Replacement tires for Rockster

This section is dedicated to the new Rockster version of the R1150R.

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domekrome
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Re: Replacement tires for Rockster

Post by domekrome »

I've run through a two sets of the Pilot Power 2CTs, one set of Pilot Roads, one set of Metzeler Z6s one set of Metzeler M3s. I am currently scrubbing in a set of Metzeler M5s.

The M5s, like the M3s, have a nice round profile on the front that gives me a sense of progressively rolling into corners/turns, whereas the Michelins had a sharper profile that made it feel like I was falling into corners/turns. The Ms and the Pilot Powers offer phenomenal grip, but I haven't had a set of either last much beyond 10,000 kms (6,000 miles).
Jason
Rockster Edition 80 #893
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grwrockster
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Re: Replacement tires for Rockster

Post by grwrockster »

Well, The Maxxis 6029's I've been running have gone pretty much as the early indications. The feel and grip have been fine, inspiring good confidence. The front tyre is showing some wear as I approach 3000 miles. The rear however has had it - it's below the 1mm wear bars so now illegal.

The pair cost £139 and I fitted myself, so given the rear wear, not really a worthwhile saving over The Mich PR2's, although I prefer the feeling over the vague sensation off the Mich front.

I'm sure I'd get good mileage and service off the new PR3, or Roadsmarts. trouble is, the prices make my wallet smart. What I'm looking for is decent mileage and performance for sensible money - this tends to steer toward last-generation stuff rather than the latest and greatest. After good reports from Riceburner on his Rockster, plus some research of my own suggesting it might suit the criteria, I've just ordered a rear Pirelli Diablo Strada to try (90 quid off the Internet). The fact that this tyre starts off with 6.5mm tread depth, and has quite a solid tyre centre with no centre groove are part of the choice as well - more meat where the most wear is on the rear, and more tread depth as well I'm hoping will lead to decent mileage.

I'm also going to try running consistently with tyre pressures at the higher end e.g. loaded/high speed end e.g. 42psi (2.9 bar) rear pressure. Recent boning-up on an article written by one of the Metzeler/Pirelli people I came across on the 'Net said that the recommended pressures given by the vehicle mfr were only relevant to the OE tyres supplied with the bike when new, and that other/subsequent tyres/models/variations would have different needs - so we should always use the recommended pressures given by the tyre mfr for the model tyre purchased, NOT the bike makers figures as they'll be out-of-date. The article also went on to say that the greater the volume of air in a tyre, the cooler it'll run... and goes on to say that the cooler it runs, the slower it wears. I'm aware that there's going to be elements of generalisation in there of course, but it seemed to make sense to me.

We shall see!
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