Traction is wonderful. Having enough traction can make the difference between life or death. Having enough traction period will get you home from another trip.
Dunlop D211's had been my choice of tire for the past year or so -that's about 17k miles worth of tires!!! As soon as I felt the amount of grip these tires had I was hooked (and the takeoff price of about $180 a pair didn't hurt either)! Handling on the busa improved dramatically - Slicing, dicing, shifting, careening down the road and through turns with the ability to "flick" the busa..yes, the busa!! For those of you who think this bike does not handle, think again. It is never given the credit it deserves. Since my bike eats through tires aka dollars, I decided it was time to replace the high performance tires and go for something that would not have me seeing my friends at Cycle Depot every 2 months! I needed a high mileage motorcycle tire that would also perform! Yes, I want it all and yes, I am comparing Dunlop track tires to Michelin road tires. In this case, the answer was a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires.
Here's a shot of my Dunlop D211 with 2473 miles on it!
On a recent ride, we had to be rescued and taken by truck back to LA due to a rainstorm in the Frazier Park area...not to mention this TIRE!!!!
Death wish, anyone?
Here's a shot of my new tire - The Dunlop Pilot Road 2 with 2CT technology! 2 compounds - a harder compound in the middle for all the sport touring I do, and a softer compound on the side for traction in the turns.
After the initial break in period, it was time for a test run to see how they compared to the Dunlop's that were stickier than flypaper. What better place than GMR on a Friday afternoon? Fate had us meet up with Adam Waheed and crew from motousa.com. Nice!
Check the video from the ride!
So what did I think about the new Pilot Road 2? They felt great really! Initially, I could not tell much of a difference, but after about 700 miles or so I was able to see differences in traction, handling, comfort, and maneuverability. The Michelin's do not have the grip that the Dunlops have when exiting corners but this is a road that we ride on, not a racetrack. There wasn't a moment on the Michelin's where I felt like I was going to lose grip in a turn, or not have the lean angle. The Pilot Road 2's are very confidence inspiring! You can definitely tell the difference when you gun it. The Michelin's are simply not as sticky as the Dunlops but they will last me much longer and not leave me stranded in a rainstorm in Gorman after only 2400 miles.
Glendora Mountain Road/Glendora Ridge Road
So far, with 700 miles on the Michelin Pilot Road 2, these new tires have been great! Check back to see how they perform in the long term test and the upcoming tour to Yosemite!
pictured above view of Azusa Canyon from Glendora Mountain Road
pictured below my riding partner and his 04 R6 behind him
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