Continental Road Attack 2 - a review

[AllanB]

Continental Road Attack 2

I fitted these to my Hornet 900 some 7,000 kms ago. Somewhere on KB earlier in the year you'll find me saying they were the best tyres I'd had on the bike. This was true back then.

Starting from the fitting. These are the Contis with the pre-scuffed surface - no glossy rubber in sight and they say they don't require a careful break-in. With new tyres I always take care to throw some kms under them to get them warm before getting it on in the corners so other that the mental advantage of not seeing the 'shine' on the tyre I really don't know if it works.

My scrub in theory is this - they need heat to stick, warm them up and progressively work your way around the tyre and there will be no issue. I've never had one with new tyres.

Back to the Conti - great tyres from the start - sticky and neutral handling they suited me and the bike very well - the front is a winner - full of confidence and as sticky as any sport tyre I've used.

The above was true until the later part of the tyres life - for a sport touring tyre I would state they are on the sport side - as above I've changed them at 7,000 - there was another thousand in the rear but it had prematurely squared off, this coupled with either side of the front getting chewed away was degrading the handling. I was physically feeding more into the bars to turn the rear over the flatter bit to the sides and then you'd feel the front dip on it's worn edges. This was pissing me off so they were retired early. Conti don't use multi compounds on these - they 'bake' the tyres differently to give a harder centre, softer edges. The baking seems to be slightly off to me - front sides wear too quick, rear centre wears to quickly.

Compare the kms 7,000 (allow 8 if I'd persevered to the end) with the 12,000 I got out of a set of Pilot Road 2's (a couple of tyres back) and 6,000 from Pilot Powers the touring aspect was lacking in longevity. They preformed very well in the few rain showers I got caught in while they were fitted.

Up until the latter part of their life I rated them highly (sticky sticky), their short life span (for a sport touring tyre) and wear pattern marks them down a few notches. For my riding and the Hornet I'll classify them as a bit of a oddity - sticky like a sport based tyre but not lasting much longer. The more neutral handling I prefer over some of the sporty profiles.

Buy again? Well I didn't - I picked up a set of the new Bridgestone Sport Touring T30's for $399 (I know!!!!).

Oddly enough for my 32 years of riding these are my first Bridgestones. Only one ride on them so far (yesterday) and I like......... but comparing a end of life tyre against a new one is like comparing your friends grandmother against a 19 year old bikini model ..............

[george formby]

T'is a funny thing. BT 021's and 023's have suited me & my bike very well. Only thing I could quibble about is longevity but that is a very individual thing. I tend to munch any rear in 6-7000km of summer riding. The BT fronts always go v-shaped & scallop toward the end of their life. I put this down to bike & riding dynamics rather than rubber tech. Hope you like the new boots.
I had a Conti Road Attack #1 rear on for awhile. Interestin that you mention the degrading of turn in. I noticed the same thing about half way through the tires life, took more effort to turn in & the bike would stop leaning at the edge of the tire, very quirky. Admittedly the edge of the tire thing was a constant from new. All I could do was stuff the bike in a bit harder to get past that stepped edge feeling. Only 7 / 10 in the wet, too. BT's have never let go.

[Hitcher]

I'm keeping a close eye on a set of Bridgestone T30s, generously donated by Eurotreads http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...1000-(ZR1000B).

I am enjoying them, which is a marked improvement on the Battlax 020s, 021s and 023s I had inflicted on me as OEM rubber on previous bikes I have owned. There is one word that describes the earlier iterations of Bridgestone's sports touring tyres. That word is "crap".

With the T30, Bridgestone has at last caught up with other manufacturers of sports touring tyres, rather than languishing lightyears behind.

[george formby]

I'm keeping a close eye on a set of Bridgestone T30s, generously donated by Eurotreads http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...1000-(ZR1000B).

I am enjoying them, which is a marked improvement on the Battlax 020s, 021s and 023s I had inflicted on me as OEM rubber on previous bikes I have owned. There is one word that describes the earlier iterations of Bridgestone's sports touring tyres. That word is "crap".

With the T30, Bridgestone has at last caught up with other manufacturers of sports touring tyres, rather than languishing lightyears behind.

Your not the only one to think that way which is why I quantified my opinion against my bike & me. I have an "odd" bike, me? Well...
Any hoo, what I have noticed is riders of bigger, gruntier, bikes do not get along as well with BT's. IMHE they have stuck like glue regardless of road conditions & situations & given me a sharp, neat ride on our twisty roads. Job done. That is all I can compare against. If a Conti rear lets go a few times in the wet & a BT does not that's all I know. If a Conti stops leaning & a BT does not, ditto.

I'm not poking an ants nest here, not intentionally any hoo, but I always take a road riders tire review lightly unless their is something drastic amiss. Ultimately, the majority of miles we ride are without a thought for the tires, our bikes are all shapes, sizes & conditions, just like the riders. If you don't regularly push the limits of your bike & tires in a considered way, know exactly how well set up your suspension is, etc. It's impossible to be definitive. We are left with a seat of the pants opinion on wear, perceived grip, turn in, ride quality etc.
Go for what floats your boat, all the tires are black & round.

I would love to see a blind evaluation of the most popular tires on one bike over a set test route with a number of KB'ers giving their opinions.

[caspernz]

I would love to see a blind evaluation of the most popular tires on one bike over a set test route with a number of KB'ers giving their opinions.

So are you just dreaming of Utopia or whistling Dixie?

[Owl]

which is a marked improvement on the Battlax 020s, 021s and 023s I had inflicted on me as OEM rubber on previous bikes I have owned. There is one word that describes the earlier iterations of Bridgestone's sports touring tyres. That word is "crap".

Not sure I'd be comparing OEM Bridgestone's to the retail off the shelf versions. I don't think they're the same.

[Hitcher]

Not sure I'd be comparing OEM Bridgestone's to the retail off the shelf versions. I don't think they're the same.

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

[SVboy]

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

^^Absolutely this

[JayRacer37]

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

100% agree. Would be nice if the OEM items were a separate entity all together, with their own separate pattern. Alas, at this point it hasn't happened, and all we can go with is an additional letter designation after the model code. It goes for all tyre brands that are supplied as OEM, but comes up for Bridgestone fairly frequently as they provide so many OEM tyres to the Japanese factories.

[Owl]

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

I totally agree with you!

[AllanB]

Avon City Suzuki for the T30's.


Agree with Hitcher, how much would the actual saving be? Not a lot I'd say and if the 'real' tyre was on the bike from new and performed as well as the 'replacements' do then it would be more likely you'd pop the same tyres back on.

[george formby]

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

Now that puts a whole new twist on things. Never had BT's OEM, always retro fitted. A few years ago I rode a new bike with OEM Dunlops, sport/touring tire, not sure of designation but supposedly top notch. Did a few hundred K's. I walked away thinking the bike was stuffed, two other riders felt the same way. Junked the tires at about 1700 km's & the replacements transformed everything. Bizarre.

Point taken.

[Gremlin]

That may well be true, but why would somebody terminally disenchanted with an OEM brand then go and buy the "same" tyre off the rack?

It is for these reasons that I am completely dumbfounded that tyre manufacturers play this silly game with motorcycle manufacturers. Yes, they may make a sale of several thousand El Cheapo tyres to a bike builder, and many riders may never wear the OEM tyres out. But why, having done that, why don't manufacturers make all versions of that tyre exactly the same, particularly if there are significant discernable performance differences?

I completely agree, however, there is a segment out there that go back to the shop when the tyres are worn, and say, need new ones. They thought the originals were OK, so fine, give me another set. I can only presume this is why the situation exists.

Now you and I know differently, some of us even ask for different tyres to be swapped on, upon purchase... so who knows where the split really is.

[JayRacer37]

Agree with Hitcher, how much would the actual saving be? Not a lot I'd say and if the 'real' tyre was on the bike from new and performed as well as the 'replacements' do then it would be more likely you'd pop the same tyres back on.

The difference is in the way the tyre performs initially. Along with no doubt a savings in cost, the tyres are quite different. Tread depth is usually less in the OEM fitment, and the rubber quite soft. The soft rubber makes them feel good initially (think shortish test ride on a demo bike) and the low tread depth helps with stability and shedding heat from the carcass that the soft rubber can't deal with. Where they fall short is longer rides, particularly with our abrasive chip surfaces, where they overheat and wear quickly. The carcasses are also often a different shape, making the bike very light steering, and quick to move from the centreline, while fighting you a little bit and stopping you carrying too much lean. Helps with feeling familiar and comfortable on a new bike (demo rides again) but after you do get familiar with the bike makes it feel like it's fighting you a bit. Basically OEM tyres are geared towards demo bikes, and don't mind too much about wear characteristics and the feeling you get when you are more familiar with the bike.

Now that puts a whole new twist on things. Never had BT's OEM, always retro fitted. A few years ago I rode a new bike with OEM Dunlops, sport/touring tire, not sure of designation but supposedly top notch. Did a few hundred K's. I walked away thinking the bike was stuffed, two other riders felt the same way. Junked the tires at about 1700 km's & the replacements transformed everything. Bizarre.

Point taken.

Same kind of thing - for a competent rider, the OEM rubber is often a let down, at least once they have a couple of KM's on them.

In saying all this it seems the mentality is changing - I have ridden the latest model GSXR1000 on track with the OEM S20's and they performed at about the same level as the aftermarket ones, significantly better than older generation OEM tyres, of which I am thinking of both Dunlop and Bridgestone offerings I have ridden on new 600's in the mid/late '00's. Other brands I can't comment on as I haven't ridden the whole range, but the last couple of demo bikes I have ridden have all had tyres that feel pretty 'normal' to me.

[Owl]

Avon City Suzuki for the T30's.

Ordered and on their way, so cheers for that.