Tires: what would you do?

[sinikl]

My 06 xb9sx 'bitsa' (it's not exactly stock, who knows what POs have done) has a very new ContiMotion tire in front, and a worn-out-to-wear-bars and squared off ContiMotion rear.

These are obviously not especially sporty tires and i'm not trying to sport-tour on this thing, tho the ContiMotion is a 'sport touring' tire. I'm thinking it may be best to just redo both tires with something sportier.

I am far from a good rider - back on a bike after an 8 year hiatus, and even then never had a bike like a Buell - and I'm not doing track days nor am I riding in the rain unless I get caught in it. I'm honestly considering the fact that i'm not good, and a fresh rear ContiMotion would let me get better at this bike until i *need* a better tire. I've also ridden crummy tires in the past to my limit and then put on better tires and felt like "why did you do that to yourself? these tires are great!" and got faster with better rubber.

Would you....

1. Buy a new ContiMotion rear
2. Buy new front and rear tires that are more sporty
3. If 'yes' to buy new front/rear: what would you buy?

 

[TPEHAK]

Buy just rear

 

[Cooter]

I actually like the Conti-motions for what they are. Just because they are inexpensive doesn't make them slippery. They are still a 'sport' tire and can be ridden confidently to the sidewall.

If you are admittedly not leaning far or aggressively riding there are many tires you can get that will give you more mileage than they will.

How new is the front? The build date is stamped on one side of the tire. Besides having tread is it worn evenly? My fronts tend to wear out and get bad way before the tread wears down. Feathering and especially getting squared off is really hard to ride relaxed and safely. If the bike feels like it falls over in a corner, then you need to catch it is a sign the front is square.

If the front is good, I'd just get a rear. But BEWARE of lightning strikes, locusts, and cats and dogs living in harmony, because I just agreed with TPEHAK:angel:

 

[spymac]

Last year I was in a similar situation as you. I'm personally more comfortable buying tires in a set so that the handling characteristics of the front and rear tires match. I started looking for a set priced $200-$250 then did some research on what was available in the market at that price point. The best bang for my buck was in the supersport tire category since I ride infrequently only when the weather is good and value grip over wet performance or longevity. Ended up with the Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S21 and have been happy with them so far on my '03 xb9s.

 

[MRBOWERMAN]

I agree with the Bridgestone Battlax S21. I put a set on my '04 XB12S lightning in July 2016 and have almost 3,500 miles on them including 4 track days. Front looks great and the rear is about 40% tread left. Great mileage and they are plenty sticky enough even in the intermediate group at the track. Catch a set when they are offering a mail in rebate, you won't be disappointed.

 

[sinikl]

well, I guess it was more worn than I thought. So i need a tire STAT. Sucks because I had a great ride today finally feeling comfortable with the bike and some of the roads around here that I know well enough to not be surprised by a mid-corner radius change, crap on the road, etc (I have been ranging farther afield trying to find fun twisty roads, not easy in central NC where a lot of the roads just go straightish, unlike where i grew up in SE PA where almost all roads have curves upon curves). Also, grateful nothing bad happened on some of the 90 mph sections. I had no idea the tire was this thin (i should have noticed the tread pattern on mine is NOT a typical contimotion, where grooves are much longer into the center section than what i've got. If i had, I wouldn't have ridden on it). Even clutched up my first baby wheelie tonight (it's taken since December for me to feel confident enough to try).

The new dilemma is whether to just take whatever 180/55 they've got at a local MC shop (so i can RIDE!!! must RIDE MOAR! NOW!) or wait and get a set of the Pilot 2CTs that revzilla has for cheap.

 

[Cooter]

Revzilla's good, but RockymountainATV.com is my go-to for tires.

Life's too short to regret the wrong rear tire!

 

[sinikl]

local shop (3 mi away) has a contimotion rear, so i'll do that for now, tomorrow.

hopefully the 'book time' for the tire swap is 'chain drive japanese bike' based and the shop charges very little to fiddle with the belt, which, like, joke's on them i think.

 

[wickedchop]

I ONLY run Q3+'s on the track but I must say I just put a pair of Conti sport attacks on one of my Firebolts and have literally been blown away. To me, hands down the best tire you can ever buy for the money, and on top of that it's a hypersport tire!

 

[Outlaw]

I heard those Shenko tires are the best.

 

[user_deleted]

I heard those Shenko tires are the best.

Shinko.....Cheng Shin....Qingdao.....Woo-Tang-Clan. all great and top rated by latest Chinese consumer reports. right now i'm running a set of Woo-Tang-Clan ultra-sport radials along with a HellFire 1-percenter custom exhaust system and quite pleased with overall performance.
love always,
Jimmy540i

 

[Dobe1]

Yo Jimmy540i,
Shinko - the only rubber I use:

See you on Thursday at the bowling alley.
Best,
Jesus Quintana

 

[wickedchop]

Effing wu tang clan????? Hands down your best work to date John. I'm actually sick to my balls that I didn't come up with that one!!!!

 

[optomist]

All,

Happy to see Lunatic has joined the silliness. Love the scooter etc. post. I think, though, that the Shenko are Japanese, so they might be OK. I had the best luck ever with a pair of Angel GT's on the RX but when it was time to replace them I learned that they were now being made in China. Didn't much like that so went with the Metzlers

Opto

 

[Silverrider]

I am running set of Angel GT's on my 1190, They are working out very nicely. My pair are made in Germany.

 

[optomist]

That is good to know, Silver--When the Metzelers burn off I would enjoy getting another set of the Angels. They were far the best of all the multitude of tires I have gone through--particularly on the RX1190. Yes, mostly in sport touring mode.

Is the country of origin molded into the tire someplace?

Opto

 

[Outlaw]

I'm interested in that Hell fire 1%er exhaust. Sounds like something a Deplorable like me would run.

 

[Silverrider]

That is good to know, Silver--When the Metzelers burn off I would enjoy getting another set of the Angels. They were far the best of all the multitude of tires I have gone through--particularly on the RX1190. Yes, mostly in sport touring mode.

Is the country of origin molded into the tire someplace?

Opto

Yes, its molded in the side wall.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AC8B9VY/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[user_deleted]

I'm interested in that Hell fire 1%er exhaust. Sounds like something a Deplorable like me would run.

need year/make/model Josh to check availability. scooter applications only for now but expanding model line in near future. also note HellFire 1-percenter exhaust systems will ONLY be sold to qualifying deplorables and other great Americans. MEGA!! (make exhaust great again). love always, Jimmy540i

 

[sinikl]

update if anyone cares, the new contimotion is on and the rear preload adjusted (i didn't have the tool and figured it was worth throwing the shop the cost of the tool to do it one time, since i'm a lardass and changing this setting again is extremely unlikely).

The preload adjustment made a huge difference in my confidence in the bike as it squats much less (duh, but i had no idea how much it was sagging, turns out a lot). Also having a round rear tire instead of a squared off rear tire makes a huge, good difference to tipping into corners (again, duh).

The bike was so 'wrong' suspension wise that i'm having to recalibrate how i ride it in a good way. Thanks to all for the tire suggestions.