First tyre change time

[Hitcher]

So the Z is about to chew through its OEM Dunlop Qualifier 2s. Not too bad a tyre to ride on, but after 5,500km they're only nanometres away from exposing steel webbing in the centre of the rear. No monos involved in that either, well none by my hand. No rear chicken strips either.

It's always hard to calibrate a new bike for tyres based on past experiences on other makes and models. However I'll go to one of my reference makes as a first change and see what happens. That means either a Metzeler Z8 or a Conti Road Attack 2. How the next set goes will tell me more about how the Z eats rubber and where to aim on the spectrum of sports touring tyres.

[Hitcher]

New rubber went on today. Conti Road Attack 2s. 120/70 front and a 190/50 rear.

Wet roads coming home with a clear run up the Ngaio Gorge. I nailed it. Idiot?

I have suspected for a while that some brands of new tyres with their silicon-enhanced compounds stick like ice cream to your wife's blouse straight off the rack. Tonight I proved to myself that Road Attack 2s do exactly that. These are lovely tyres. So lovely that I went out and found some other proximate twisties to play on, particularly the Khandallah Gorge road.

This is my third set of these tyres on three quite different bikes. I had a set of the same dimensions as above on my Shiver and the result was fantabulous. I also had a set of the Road Attack 2 GTs (180/55 rear) on the TNAB and they positively transformed that bike.

My ambition now is to wear a set out. I haven't done that yet. Don't ask why.

The proof of a great tyre is in the mileage as well as in its handing over its life.

[AllanB]

Running a set on my Hornet and very impressed - the front is most excellent - very sticky. I'm watching the rear as I suspect it just starting to square off a fraction which is surprising considering I do a lot of hill work. No doubt you will wear yours out before me so I will be interested to see how your rear fares.

[Shadows]

So the Z is about to chew through its OEM Dunlop Qualifier 2s. Not too bad a tyre to ride on, but after 5,500km they're only nanometres away from exposing steel webbing in the centre of the rear.

Qualifiers are great in the dry when they are new, but they square off far too quickly in general riding and, more importantly, become deadly pieces of untrustworthy shit on wet roads, regardless of their age.

Good on you for deciding to go for a better set of tyres.

[riffer]

It takes a long time to wear out a set of RoadAttack 2s Hitcher. The front on mine has 12,000 on it and looks like it'll go for another couple thou. Of course it's looking quite triangular and if it was winter I'd be changing it.
The rear got nailed and ruined at 9500. Every other bloody tyre I put on the back the Bandit chews through in about 7000 kms.

Now if they weren't so damned expensive ($620 fitted for my last set) I'd buy them all the time. Having said that, I probably will again for the Bandit. My last four sets have been Contis after migrating from the excellent Metzeler Z6s.

[Bassmatt]

Obviously a big improvement on the original road attacks then, they scared the shit out of me and I have sworn off conti ever since.

[Hitcher]

Obviously a big improvement on the original road attacks then, they scared the shit out of me and I have sworn off conti ever since.

I ran a set of the original Road Attacks on an ST1300 and an FJR1300. That turned out to be really silly on both occasions. Both of those bikes ate the rears. Seriously.

Mr Conti has learned from that, hence the crafting of a GT version of the Road Attack 2, with a beefed up carcass for heavy, torque-rich motorcycles.

[Madness]

Obviously a big improvement on the original road attacks then, they scared the shit out of me and I have sworn off conti ever since.

You're not alone there. When I tried Conti Road Attack's on my old ZZR1100 they couldn't handle the jandle, turned blue & the tread was like an asylum-seeker 5km off Christmas Island - it literally jumped off.

I went for a ride today & scrubbed in a new front Metzeler M5. Delicious.


I ran a set of the original Road Attacks on an ST1300 and an FJR1300. That turned out to be really silly on both occasions. Both of those bikes ate the rears. Seriously.

Mr Conti has learned from that, hence the crafting of a GT version of the Road Attack 2, with a beefed up carcass for heavy, torque-rich motorcycles.

You'd think they'd have learned a few things from testing prior to going to market. That said, Continental isn't alone at making the odd shocker - Pirelli Angels, anyone?

[Hitcher]

Continental isn't alone at making the odd shocker - Pirelli Angels, anyone?

Amen to the Angels. Never buy a rear tyre with no thread through the centre. Metzeler Z6s included.

"Odd shocker", in my experience, extends to every sports touring tyre made by Bridgestone, and to the Conti Motion.

[AllanB]

How are they wearing Mr H? You are probably due for a new set soon bawahahahahah

[Hitcher]

How are they wearing Mr H?

I've just wound over 1,200km on them, or off them, to be technically correct.

I haven't had much of a chance so far to test their wet weather performance but they are outstandingly good in the dry. Lovely responsively sharp steering and smooth transitions.

Yesterday I went for a fang out to the end of the Wainuiomata coast road and back again, as one does. Quickly. The Wainui hill itself was effortlessly carved off. For the coast road itself? Let's just say that while not doing anything silly, the extremely Christian posted limit on this stretch of road of 80kmh failed to distract from a piece of post-Christmas riding frippery. The Z is capable of some quite surprising lean angles and one is not a seat bum-slider nor a knee dragger. The Road Attack 2s don't seem to mind being ridden in such a manner. The rear has no gallinaceo exuo.

[Owl]

Pirelli Angels, anyone?

Yep, I hear that.:yes:

[Shadows]

That said, Continental isn't alone at making the odd shocker - Pirelli Angels, anyone?


Amen to the Angels. Never buy a rear tyre with no thread through the centre.


Yep, I hear that.:yes:

I've been pretty happy with Angels to date and had no dramas. Is there something I should know?

[Madness]

I've been pretty happy with Angels to date and had no dramas. Is there something I should know?

If you're happy with them that's great. I just found them about as confidence inspiring as a surgeon with Parkinsons Disease, particularly in the wet. The front let go on me once and that was once too often.

[James Deuce]

I'm happy with the Angels on the XJR and certainly haven't had any scary moments, but I'm a nana. Need to replace the rear. Poor thing is worn out in the middle and has gaping chicken strips. Previous rider didn't believe in corners and while I've tried to fix that, the first thing to touch down is the lower edge of the Neptune mufflers.

I seldom have issues with tyres so I'm not reliable in this regard, but the only tyres I've turned blue are Metzeler M1s and M3s and the only tyres I've torn off a bike in disgust are Metzeler Z6s. Bit of a theme there. Love Pirelli Supercorsa IIIs (not Sport Touring tyre). Bit rocking horse poo to find and expensive and not so good in the cold and wet and would probably get squashed by the XJR. If they are still available.

Conti Motions aren't offensive but I suspect that they need careful suspension adjustment and expectation management. Still better than any Bridgestone Sport Tourer tyre I've had foisted on me, except the OEMs that came on the Z750. They were sublime.

[Banditbandit]

It takes a long time to wear out a set of RoadAttack 2s Hitcher. The front on mine has 12,000 on it and looks like it'll go for another couple thou. Of course it's looking quite triangular and if it was winter I'd be changing it.
The rear got nailed and ruined at 9500. Every other bloody tyre I put on the back the Bandit chews through in about 7000 kms.

Now if they weren't so damned expensive ($620 fitted for my last set) I'd buy them all the time. Having said that, I probably will again for the Bandit. My last four sets have been Contis after migrating from the excellent Metzeler Z6s.

FUCK!!!! I've never managed to get more than 4thou out of Conti Road Attack 2s ... never managed more than 3thou out of the older Road Attacks ... (I still run them .. love the tyres .. very grippy and make the Bandits handle well ...)

[Owl]

I've been pretty happy with Angels to date and had no dramas. Is there something I should know?

If you like them, then mint!:yes:

My issues were a little different to Madness, but here tis.

Rear: Tyre went from looking ok to fucked in a very short space. Toasted with horizontal splits at 6774km, which is fairly poor for an ST tyre, considering I got 6277km out of the previous Michelin Power Pure.

Front: First time with a front ST tyre and couldn't get comfy with it. Horrible profile that was slow to turn and then would want to fall over at slightly greater lean angles. Yuk! I removed that tyre well before it wore out.

[Hitcher]

I've never managed to get more than 4thou out of Conti Road Attack 2s

Try the GTs. Mr Conti has grunted up the carcass on these for "heavier" bikes. The late great GSX1250FA was enjoying these until the last moment.

[banditrider]

If you like them, then mint!:yes:

My issues were a little different to Madness, but here tis.

Rear: Tyre went from looking ok to fucked in a very short space. Toasted with horizontal splits at 6774km, which is fairly poor for an ST tyre, considering I got 6277km out of the previous Michelin Power Pure.

Angels will never be on my shopping list again. They felt great for the first 2,000km or so and then went off fast (it didn't help that I did 3,000km in 4 days on them) - felt like I was riding on marbles. The Connie killed them in 7k.

[Gremlin]

I've been pretty happy with Angels to date and had no dramas. Is there something I should know?
Typical Pirelli actually. I found great performance (wet and dry) and pathetic life.

Considering they replaced the Pirelli Diablo Strada, which was an excellent sport TOURING tyre... it was a big let down.

[banditrider]

Considering they replaced the Pirelli Diablo Strada, which was an excellent sport TOURING tyre... it was a big let down.

Totally agree. I got just under 12k out of each of 2 sets of Stradas and no issues in the wet.

[Shadows]

If you like them, then mint!:yes:

My issues were a little different to Madness, but here tis.

Rear: Tyre went from looking ok to fucked in a very short space. Toasted with horizontal splits at 6774km, which is fairly poor for an ST tyre, considering I got 6277km out of the previous Michelin Power Pure.

Front: First time with a front ST tyre and couldn't get comfy with it. Horrible profile that was slow to turn and then would want to fall over at slightly greater lean angles. Yuk! I removed that tyre well before it wore out. On the rear - I was only getting about 2500km at best running Dunlop Qualifier rears so anything close to 6000km will be like Christmas! On the front - I rarely ride anything other than Harleys so I'm used to my bike being slow to turn in, and then wanting to topple over.

[Banditbandit]

Try the GTs. Mr Conti has grunted up the carcass on these for "heavier" bikes. The late great GSX1250FA was enjoying these until the last moment.

I love the Road Attacks on the 650 ... best tyre I've ever had for grip ... don't really care about the wear ... tho' this has improved since I moved and now live within 1.5ks of State Highway 2 (and patrol cars) and had to slow down

The 1250 was running PR2s ... until I needed new tyres and the shop didn't have any .. I fitted Road Attacks .. but the bike turned much quicker than I was used to ... (I had to keep lifting it up in corners) ... I replaced the rear Road Attack with a Conti Motion - now it handles fine .... I might go back to PR2s when both tyres need replacing ... or then again ... maybe not ...

[AllanB]

Bit over 5500 kms on my Road Attacks 2 now.

Rear is starting to show signs of squaring off a bit in the centre - surprising given I fang it around the hills a fair bit.
Front is the opposite - the centre is has very faint evidence of the 'conti attack' lettering but the lovely soft sides are wearing - mind you a good fang leaves rubber hanging off this part of the front tyre.

The rear will technically die first (figure I will get 8k out of it) with the front looking very 'legal' but it will be a odd shape by then.

So far so good.

[Hitcher]

Bit over 5500 kms on my Road Attacks 2 now.

Mine have now wound over 6,000km. I can report a similar wear pattern to yours, although the "Road Attack 2" text on the front has been gone for about 1,000km. The rear is showing signs of squaring. It's hard to estimate how many more km are left in it. The rear will definitely go before the front, as life is supposed to be.

These haven't done much wet weather riding, such has been our summer. But I have been impressed with them in those conditions. As a dry road tyre the Road Attack 2s are hard to fault. Nice lines, easy steering, quiet, even tempered under hard braking, what else is there to say? I've even managed to give them a bit of two-up work. So as a value-for-money deal they should fly out the doors at tyre resellers.

[miSTa]

Bit over 5500 kms on my Road Attacks 2 now.

Rear is starting to show signs of squaring off a bit in the centre - surprising given I fang it around the hills a fair bit.
Front is the opposite - the centre is has very faint evidence of the 'conti attack' lettering but the lovely soft sides are wearing - mind you a good fang leaves rubber hanging off this part of the front tyre.

The rear will technically die first (figure I will get 8k out of it) with the front looking very 'legal' but it will be a odd shape by then.

So far so good.

About the same as my experiences, the front wears out on the sides and the rear wears out in the middle. Probably get 1/3 more out of a front than a rear. Been on the RA2's for the last 20,000km and see no need to change - great tyres.

[mulletman]

[QUOTE=miSTa;1130510351] the front wears out on the sides and the rear wears out in the middle. Probably get 1/3 more out of a front than a rear. QUOTE]

I got the very same from Metzlers latest Z8s.
PR3 rear now and a PP3 to be fitted in a coupla days on the front.
Must give these Contis a go.