Ducati Monster Forum

From another forum...warning, it's a long read... ;D

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/545/8285/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Street-Motorcycle-Tire-Comparison.aspx (http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/545/8285/Motorcycle-Article/2010-Street-Motorcycle-Tire-Comparison.aspx)

Thanks for posting that Gene.  A good read and timely as the 848 is going to need some new rubber soon. Just my luck it'll happen at the same time that the cam belts will need replacement.

What other forum did that come from?

Superhawk forum...

after yesterdays ride i am starting to gain more confidence in my Q2s
looks like i made a decent choice  ;D

i still don't see why metzeler sportecs don't get any love. i've had nothing but positive experiences with them on the inline 4 600s i've owned.

I'm sure the Metzelers are fine and people that I know that have ridden them don't have bad things to say.  It's just that they don't have the cache' of the big names and Lord knows most of us ride so hard that we need all the super compounds that we can get our hands on.  [roll]  However, there are some moments that, no matter how much we deceive ourselves, that we really feel much better knowing that there is some real good sticking going on down there. Ride behind someone with Battleaxe 003s or Pilot Pures and with all the stuff they pick up and throw back at you or run a finger across a tire or two when we stop for a break. (A real pro test for sure). Do we really need that stuff? Just like we need 150+ hp engines.  ;D

New tires are immanent. The center grooves are down to the wear strips and seem to be wearing fast.  I'm down to three choices. The Michelin Pilot Power 2CT (I have had 3 sets of the regular Pilot Powers on bikes), the Bridgestone BT-016 (which is a special order tire if you're on this island, and $50.00 more per set than the other two tire choices) and the Dunlop Qualifier 2's.  Gene's test report thread might weigh these choices like this.  The Q2's, the BT-016's and then the 2CT's.  Locally the Q2's and the 2CT's are the same price. I'm a bit concerned about the Q2 lifespan, which might be a bit short given the weight of the tire and the grip it provides. On lots of boards most folks like the 2CT's over the BT's, saying that their bikes handle noticeably better with the Michelins compared to the Bridgestones. That's a bit contrary to the tire test results but, hey, these are real life comments. I had no complaints with the BT-016's that were on my Gixxer and the non-OEM tires are supposed to be even better. My only complaint, if you can even call it that, is that the Michelins are a bit slippery in the wet but so were the BT's.  I'm thinking about going with the 2CT's as they are closest to what I know best. BTW, Cycle Sports has a great deal on Pirelli Diable Corsa's or is that the Corsa Rosso's? I forget.  

The CS deal is on the Diablo Rosso's.

I put Rosso's on the SD.  I'll be going back to Pilot Powers (or Pures) next time around. 

Well, you know how I feel about the 2CTs versus the Corsa IIIs on the SF... [thumbsup]

How?  I'm curious...

Transformed the bike, feels more flickable and responsive...turn in feels more natural, I believe it's the triangular vs round profile of the front tire...the Q2s reportedly have this feature also...

The Pilot Power Pures are breaking in nicely. Holding just fine now and I have almost wiped out the chicken strips on the rear. I wouldn't rate them any higher than the old Powers or the Power 2CT's. We'll see what's kickin' when these wear out but I reckon I'll go with the Qualifier 2's if nothing better is happening.

Yeah, I was going to ask you how they were doing as you seem to be comfortable on them, at least from my perspective... ;D

I went back and started re-reading the tire test article.  I find it kind of interesting how they are stating that the 2CTs, the Rosso and the BT-016s all have similar profiles.  I'd have to say that the 2CTs and the Rosso have VERY different profiles from what I have experienced on my bikes.  I'm wondering how that 016 would feel like...

I had the 016 on my old Gixxer. More triangular than the Rosso but not as much as the 2CT. I'd say the 016 and the Rosso had similar turn in characteristic. All of them hold just fine. At one point I was thinking about getting the 016 for the Duck but they were too much of a hassle to get compared to a local purchase. What's odd is that Cycle Sports doesn't stock the 016 and yet it is the stock tire on the GSXR.