What tyres work best, rf900?

[blossomsowner]

rf900 tyres.........
I haven't owned this bike long and need to change tyres soon so am interested in what works for others on similar bikes. I like to get out for a quick ride through the twisties, and some longer trips as well. Less than 1/2 time ride with pillion as well. No commuting at all really.

Currently running dunlop 120/70 front and michelin pilot road 170/60 rear. As i understand these are the right sizes anyway. I like the feel of these but have found i can get the rear to move around if pushing it. (which i don't really mind).

So people.......any ideas.........especially from those with similar bikes>>>>>>>>

[Blackbird]

You can fit Avon Storms front and rear or a Storm rear and an Avon Viper front if you really want the front to stick incredibly well. They are built with stronger carcass construction for the heavier sports sports tourers. Riffer has (or had) this combination on his RF 900 and I have the same on the Blackbird. The 'bird has been a bit hard on the Viper so I may go back to a Storm front. Both grip incredibly well and a Storm will last better on the front.

You can find the Storm Evaluation here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=46385 and the Viper interim evaluation: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=81550.

Cheers,

Geoff

[yod]

Michelin Pilot Road 2CTs

awesome

[blossomsowner]

Michelin Pilot Road 2CTs

awesome

these are better than the standard pilot road i have now aren't they?


What sort of k's from a set?

[Blackbird]

Michelin Pilot Road 2CTs

awesome

Yep, another excellent choice. A lot of the Aussie Blackbird owners use them.

[blossomsowner]

You can fit Avon Storms front and rear or a Storm rear and an Avon Viper front if you really want the front to stick incredibly well. They are built with stronger carcass construction for the heavier sports sports tourers. Riffer has (or had) this combination on his RF 900 and I have the same on the Blackbird. The 'bird has been a bit hard on the Viper so I may go back to a Storm front. Both grip incredibly well and a Storm will last better on the front.

You can find the Storm Evaluation here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=46385 and the Viper interim evaluation: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=81550.

Cheers,

Geoff
read the review.......awesome stuff more to think about

[yod]

Yep, another excellent choice. A lot of the Aussie Blackbird owners use them.

really?

I found them great on the RF but it's nowhere near as powerful at the rear as the bird; I figured with the softer outer compound it might get torn up quite easily, especially 2-up

having said that, i was considering trying them out on the bird next, just to see how they went....running a road attack rear and sport attack front right now, will be interesting to see how they go

[riffer]

1st Choice - Avon Viper front, Storm rear
2nd Choice - Avon Storm front, Storm rear
3rd Choice - Metzeler Z6 front, Z6 rear
4th= Choice - Michelin Pilot Road/Continental Road Attack.

The RF will destroy a Viper front in about 5500 kms, and a Storm front in about 8500. The Storm rear on mine is coming up 13500, and has about 1500 left in it.

Don't put a Viper rear on - it won't last five minutes.

[yod]

these are better than the standard pilot road i have now aren't they?


What sort of k's from a set?

yep, they're dual compound tyres, i got around 9k from the rear and probably would have got 11-12 from the front if i hadn't chucked it away

that was with a LOT of 2-up riding, i.e.: 90%

paid $540 for the set, fitted.

the 170 rear is a bit cheaper than the usual 180's everybody else has, that was a year ago though

[Blackbird]

really?


About half the guys on the OZ Blackbird site use them and the other half use a variety of tyres. However, you have to be a bit careful with inter-country comparisons. Road surface, road temperatures and rainfall patterns have a marked effect on tyre performance. That's why I tend to value local rider experience more than overseas reports.

One of the reasons I tried to be objective when reporting on the Storm and Viper was because when I queried a few of the overseas 'bird riders on why they rated a particular tyre highly, evidence was a bit thin on the ground and I saw several of these riders some months later raving about something else! Didn't fill me with great confidence that they'd tried to quantify the "why".

[riffer]

An interesting point to note about the Avons. Avon recommend the 180/55-17 for the rear. Suzuki originally put a Dunlop 170/60-17 rear on.

With the 180 (which I use), initial lean requires a harder push on the bar and a good push on the inside pedal too, but it holds a line with more surety that the 170 which I find a bit flighty on the RF. It's hard to get less than about a 3-4mm chicken strip on the rear, and on the front with the 180 section Avon you end up with about 10mm on the front sides which just doesn't get used no matter how much you lean the bike over.

With the 170 section, it's a totally different proposition. The bike leans over with nary a push (and no pedal weighting) and it wears the front and rear to and over the edge (at least on the rear). But I find it just drops into a corner too fast for my liking and I always end up applying counter-counter steer because I've leaned it over too far and have toes and pedals scraping.

[blossomsowner]

the 170 rear is a bit cheaper than the usual 180's everybody else has, that was a year ago though[/QUOTE]



so what you're saying is most are running 180/60 on the rear?

[yod]

so what you're saying is most are running 180/60 on the rear?

no, sorry, i mean most other modern-ish sport-ish bikes have 180/55/17 rears (or 190s)

a lot of RF owners have gone to a 180 rear, i'm not sure whether the 170 or 180 is more common tho

[FROSTY]

Im running a viper front and an azaro rear.
Interesting Im running a 180 azzaro and the bike tips in easier than I remember on a 180 rear.
If ya like mate---come take mine for a buzz round the block see what ya think

One ything I'd question is the compound--ie is the front a soft or a med -

[riffer]

Im running a viper front and an azaro rear.
Interesting Im running a 180 azzaro and the bike tips in easier than I remember on a 180 rear.

You know, the previous tyre was an Azaro and I do recall it tipping in a lot faster than the Storm does on the rear now.

I'm due another tyre in a month and cause I'm a cheap bastard I'm chucking a mushroom fix in the Azaro I blew and throwing that on again.

It'll be interesting to see the difference.

[Mully]

I got a set of (run-out) Diablos from Cycletreads. They didn't have many 170 rears left, but had a whole lot of 180s if you wanted to go for that (dunno if they still have any but).

Haven't used a full set yet, so I can't comment on the wear, but the old set seemed to be wearing quite slowly (despite the fact that I am a husky gentleman). They were on the bike when I got it. I did about 4000 miles (~6000km) and they comfortably passed a WOF about 3 weeks before they were swapped.

I do, however, ride like a little pigtailed girl, so people who can actually ride may be able to tell you more about wear.

If you ride Frosty's (with the 180), you can have a go on mine too (with a 170) to compare which you prefer. I'm about 2km from Frosty's place.

[riffer]

I am a husky gentleman

Mate - with the notable exception of Frosty I don't think I've ever met a skinny RF owner.

[blossomsowner]

thanks guys for all the advice and offers of rides as well. i like the way my bike tips easily into corners with a 170 so it would be interesting to compare a 180 and feel the difference.

and i cannot claim to be a thin rf rider either.....................I prefer healthy....

[scroter]

thanks guys for all the advice and offers of rides as well. i like the way my bike tips easily into corners with a 170 so it would be interesting to compare a 180 and feel the difference.

and i cannot claim to be a thin rf rider either.....................I prefer healthy....

get the 180, its easier to get tyres in that size. i run the shinko 005 i think it is (not the dimple looking one), everything else gets eaten like its a cool icecream on a hot day. i have never had a slide on this bike, even in the wet, and my pegs are a bit lighter than most from scraping the ground. ive had it on pukekohe and taupo, scares the shit out of a few people (i dont think some people can comprehend a fat arsed RF900 going quite so quick) have fun stay rubber side down

[oldenuf]

Mr Oldenuf here, Slim RF 900 owner ha ha honest only 87kg .I have had the old beast for a few years so have had a few different tyres . The Pilots on an RF will give a little bit of carcass flex in the rear when pushed hard,this can be helped by using 42 psi, one thing with them they were great in the wet. Diablos the rear not so good in the wet and the front a little nervous at speed but if doing a lot of tight twisties the front turns in a lot easier than others i have tried.Currently back on Metzler roadtec z6s 180 on the rear a little slower to turn in ,very stable at higher speeds ,no flex when giving a big handfull out of a corner so far, and great on the Kaimais. 10,000 plus ks with half that use in the South Island .Other thing is setting up the rear shock ,im sure there are a lot who will be able to give you some input on this.

[PeterJ]

I've got Dunlop sportmax roadsmarts on mine (180 on rear). Bought it with these on so cant compare with any thing else but loving these, really stable at speed and nice through the twisties. Starting to get concerned about wear though done about 3000m and starting to get squared off in the middle.
Pissed off today went out to clean my bike and found the back tire flat with a bloody great nail through it, I have never had a puncture fixed before- how much does it usually cost?. was thinking around 30-40 mark?.
Thanks.

[MSTRS]

Michelin Pilot Road 2CTs
awesome

these are better than the standard pilot road i have now aren't they?
what sort of k's from a set?
Much better than the std Pilot Road. Dual compound FTW!!
I know they are different bikes, but I am still going strong at 14,000ks and Gixxer4Ever has racked up about 12,000. Lots of riders put them on litre sport bikes and love them, plus they do real well on the 1200/1400 sport tourers.

I have never had a puncture fixed before- how much does it usually cost?. was thinking around 30-40 mark?.
Thanks.

That sounds about right.

[emaN]

Pilot Road on rear, in 170 size; Pilot Sport on front.
Good enough for knee down, peg scraping, black lines & putting gixxers in their place :shifty: (You said you don't mind the rear moving around - the Road will give you that, safely & predictably).

Gonna try Contis next.

[pritch]

Starting to get concerned about wear though done about 3000m and starting to get squared off in the middle.

Pissed off today went out to clean my bike and found the back tire flat with a bloody great nail through it,

May I suggest it might be time for a new tyre?

[PeterJ]

May I suggest it might be time for a new tyre?

Nope, got it fixed today. $39 at Pitlane in Manchester st.:niceone:

[Swima]

Metzeler Z6 ...Just right.Had pilot roads but found Z6 far better all round

[pritch]

I have a very nice Z6 here going cheap.

(180/55 17)

[mouldy]

the 170 rear is a bit cheaper than the usual 180's everybody else has, that was a year ago though



so what you're saying is most are running 180/60 on the rear?[/QUOTE]

The RF came out with a 170/60/17 on a 5.5" rim which is much better suited to a 180/55/17 which shapes up better . a lot of RF's are running 180s on them . Tyre choice is up to you but Pilot Road 2 s would be good option for it as a any off the reputable brand sport tourers which you have to push bloody hard to move , the Rf won't overwhelm any of them . Go and see Mike at DPC tyres in Drury and he'll look after you . Call him on 09 294 7955 and mention yuo're a KBer .

[fridayflash]

has anyone had any experience with pilot sports on an rf? ive just boughtone fitted with a near new set (180 on the rear) they feel pretty good so far...
also what tyre pressures ?

[MSTRS]

has anyone had any experience with pilot sports on an rf? ive just boughtone fitted with a near new set (180 on the rear) they feel pretty good so far...
also what tyre pressures ?

I never liked them on the 750, but Steve did.
Run them at 36/42 at least until you get a feel for them.

[AllanB]

I'm running pilot road 2's on my Hornet 900 - I'm loving them and I doubt that you will be disappointed.