Pics of my off and thanks again.

**Dazza** · 14th December 2006, 09:59

Originally Posted by CaN

Isn't the Strada a copy of the Z6?

Either way, the Z6 rocks, both wet and dry.

Your dead right about the Z6, it's a damn good tyre,just got 6000k's out of the rear (totally shagged) and the front looks like it's just stating to wear. PS bugger about the off.

**blueblade** · 14th December 2006, 10:07

The way you ride mate, I reckon you need a full on sports tyre. I think our riding styles are similar and when I tried the Stradas on my CB 1300 it did a fair bit of sliding. Not too bad on the road but all over the place on the track. Eventually went to standard Diablos and eventually Diablo Corsas. Both gave much more confidence than the Stradas but with the obvious price of reduced mileage. Well worth the trade off though considering the potential consequences. Even better than those two tyres is the Dunlop 208rr but you would probably only get about 2000 kms out of a rear (unless you slowed down a bit!!!!!!).

**WRT** · 14th December 2006, 10:29

Originally Posted by beyond

Some people say to me, I hoped you learned something from this. I say, well no. How can you learn from something when there was nothing to learn. I was doing everything right and have no idea why they would just let go with no warning or feedback. The corner was clean, it was fine????

While the bikes in the workshop, I've told them to get rid of those tyres. I'll never run them again.

Sounds to me like that's your lesson right there - if there is something wrong with the bike, sort it immediately, dont wait for the crash to confirm what you already suspected. $5-600 for a set of tyres is less than your excess, let alone medical bills, discomfort, etc.

Anyway, be good to see you back out on the road enjoying it again. All the best for a speedy/full recovery mate!

Originally Posted by BarBender

I'm on Stradas and find the rear and awesome all-round tyre. But like most Pirrellis - after 20mins of fanging they tend to get very 'vague'.

Originally Posted by blueblade

. . . when I tried the Stradas on my CB 1300 it did a fair bit of sliding. Not too bad on the road but all over the place on the track.

Have you guys tried lowering the tyre pressure before fanging or hitting the track? Just from these comments it sounds like you have too much pressure in, and once the tyres are getting hot its sliding round on you. Drop a few PSI before giving it heaps (but allow extra time for the tyres to warm up), and see how you get on.

**blueblade** · 14th December 2006, 10:40

Originally Posted by WRT

Have you guys tried lowering the tyre pressure before fanging or hitting the track? Just from these comments it sounds like you have too much pressure in, and once the tyres are getting hot its sliding round on you. Drop a few PSI before giving it heaps (but allow extra time for the tyres to warm up), and see how you get on.

Yep, used to drop pressures to somewhere between 30 and 33 psi on track. There is no getting away from the fact that the Strada is a harder compound than the Diablo or Corsa. From memory though, I think the Strada was better in the wet than the other two.

**WRT** · 14th December 2006, 10:47

Fair enough, sounds about right to me.

I know from my own experiences that I dropped around 4 psi from road to track, had the same symptoms you describe. Keystone recommended dropping it further, another 3 psi gone and things came right for me.

(Pilot Powers, FWIW)

**shafty** · 14th December 2006, 10:51

Sorry to read about your "off" mate - hope you heal up fast. Any sign of diesel on the road?- or do you put it down to the tyres?

**blueblade** · 14th December 2006, 10:52

Tyres are such a personal thing. Currently running a Pilot Power on rear of my Tuono. Hate it compared to the Dunlops. Just gives no feedback and when it lets go it is very sudden. The 208's in contrast always gave plenty of warning and seemed to slide in a predictable and controllable way

**WRT** · 14th December 2006, 11:11

Really? Damn, I've been loving these powers! Found them very sticky, had a few very slight slides, but nothing nasty at all. Then again, I havent purposely tried to flick the back end out, its always just been when I have been pushing it along and gassing early in the corner. Even then I've been impressed with how early I can get on the power, had put it down mostly to the tyres as I can get on it harder and earlier than I could on the TLR.

Edit: note I'm talking dry riding only, I'm a real nana in the wet . . .

**SPman** · 14th December 2006, 11:59

If the swingarm had been damaged it would have been written off

It doesn't seem to take much for them to write the bike off! The ZX9 would have been OK but they found a small dink in the frame.....so.......

Interested in what tyres you're going with, cos the original Macadams on the XJR are just about rooted at 8000 K.
Thinking Z6's, coz I've had them before and was very impressed with them.

**vifferman** · 14th December 2006, 12:09

Something just doesn't sound right here. If the rear end suddenly slid, and "all this smoke started coming out of the rear end", that's not the tyre losing grip, that's more likely to be the rear locking up for some reason. A stone flicking up and temporarily jamming the caliper? Something jammed in the swingarm? :spudwhat:
If it was that, then there should be a flat spot somewhere on the tyre to show it.

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear this happened to you Paul, and I hope you heal up fast.

Regardless of whether it was the tyres or not, BT020s suck in my opinion, so putting summat else on isn't a dumb idea.

**beyond** · 14th December 2006, 14:10

Thanks for the comments guys.

Yep, I put it down to the tyres. There was no diesel, oil, dust, damp, crap or anything else. Kornholio was right behind me and had no problems at all and I sure wasn't pushing it.

I think you will find Kornholio saw the smoke pouring off once the bike had gone into a full on slide. Once they start sliding hard, they pour a fair amount of smoke off them. I was behind Fishy when his CBR1000 broke loose and slid hard and there was so much smoke you could hardly see. Looked real cool until you realise whats going on

Z6's are an awesome tyre on most bikes, especially the heavier machines in both wet and dry. I've had two sets of those and they are great.

Colemans is fixing my bike and they don't stock Metzler, so a Diablo Strada on the back with a Corsa on the front seems to be the right combo from the sounds of it. I don't want to leave the shop with the Bt020's still on.

However, once I'm back on the bike I'll probably ride in a straight line as I'll be paranoid about cornering again.

**Fishy** · 14th December 2006, 14:29

Originally Posted by beyond

I was behind Fishy when his CBR1000 broke loose and slid hard and there was so much smoke you could hardly see. Looked real cool until you realise whats going on

And then my loverly dismount into an amazing show of acrobatics up the road

**beyond** · 14th December 2006, 14:57

Originally Posted by Fishy

And then my loverly dismount into an amazing show of acrobatics up the road

Yep, wasn't nice to watch either. Always great when you see a downed rider get up quickly again.

Not so good for the bike though

**BarBender** · 14th December 2006, 16:38

Originally Posted by WRT

Have you guys tried lowering the tyre pressure before fanging or hitting the track? Just from these comments it sounds like you have too much pressure in, and once the tyres are getting hot its sliding round on you. Drop a few PSI before giving it heaps (but allow extra time for the tyres to warm up), and see how you get on.

Yes I've tried lowering the pressure and it did make a slight difference but it wasnt long before I was sliding. Like some have said - its an exceptional tyre in the wet. But I also find the Strada great for general use. I've done a drag meet and about 5K on my rear and it still looks like its got another 5k-6k left in it. Thats pretty good considering its having to put up with about 190 at the crank.