200, ZZR1100, and now the MT-01... I have opted for the bridgestone 'hi load' dual compound sport touring tyres BT023.... grip wise they seem quite acceptable, and I am comparing this tyre directly with a Pirelli Diablo that was fitted on the front, the rear tyre is being replaced this wednesday, (MT-01) so I'll be running a full set of the Bridgestones. THE ZZR I have a diablo front, BT023 rear and handling was trustworthy, but then I am not a 100% performance rider! Advice I was given for the front tyre is to run the hi load tyre in winter as it is less susceptible to low heat, and the stickier version in summer which DOES require getting up to a certain temperature to perform correctly.

[Katman]

The standard tyres sizes for the K100 are 100/90-18 and 130/90-17.

You won't find any radials in those sizes.

[Kickaha]

The standard tyres sizes for the K100 are 100/90-18 and 130/90-17.

You won't find any radials in those sizes.

There used to be a front available in that size and there were some narrow sizes around when I had my Darmah 100/90R18 and 130/80R18 are what I ran on it, pretty sure they were Bridgestone although Dunlop did some narrow sizes to which I think wre made withthe early GSXR750 in mind

Best tyres I ever used, but wore out fast

I'd go for BT45 on it myself

[Oakie]

When the K100 is ready to be put back on the road she will also get a set (or if they are not available anymore, a set of Road 3's. As I understand Michelin has moved on from the Road 2's).

Ooohh, I've had Pilot 3s on my bike for 3 or so months now and if you like the Pilot 2s in the wet you're going to love the P3 as they are even better.

[Tigadee]

BT003. But wouldn't use them again either. Wet grip is not as good it could be and wear obviously sucks.

Noob question: BT45s any good?

[Oakie]

BT45s any good?

Yeah, nothing wrong with them but having used both, I prefer the Pilot. Possibly just suits my riding better and the BT45 might be better for me if I rode in a different way.

[caseye]

Con, I took me old tyres to Drury Performance Centre and asked them to put them on the old ( totally refurbished rims) Mike refused and told me he was putting a Michelin Lasetech on the front and a battlax BT45 on the rear, having gone to Wellington and back in the last month in all sorts of weather I'd stick with this combination for a very long time, wet or dry mid corner or straight tye grip and they compliment each other beautifully. This is a combination that he has used on many older, heavier type bikes ( the coal burner is a 1981 XV Thou) and weighs a ton. I trust Mikes judgement and he didn't let me down, looked after me on the price to.
Try that for a combo mate, It definitely works and as our bikes are comparable in year and weight I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[Kickaha]

Noob question: BT45s any good?
Yes they are, I've raced on them, bet much bigger bikes on them especially in the wet

Con, I took me old tyres to Drury Performance Centre and asked them to put them on the old ( totally refurbished rims) Mike refused and told me he was putting a Michelin Lasetech on the front and a battlax BT45 on the rear.
Not sure why he'd bother with that combo when the front BT45 is as good as anything and I would say better than the lasertech which is just the old ME33

Actually I just remembered my MHR has the opposite combination as that was all I could get at the time

[nzspokes]

Con, I took me old tyres to Drury Performance Centre and asked them to put them on the old ( totally refurbished rims) Mike refused and told me he was putting a Michelin Lasetech on the front and a battlax BT45 on the rear, having gone to Wellington and back in the last month in all sorts of weather I'd stick with this combination for a very long time, wet or dry mid corner or straight tye grip and they compliment each other beautifully. This is a combination that he has used on many older, heavier type bikes ( the coal burner is a 1981 XV Thou) and weighs a ton. I trust Mikes judgement and he didn't let me down, looked after me on the price to.
Try that for a combo mate, It definitely works and as our bikes are comparable in year and weight I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

Mike gave me no choice, BT45 was the one. So ive got an old Sport demon on the front and BT45 rear. When the front gets a bit more down it will be a BT45 also. With having 16" rims I dont have much to choose from. BT45 is only a week old but it feels good.

But im a pussy so I dont think I will use it to the extreme.

Mikes great but nobody could call them fast. :lol:

[maxlev]

I used up 35 tyres on an R80TIC in the mid/late 90's. Changed tyres every 3 months, 8000km.

Tried a few brands, Metzeler, Bridgestone, Conti, Pirelli (not sport demon) and Michelin Macadam. Macadam was easily the best all weather tyre so I stayed with them.

The Bridgestones were good but had sod all tread when new. Pirelli had too much tread flex when new but good once partially worn.

Next 2 bikes had the wider radials, tried a few and happily ended up using Pilot Road and later PR2.

[caseye]

Reason for the front being a Lasertech was to handle the weight of the old Girl, being a 1981 Anchor, he felt the Metzler handled it better. LOL Spokes, you are right there, but I'd go nowhere else these days.

[nzspokes]

LOL Spokes, you are right there, but I'd go nowhere else these days.

Yah, booked in at 11.30 for just a tyre. Got out at 1.30. But to be fair they did do a good job.