Hello All,
Am currently running on Michelin Macadam 110/80-18 (front) and 140/80-17 (rear).
They seem fine and in my limited experience I see nothing wrong with them.
So when I come to replace them next year that's the route i'll probably go
unless someone has other recommendations worth considering.

Anyone ?

Rod

Hi Rod

I run a Bridgestone SF11 110/80-18 on the front & a Michelin Macadam 130/80-17 on the rear. The rear takes forever to warm up but once warm gives reasonable grip even in the wet. What has impressed me is the mileage I am getting from them. The rear has done approx 10000km and still looks good for about the same.

That's my 2c worth from a partially sunny South Africa.

Graeme

Rod have a read of this thread for great tyre info. I went through the same decision process when I got my bike - squared off rear macadam and worn pirelli front. In the end I went with the Pirelli Sport Demons, H rated (up to 130mph) they're cheaper as they are more readily available than the V rated (149mph). My local bike shop SP Motorcycles Gorey did them as cheap as I could have got them off the net.

88

There are numerous threads contained herein on new tyres and recommendations on tyres. I suggest typing in tyres (or tires) in the search area and up will pop heaps of info and opinion going back three years or so.

For bias ply tyres I like Pirelli's Sport Demon, others prefer Macadams and Contis, still others, Bridgestone Battlax. For radials I like the Pirelli Angel ST and Conti's Road Attack II.

I used Michelin Macadams briefly and removed them well before I wore them out. I live where there are lots of curvy roads to play on and the Macadam rear would always slide before I even touched a foot peg to the pavement.

What did work for me quite well are Avon radials. On the rear use the Azaro-ST sized 140/80ZR17. I used to use Dunlop D205s and loved them, but when they were discontinued I had to switch to the Azaro.

On the front use the Avon Storm 2 Ultra sized 110/80ZR18. I used the Azaro rear, Storm front combo for several years getting about 10K miles out of each tire. They are superior to any bias ply tire you will ever mount on these old skinny rims. There is enough grip to allow you to fold the footpegs up against the footpeg plates without any squirm or slide, which is more than I could ever say about those miserable Macadams.

Another possible choice is the Continental TKV 11/12 combination. This is a re-issue of what was in the mid to late 1980's a premium bias ply sport tire for bikes like ours. I used them and liked everything about them except for one thing. They tracked rain grooves and were very lively on steel grate bridges.

Here is one other combo to try. Michelin makes both the Pilot Road 2 and 3 in a 110/80ZR18 front, but there is no PR rear sized 140/80ZR17. There is, however, a Michelin Ankakee in both 130/80R17 and 140/80R17. This is another way to get a long lasting radial on the old skinny K bike rim.

I'm using the Michelin Pilot on both ends and find them as good as Bridgestone BT45's but they are looking like they are going to last a lot longer.
Cheaper to buy, too.
Tried Metzler ME88(?). Back tyre gone in 3000 miles.

Hi Comberjohn, which Michelin Pilot are you using? The Activ?

Yes, the Activ. Using a 130 on the back. I've been using them for a couple of thousand miles now and very happy with the feel and rate of wear.

Thanks for the reply Comberjohn, I have seen them in the Michelin brochure and wondered what they were like. How are they in the wet?

Haven't found any problem wet or dry although my level of self-preservation may be higher than some.
If there's one thing we know about in Ireland, its riding in the wet!