 best tires?
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ok, since the search has sent me to a 404 page 5 times, i will just ask, who's tires are best for an 06 america, i do a lot of long hauls.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
You might as well ask what oil is best.  I would stay away from Bridgestones, lots of guys run Metzelers, Avon, Dunlop, I have IRC and they wear pretty well.
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,068 Likes: 1 |
Quote:
the search has sent me to a 404 page 5 times
Maybe the Universe is suggesting you get some 404 tires , whoever makes 'em. 
I run Metzler 880's , have worked good for me over the years.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Quote:
You might as well ask what oil is best.
I would stay away from Bridgestones, lots of guys run Metzelers, Avon, Dunlop, I have IRC and they wear pretty well.
h3ll no i don't want to know what kind of oil you use, obviously whatever brand it is must make you grumpy 
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,730 Likes: 5 |
me, grumpy? 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 379
Adjunct
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OP
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,063 Likes: 8 |
12 Rocket Roadster
03 Bonneville America
69 BSA Firebird Scrambler
73 Yamaha TX 750
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,420 |
I've had Metzler 880s...not bad. Wear decent but I found them a little slick in the rain.
Dunlop 404s...Wore out way too soon. Handled well for the first 2-3000 miles then got slick too.
IRC Wildflare...Good tire. Competitively priced and they wear well. I liked these the best of the 3.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 63
Member
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Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 63 |
I switched to Dunlop 404's at the recommendation of my HD friends. Given my front Metzler was bald at 6,000 miles, I was disappointed how quickly it required replacement. I have 9,000 miles on my current 404 and it has another 2,000 or so to go. Performance to me has been relatively the same to me but I mostly tour. Good luck in your search.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821
Bar Shake
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Bar Shake
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,821 |
Quote:
Quote:
You might as well ask what oil is best.
I would stay away from Bridgestones, lots of guys run Metzelers, Avon, Dunlop, I have IRC and they wear pretty well.
h3ll no i don't want to know what kind of oil you use, obviously whatever brand it is must make you grumpy
You can say "hell" on here. It's no longer on the verboten list.
I use Metzeler 880s front and rear.
Use a reputable brand that you get a good deal on.
Contra todo mal, mezcal; contra todo bien, también
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Yeah, but no need to encourage it...
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2011
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You can say hell now? Holy $/-/ ! + I feel like a dumb@$$ Apologies in advance FJ but one can only bare so much temptation.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: best tires?
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Quote:
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
Just bought a set on eddy's recommendation
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Re: best tires?
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Where is the verboten list anyway?
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Quote:
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
I have some on a Speedmaster I picked up, front and back, are they ever going to wear out? I'm sure they will, but they have 12,000 on them, and the wear bars still look fine. They seem to be constructed of a rather hard durometer rubber, which would explain the lack of wear. 
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
Where is the verboten list anyway?
In the admin control panel.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
Quote:
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
I have some on a Speedmaster I picked up, front and back, are they ever going to wear out? I'm sure they will, but they have 12,000 on them, and the wear bars still look fine...
So Ryk, how are they for grip... dry surface, wet conditions, that sort of thing?
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62 |
I have been running the IRC Wild Flare for a while now 2 sets on my bike and one on Wendys bike. They are in expensive, wear pretty well, and hold the road very well. I just replaced my front with a Dunlop 404 and so far so good but not that many miles on it yet.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720 |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
I have some on a Speedmaster I picked up, front and back, are they ever going to wear out? I'm sure they will, but they have 12,000 on them, and the wear bars still look fine...
So Ryk, how are they for grip... dry surface, wet conditions, that sort of thing.
Actually, I only got caught in the rain once (truly a miracle in Wa. St.) with these tires and they seemed fine to me. But, I don't get overly aggressive in the rain anyway. Probably a softer tire compound would be better in the wet, but there is always a give and take, isn't there? In the dry, they compare favorably with the Metz on the rear and a Spitfire on the front mounted on my '06. If Fast Eddy sells them (Kenda s)? It's a good bet they are a good product.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Quote:
If Fast Eddy sells them (Kenda s)? It's a good bet they are a good product.
Agreed!
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2011
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Quote:
Quote:
If Fast Eddy sells them (Kenda s)? It's a good bet they are a good product.
Agreed!
it was eddy's recommendation that sold me. i got the fat version for the front tire. pics and reviews to follow.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Oct 2009
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I just replaced my original front tire with an Avon AM26 Roadrunner 110/90 18, on the recommendation of the local "Tire Nazi" (who was in turn recommended by a couple of ex highway patrol officers who run a local training course).
I've less than 100 miles on it, and I'm not a very aggressive rider anyway, but to me it seems a marked improvement over the Lasertech.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Has anyone tried running Kenda tires on our bikes?
Vera Lynn has a set of the K673s. 170/80 rear, 130/70 up front. They scare me in the wet. No not all the time, but I can spin the rear on take offs too easy in the wet and by simply hammering the throttle while under way. And I can lock up the rear too easy in the wet as well. Overall I like the kendas. Just have to remember to ride mellow in the wet. Conversely I never really had to do much different in the wet vs in the dry when I had Avons or metzlers.
imho spitfires have the same quirky handling in the wet as the kendas.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62 |
Can add IRC to the Avon and Metz, I ride no different in the wet than the dry.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964 |
Well, I don't know about Kendas on our cruisers but I do have a set of dual-sport Kendas on my enduro. Over the course of a season I can't spot any wear and I rode that thing a lot. I honestly can't report on grip quality because I never really rode in the rain, but they do seem to last.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
they do seem to last
Thus the more than reasonable trade-off.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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 Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,626 |
I've been using Kenda Kruz tires for quite a while now.
I get about 6k miles on the back & 10k miles on the front.
I'm hard on tires, so for me that's good mileage.
Steelheart- '03 Speedmaster Black/Yellow
The Hayabusa Killa
16" Shorties/140 mains/Airbox drilled
Procom CDI
"There is no cure for Celibacy. But we can treat the symptoms."
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,227 Likes: 62 |
Quote:
Quote:
they do seem to last
Thus the more than reasonable trade-off.
+1 usually the longer the tire wears, the harder the compound. The harder the compound, the less grip.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
I've been using Kenda Kruz tires for quite a while now.
I get about 6k miles on the back & 10k miles on the front.
I'm hard on tires, so for me that's good mileage.
Dang. Currently my rear Kenda has 6,164 miles and the tire looks almost new. When I want to rub the tread off I'll ride down to Latin America.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Feb 2010
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Sorry to ask a silly question will Dunlops D404 110/90 18 fit an 08 Speedmaster front or do I need to mod the front fender? Guess i could go with the 100/90 18 ...thanks for the help. Like the look of those Kenda's fatter front but need better grip in wet weather 
Are we there YET? I gotta go pee!!
08 SpeedMASTER, Black and Red!
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Shouldn't have to, but I haven't run Dunlops in that size, only Metzlers.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 373
Adjunct
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Adjunct
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Quote:
I would stay away from Bridgestones,
Curious, why stay away from the Bridgestones?
'06 America, Raask foot controls, the bike use to be Graphite and Silver, now its Red and Black.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Quote:
I would stay away from Bridgestones,
Curious, why stay away from the Bridgestones?
The oem rear tire used to be a Bridgestone Exedra G546. Think they still are. Those SUCK.
The best tire is the one on your rim. 
(If you ride on the edge, Metz 880s or Avon Venoms are for you.)
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
I mounted up some new me880s yesterday for my birthday. 130/70 on the front regular 170/80 on the rear. Its interesting how the handling characteristics changed with the wider front tire. It seems like ya gotta lean her down a little more in the turns. It could be in my head though.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Quote:
I mounted up some new me880s yesterday for my birthday. 130/70 on the front regular 170/80 on the rear. Its interesting how the handling characteristics changed with the wider front tire. It seems like ya gotta lean her down a little more in the turns. It could be in my head though.
I had the same impression with the same size Avon Venoms. At the same time, the 110/90 Metzler on the front feels almost twitchy by comparison.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 11,126 Likes: 13 |
Quote:
Quote:
I mounted up some new me880s yesterday for my birthday. 130/70 on the front regular 170/80 on the rear. Its interesting how the handling characteristics changed with the wider front tire. It seems like ya gotta lean her down a little more in the turns. It could be in my head though.
I had the same impression with the same size Avon Venoms. At the same time, the 110/90 Metzler on the front feels almost twitchy by comparison.
You guys nailed it. Cinnamon Girl got a new chain kit last Sunday. The month before that CG was not ridden and I was riding Vera Lynn with her 130/70 kenda. The first thing I noticed after I rode CG this past Monday was as John put it, "the front feels almost twitchy" after riding Vera for a Month. Been a week now riding CG and the twitchy feeling has waned.
Blowing gravel off rural roads
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 373
Adjunct
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Adjunct
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 373 |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
I would stay away from Bridgestones,
Curious, why stay away from the Bridgestones?
The oem rear tire used to be a Bridgestone Exedra G546. Think they still are. Those SUCK.
Darn, no wonder I only got 20,000 miles out of that G546.
'06 America, Raask foot controls, the bike use to be Graphite and Silver, now its Red and Black.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825
"Lighten up, Francis."
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"Lighten up, Francis."
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18,825 |
Some of the Rocket guys seem to like Bridgestone Exedra Max tires (I'm considering a set for mine), but I don't know if they come in the right sizes for the America/Speedy. Funny how size can completely change a tire's performance. For example, a lot of the Rocket guys hate the Metzler ME880. I can only assume it has something to do with the larger sizes--the tread design or the compound or both don't scale well to a 240.
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Re: best tires?
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1
Second Wind
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Second Wind
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 8,393 Likes: 1 |
I know a few guys with heavy bike who like Continental tires I'm not sure which model tire but I can find out. I know some guys have gone automotive and are happy with the change.
I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.
Edgar Allan Poe
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