Shiver on Angel STs

[Hitcher]

After 31,000km, (2,170km, according to the onboard odometer) my Shiver is now on its fourth set of tyres.

Set 1. OEM, Dunlop Qualifiers (approx 8,500km): Nice tyre. There's a lot of wailing, moaning and gnashing of teeth on the Aprilia forums about these. I think they're a great dry road/wet road tyre. Wear-wise they're not a sports touring tyre though. The rear met an untimely demise between Gisborne and Mahia, requiring it to be ridden dead flat for 70km back to Gisborne. That sort of rooted it a bit.

Set 2. Avon Storms (approx 14,000km): Rated previously by me as the Gold Standard of sports touring tyres (this set being my fifth set on three bikes, and Mrs H is on her third set on her Bandit 650). The Shiver was very happy on them.

Set 3. Conti Motions (approx 8,000km): Promised much at the beginning but became increasingly skitterish as they wore, particularly unnerving in the wet. I ended up running the front at 38psi and the rear at 45psi, as anything less made them decidedly playful. I bought them because they were being specialled at a particularly sharp price. Other riders with mid-size bikes love them. The Shiver and I ended up distrusting them. Even though they had a few thousand km left on them, my patience wore out first.

Set 4. Pirelli Angel STs (approx 700km so far): For a comparative novice who has ridden about 210,000km on five different bikes over the past almost seven years, this is my first set of Pirellis. Thinking about this today, I have rationalised this lack of interest in (in my estimation) Pirelli not making a true sports touring tyre at a reasonable price.

I'm running the Angels at 36 front, 40 rear. That feels about right. In the past two days they have been over a variety of Wairarapa roads and today to Otaki and back, finishing with a southbound squirt over the Paekarariki Hill Road.

What do I think of them so far on dry roads? I love them. They are extremely confidence inspiring. Last night I managed an 11 minute Hill on my way back from the Wairarapa. That was in the dark and I was taking care not to overreach my headlight on the descent. They're that good I've got to a point of not thinking about them, instead marveling at what an SL750 Shiver can do when asked nicely.

If I was super keen, I would be out riding right now to see how well these go in the wet. That's their next test.

Another test will be wear. The Shiver's rear suspension, based on the Motions' experience, is pretty intolerant of inferior rubber. If they last 14,000km or better, I will have found a new Gold Standard. I think they're that good.

Interestingly, they're quite round. I had the Shiver up on its race stands tonight for a wash, and I couldn't spin the rear with the front stand in place. Removing the front stand let me turn the rear, but it wouldn't spin.

[Owl]

Thank you Mr Hitcher. Now I'll look forward to the wet test!

[short-circuit]

If they out-perform the Avons in the wet and get comparable mileage - I might try them next on the Striple....otherwise it's back to the Avons for me

[Edbear]

Hmmmm... at 26,000km I'm just looking at the original rear and asking if I'll get to 30,000 on it... Front is well treaded still...

[CookMySock]

Anything will feel good after set 3 though, since you hated them so much.

The set 4-5 change will be interesting to watch.

Why no michelin PRs?

Steve

[Blackbird]

Thanks Brett, I shall watch with interest as you progress.

Like you, The Storms have been my gold standard until the VP2's came along, but rear hoop life on a heavy bike was short(ish). A Storm out back and a VP2 (Sport option) up front is now my gold standard for heavier bikes.

The Striple came with Qualifiers and like you, I'm impressed with all-conditions grip. As you rightly point out though, it's not a sports touring tyre so I'll be interested in their useful life, particularly on a light bike such as the Triple. The only thing I don't like about them is they tend to drop into a corner as opposed to roll in on the VP2 and they feel slightly more nervous when heeled over on sweepers. A good tyre though.

The new Avon Storm Ultra comes out in February in NZ. Allegedly more grip and life by using VP2 technology. The Angel sounds great too and whatever I replace the Qualifiers with will presumably be used for the 2010 Grand Challenge too so there's clearly a bit of thinking to do.

Nice write-up and please keep us up with the play, particularly wet weather riding.

[sinned]

Interestingly, they're quite round. I had the Shiver up on its race stands tonight for a wash, and I couldn't spin the rear with the front stand in place. Removing the front stand let me turn the rear, but it wouldn't spin.

I may have missed something? Last time I looked at tyres they seemed quite round. Are your new tyres more round than round or just quite round compared with the previous tyres which were most likely also round but with a flat area where they were once mostly round.

In a roundabout way are you saying the tyres have a greater circumference - making them quite round for a round tyre.

[Hitcher]

Why no michelin PRs?

I ran a set of PR2s on my FJR which ate the front. There's other new offerings I'll try before I venture back to Michelin.

[Hitcher]

In a roundabout way are you saying the tyres have a greater circumference - making them quite round for a round tyre.

In a roundabout way, yes. Quite.

[davebullet]

I ran a set of PR2s on my FJR which ate the front. There's other new offerings I'll try before I venture back to Michelin.

Grammar, Sir?

[Gremlin]

I replace the Qualifiers with will presumably be used for the 2010 Grand Challenge too so there's clearly a bit of thinking to do.

Thats almost a year away! Woah... I'll probably finish at least 2-3 sets of tyres before then... (well, I do only get 8500km max out of a set) perhaps I should ask Pirelli for sponsorship

One thing Pirelli have corrected on the Angels is the contact patch in the centre of the tyre vs the Stradas. Just finishing off a set of Stradas on the hornet now, and in the wet at high revs, I'm finding it quite easy to break the rear, something it didn't do before (ok... so the lack of tread maaaay have something to do with it). The grooves will, all other things remaining the same, shorten tyre life, but the all weather grip you get from the grooves is well worth it.

[ajturbo]

well matey.. i can tell you about the ride in the wet with them...

i just became more smoother rider (because of the wet).. but still lent it over just as far... they are just as good in the wet... on my bike...err the rear is only 150ks old...

[Owl]

I think I'm definitely going to have to give the Angel ST a try out on the rear. I've done 2000km on the current BT-016, with possibly another 1000km to go. Pretty sad considering the PR2 lasted 9500km

[beyond]

Tried getting another rear PR2 the other day and none available in my size and that's with a container just landed.

Still think the Michelin PR2's are the best all around tyre for the 1400 but had to settle for a Pirelli Angel ST on the rear.

So far, I think it's a good contender to the PR2 and around the same price. Only scrubbed it so haven't done any "serious" riding on it yet.

First impressions are pretty good. Nice turn in, quick response on direction changes and will be interesting to see how long they last. Average about 3500kms out of a rear normally.

[DingoZ]

I have a set on my GSX650F - Awesome tyres in the dry, and equally so in the wet. I traverse a rather steep hill every day to work and back. Have not had anything but confidence in the tyres in either dry or wet since they were put on. They are wearing rather well. So far they have done 4000k's and are looking like brand new tyres. They are comfortable when the other half is on the bike as well. Cornering I must say has become smoother as the Angels have a nice smooth curve to them. When the inevitable happens and they need replacing, another set of Angel ST''s will be going straight back on.