What tyres for me Hornet?

[nzspokes]

Im up for some new tyres on me 900 Hornet and thought I would see what others think on whats best for it. I liked the PR2s I had on my Bandit but may try PR3s on it. Im not that up on what the other brands have to offer. I commute everyday and compete in the South western TT everyday. And try to get out for a bit of twisties on the weekends. May end up on the odd track day as well.

So what tyre is best?

[Drew]

This time of year? Whatever is gonna offer the most motorway, wet traction.

I've had a Hornet 9, and thrashed the living shit out of it. They are capable of utilising Supercorsas to the maximum and getting them right up to temp, but I wouldn't think of putting a set on at the start of winter.

I love the S20s that I scored for the RF. Can't rave about them enough.

Some people have complained at mileage they have gotten from them on other bikes, but I maintain that tyres are cheaper than bodywork. On the Hornet they're they're cheaper then pulling the motor out and having the front engine mount welded back on, after the stupidly positioned oggy knobs snap snap the lug off the barrel. I also think that if I'm getting more than the 5000k's and they didn't, there's a basic set up issue. 38/36 pressures, and mine look new.

[Edbear]

Im up for some new tyres on me 900 Hornet and thought I would see what others think on whats best for it. I liked the PR2s I had on my Bandit but may try PR3s on it. Im not that up on what the other brands have to offer. I commute everyday and compete in the South western TT everyday. And try to get out for a bit of twisties on the weekends. May end up on the odd track day as well.

So what tyre is best?

Black, round and inflatable... :niceone:

[nzspokes]

On the Hornet they're they're cheaper then pulling the motor out and having the front engine mount welded back on, after the stupidly positioned oggy knobs snap snap the lug off the barrel.

Yes thats a change thats on my list, mine is motor mounted.

[speeding_ant]

Yes thats a change thats on my list, mine is motor mounted.

Buy in some better suited mounting bolts and re purpose your current knobs. I did that for mine, worked a treat.

[nzspokes]

Buy in some better suited mounting bolts and re purpose your current knobs. I did that for mine, worked a treat.

Yup, am going to mount them to the frame just in front of where they are now.

[Blackbird]

Well, the PR3's are the best all-round tyre I've had on the Street Triple. Outstanding in the wet and last longer than any tyre I've had on it so far. Rear tyre lasted 14,000 km and the front is still on. That will be replaced shortly at about 17,000 km. full review here:

http://geoffjames.blogspot.co.nz/2012/12/michelin-pilot-road-3-end-of-life-review.html

[speeding_ant]

Yup, am going to mount them to the frame just in front of where they are now.

Yep, the top two engine mounts. Just make sure you get decent bolts, they have to be properly treated with decent steel.

[nzspokes]

Yep, the top two engine mounts. Just make sure you get decent bolts, they have to be properly treated with decent steel.

Will be grade 8. Reckon that will do? :msn-wink:

Just have to find some replacement engine mount bolts as they have been replaced with the Oggy knobs cap screws. Which were loose along with most of the other engine mount bolts.

[AllanB]

For my riding on my 900 on our sand paper Southern Roads I have two recommendations. PR2's lasted the best and offered very good performance. The Conti Road Attack 2's I have on now are at the latter part of the rears life and I'd say the best performing tyre I've run on it in terms of stick, feel and all round confidence. I am happy to throw the front in to any corner without any concern. They will not last anywhere near the PR2s though. From what I hear PR3 offer better wet riding over the 2's but nothing more.

Seriously though tyres are such a personal thing - pretty much any of the modern sport or sport/touring name brand hoops will perform very very well on the 900 as it is not producing stupid horsepower. The question is really the elusive 'feel' one desires in a tyre/bike/rider combo. And that is a personal thing.

[nzspokes]

For my riding on my 900 on our sand paper Southern Roads I have two recommendations. PR2's lasted the best and offered very good performance. The Conti Road Attack 2's I have on now are at the latter part of the rears life and I'd say the best performing tyre I've run on it in terms of stick, feel and all round confidence. I am happy to throw the front in to any corner without any concern. They will not last anywhere near the PR2s though. From what I hear PR3 offer better wet riding over the 2's but nothing more.

Seriously though tyres are such a personal thing - pretty much any of the modern sport or sport/touring name brand hoops will perform very very well on the 900 as it is not producing stupid horsepower. The question is really the elusive 'feel' one desires in a tyre/bike/rider combo. And that is a personal thing.

What mileage did you get from the Contis?

Mines got more HP due to partial bafflectomy. :banana: Or at least it sounds faster......

[AllanB]

What mileage did you get from the Contis?

Mines got more HP due to partial bafflectomy. :banana: Or at least it sounds faster......

LOL - I'll up your HP with my Yoshis!

Contis are sitting on about 6500 at the mo - there may be another thousand in the rear. No more though. I got 12k out of the PR2's. Note tyres die quicker in the South Isand due to our road surfaces.

As a side note if you have not changed the front fork springs I highly recommed contacting Robert Taylor for a set of replacement springs - they transform the front. Mind you my front got so much better I then shelled out for a rear shock .........

[nzspokes]

LOL - I'll up your HP with my Yoshis!

Contis are sitting on about 6500 at the mo - there may be another thousand in the rear. No more though. I got 12k out of the PR2's. Note tyres die quicker in the South Isand due to our road surfaces.

As a side note if you have not changed the front fork springs I highly recommed contacting Robert Taylor for a set of replacement springs - they transform the front. Mine you my front got so much better I then shelled out for a rear shock .........

Ive got mates getting 20k + out of PR2s.

Not done suspension yet but will look at that soon. Not sure on rear shock yet. Forks seem ok thus far but not yet had a chance at a spirited ride. But have read LDH's review on em and he reckoned stock is ok so we will see.

Wouldnt mind trying a full bafflectomy or a side mount.

[AllanB]

The competency of my front end was vastly improved with replacement front springs chosen for my weight/riding. RT knows his shit. Off head Ohlins springs were $220 ish. Plus decent oil. Changed them myself.
Another thing I noticed on the 900 is the gearbox shifting is fussy on oil brands. I’ve been running full synthetics for a while and it likes Spectro and Mobil. It did not like Castrol’s semi synth. Motul semi-synth was fine.

[Gremlin]

Ive got mates getting 20k + out of PR2s.
:wavey: 26k from front, 24k from rear. I think Toto got 26k out of a rear, which annoyed me, as he even did a couple of trackdays. Takes more than a year to wear out a set of tyres, which is weird, because the GSA can wear out tyres in a few months (perhaps it's the extra mileage)...

If you want best wet weather grip, I'd go for PR3, otherwise the PR2 is good.

After I ground down one crash bung (didn't affect the mount) Givi crash bars are now mounted. One reckons they aren't too strong, but I haven't really tested them yet.

[nzspokes]

The competency of my front end was vastly improved with replacement front springs chosen for my weight/riding. RT knows his shit. Off head Ohlins springs were $220 ish. Plus decent oil. Changed them myself.
Another thing I noticed on the 900 is the gearbox shifting is fussy on oil brands. I’ve been running full synthetics for a while and it likes Spectro and Mobil. It did not like Castrol’s semi synth. Motul semi-synth was fine.

Yes thats something i had noted was its not the smoothest gearbox. My old Bandit was butter and the Hornet is quite clunky.

[Drew]

Yes thats something i had noted was its not the smoothest gearbox. My old Bandit was butter and the Hornet is quite clunky.

Dunno about the oil, but convert it to 520 chain and there's a marked improvement. And better throttle response.

[nzspokes]

Dunno about the oil, but convert it to 520 chain and there's a marked improvement. And better throttle response.

I had heard shimming up the cush drive in the rear wheel helps to as they last about 10 meters from the sales room floor before they come lose. That could also be bullshit but worth a try.

Was going to 520 it when it next needs a chain.

[Drew]

I had heard shimming up the cush drive in the rear wheel helps to as they last about 10 meters from the sales room floor before they come lose. That could also be bullshit but worth a try.

Was going to 520 it when it next needs a chain.

Never heard of it before. Used to have the back wheel out of mine every five minutes too, race rubber don't last long on the Rimutaka hill.

[nzspokes]

Never heard of it before. Used to have the back wheel out of mine every five minutes too, race rubber don't last long on the Rimutaka hill.

As I said, could be BS but worth a look next time the wheel comes out.

[Drew]

As I said, could be BS but worth a look next time the wheel comes out.

For sure. I'm not sure where you would put shims though. Space the rubber from the webs in the rim?

[nzspokes]

For sure. I'm not sure where you would put shims though. Space the rubber from the webs in the rim?

Buy the sounds the rubber gets soft so put spacers in the side where it takes up the drive if you get my drift.

[Dangsta]

Im up for some new tyres on me 900 Hornet and thought I would see what others think on whats best for it. I liked the PR2s I had on my Bandit but may try PR3s on it. Im not that up on what the other brands have to offer. I commute everyday and compete in the South western TT everyday. And try to get out for a bit of twisties on the weekends. May end up on the odd track day as well.

So what tyre is best?

I've pretty much stuck to cruisers as my bike of choice and don't know much about the sportier bikes like the Hornet. That being said, I'd almost certainly go for rubber ones. If I had to narrow it down, I'd go with Michelin Pilot Power 2CTs, Pirellii Diablo's or Metzeler Sportecs (M1's and not M3's):first:

Cheers