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.

[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.

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.