Michelin Pilot Road vs Pilot Road2?

[Oilhead]

Does anyone have opinions on the upside and the downside of those two tires? I did a search and found lots of threads on Pirelli vs Roads, Metzlers vs Roads, etc but did not see any comparing those two. I am going to get one or the other and wanted to know if anyone had any personal experience with both Roads and Roads2.

[boxermania]

The Pilot Road 2 is the upgrade to the Pilot Road....excellent all around tire with great mileage to boot. I had the Pilot Road on two bikes, with great service, the Pilot 2 is recent vintage.

[Oilhead]

The Pilot Road 2 is the upgrade to the Pilot Road....excellent all around tire with great mileage to boot. I had the Pilot Road on two bikes, with great service, the Pilot 2 is recent vintage.

Other than the price, are there any downside to the Road2s? Treadlife? Also I have the Roads1 on the rear. It's OK to go with the Road2s on the front? Would you say it is worth the extra cost? Thanks!

[jeepinbanditrider]

The Pilot Road2 is a multi-compound tire. Harder compound in the middle softer on the outsides.

Theory is that you don't need a super sticky middle when riding down the slab but you want a sticky tire when riding hard in the corners.

This gives you long life out of the middle of the tire where you spend most of your time riding anyways.

The original Pilot Road (I just spooned one of these tires on my rear rim tonight) is a single compound tire through out.

[Ritchard]

I have a new set of PR 2's with about 1200 km on them. I cannot comment on the original Pilot Road, but these tires are wonderful. Great road feel in the straights, and nice and sticky in a confidence-inspiring way in the corners. They were $pendy, but sure feel worth it.

[llahbocaj]

I put a set of PR's on about 1500 miles ago and have been pleased through a few long days of riding and a track day spent hanging off the bike trying not to scrape the centerstand off a little bit at a time. I might try out the PR2's after these are worn through, I've heard only good things about them...I just wanted to try something besides the Metzler Z6's.

[MattPie]

I put a set of PR's on about 1500 miles ago and have been pleased through a few long days of riding and a track day spent hanging off the bike trying not to scrape the centerstand off a little bit at a time. I might try out the PR2's after these are worn through, I've heard only good things about them...I just wanted to try something besides the Metzler Z6's.

The center stand is pretty easy to take off, that's what I did for a track day.

[gregor]

I can only comment on Bridgestone Battlax BT020 v BT021. Similar scenario single rubber compound v dual rubber compound.
So far the newer design tyres ,BT021, are still looking good and the centre area is not wearing as fast as the BT020.Running 36psi front and 42psi rear as recommended by Bridgestone.Feels fine.
If you can afford it go for the newer design IMHO.

[Oilhead]

Thanks guys I told my dealer to order the Pilot Road2s. According to the Michelin website, the Road2s offer better dry handling & better wet handling while offering similar tread life to the Road1s. The downside are the higher price and comfort. I will post a report once I get it. The Road1s were a huge improvement over the garbage Macadams that came with the bike originally.

[harveyrawn]

Thanks guys I told my dealer to order the Pilot Road2s. According to the Michelin website, the Road2s offer better dry handling & better wet handling while offering similar tread life to the Road1s. The downside are the higher price and comfort. I will post a report once I get it. The Road1s were a huge improvement over the garbage Macadams that came with the bike originally.

I have also just ordered them for my 2002 R1150R. Found an online site at http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/ offering both front and rear for $302 with free shipping. I will also try DynaBeads for the balancing. A well respected local shop will install them on the bike for $33/wheel.

[jm1515]

The OE PRs lasted 11200mi on my bike. I liked them...never a problem in the rain, easy turn in, held the line in turns, and fairly quiet.

My second set lasted longer in the front (13k +), not as long in the back (just over 10k)..probably due to my throttle hand affliction. Again, for the kind of riding I do, which is semi-agressive twisties only (no commuting & very little highway), they are great....

So naturally I had to try the new PR2s.
I've had the rear on for about 6k miles, the front for just over 4. They both look like new at this point, and the performance is at least the equal of the PRs. I can't detect any kind of 'comfort' difference. They do hum a little when leaned over between 25~40mph, other than that we'll see how long they last....

[Dr. Strangelove]

Had PR1s on the bike when I got it and they were good, but they sang.

Have PR2s now, after some other tires, and I love these, maybe the best set of tires I've used, but only 2k miles on them thus far. And they don't sing.

John

[BMWEW1]

Olihead- curious what did your dealer charge for the PR2 tires?

[harveyrawn]

I got the PR2s, with Dyna Beads balancing, installed on Monday and rode them through some twisties in Ojai and Santa Paula. Even riding very conservatively while they scuff in, they performed wonderfully. The bike seeks out corners and floats through them. The bike and I are a happy pair.

[combustor777]

Just got my PR2's on today. I always replace tires in pairs even though the front doesn't wear out of course. I got 10k out of the MEZ6's, maybe could have squeezed more but the wear bars were pretty close. I don't do any knee dragging and probably only do max acceleration 1/3 of the time. Hoping the PR2 lasts even longer since they are more expensive, and I had no complaint about the metzelers (even rubbed the elephants a time or two).

[Oilhead]

Olihead- curious what did your dealer charge for the PR2 tires?

Sorry I didn't see this until now.

I buy my non-dirtbike tires from my Honda dealer as they mount and balance for free. I just looked at the invoice. I had assumed that they charge me full retail but it looks like they gave me 10% off the MSPR of $192.99 and the tires was $173.69. No charge for mounting and balancing. I think that's more than fair from a local dealer.

The dirtbike tire, I mount myself, so I usually order from RockyMountainATV.

The tire was on backorder so I only got it recently and I have not gone riding with it yet as it has been raining the last few days so I have been riding the KLX.

I will post my 2 cents after I do.

[Oilhead]

I just got back from a quick 25 mile ride. According to the Michelin Website, the 2 downsides of the Road2s vs the Road1s are price and comfort, and I agree. The Road2s definitely ride harder than the Road1s. You feel the bumps quite a bit more.
Michelin also states that the Road2s will provide better dry and wet handling over the Road1s yet still provied equal treadlife. I still cannot comment on that but I did notice that the steering effort is greatly reduced. The bike will lean with much less countersteering effort than with the Road1s. So far, I like the feel and since the R1150R is about as soft as I would ever want a bike, the harder ride does not bother me at all.

[Oilhead]

Well after riding around for the last few weeks, as far as the handling is concerned, it is a significant improvement. As I mentioned in the previous post, it leans much easier and the grip & stability are greatly improved at aggressive lean angles. The only downside is the higher price(well worth it) and the harder ride(which to me is a non issue as the Roadster is about as cushy and soft riding as I would want a bike anyway). To me it rides like a magic carpet compared to my other bikes which are much sportier and firmer.

[Flashdog]

I doubt that most riders would actually feel the difference. Unless you are doing a back to back comparison the biggest difference in feel is coming from replacing a worn set of tires for a new pair. I just replaced my PR1's with a new set of the same and my bike feels amazing.

[Oilhead]

I doubt that most riders would actually feel the difference. Unless you are doing a back to back comparison the biggest difference in feel is coming from replacing a worn set of tires for a new pair. I just replaced my PR1's with a new set of the same and my bike feels amazing.

There is a favorite corner of mine that is a very good gauge for testing tires. I can go 5mph faster with the PR2 than I did with when the PR1s were fresh all while giving much better feedback and feeling much more stable. The quicker steering and the harder ride is instantaneously noticeable too.
That being said, yes if one does not ride very aggressively, they may not notice the difference between the PR1 & the PR2.

By the way, the PR1s that was replaced still had a lot of tread left on it. I had a valve stem failure so I just had them spoon on a new PR2 while they were at it.