Experiance with tires

[Namikuz]

So, lets talk about tires for the Skorpion.
What have you used, are useing, sizes and liked and dis-liked.....
AND GO!!!!
My Traveller CAME to me with a Road Pilot on the front in a 110/70/17 and on the rear it had a Battelaxe BT045(YUP Radial on the front and Bias on the rear)in a 150/70/17. It rode well enough. When pushed HARD the front was fairly solid and predictable, the rear would chatter on small imperfections but was still not bad, grippy and predictable. Smooth and strange at the same time. The front liked a split second to set in and the rear did not. Thats what I mean by strange.
I JUST installed Shinko 009 Raven radials, in a 120/70/17 front and 160/60/17 rear. These are suposed to give a long life, of around 7 to 10k miles, and pretty good traction, responce and warm up quickly, even on a light bike like the Skorps. BTW, I goofed and ordered the front in a 70 aspect ratio....Oopps. I was going for the Replica sizes and THOUGHT I read 70 for the front when it is ACTUALLY in a 60 aspect ratio. Imeadiatly I noticed a difference(duh....old worn to NEW and round) But the turn in, I thought would slow abit because of the size increase, as it has on other bikes I've owned, and SHOULD feel heavier..... It does not. The Traveller just tips in so much more effertlesly than the previouse set, even when fairly new, as when I picked up the Skorp and hit the Dragons Tail. The MZ DOES NOT need a tire this big, a 110 front and 140 rear should be MORE than enough, BUT it seems to work well and as for asthetics,....... OFF the hook. (the 150/70 just looked wrong, tall and the side wall was nearly straight off the rim) On the Svelt 'lil Traveller, the tires look like Pro GP sizes. I scuffed the 009s in and they really work nicely. I have not yet gone 8/10s or harder on them.... YET, after all it's still a bit slippery here In the mountains of Utah in the USA........ Having radials front and rear does make a big difference in the total output of the Skorps ride, that is for sure.
So, lets here what you have,.... had and maybe be planning on.......!

[Skorpion660]

I've always been a fan of BT 45's in 110/70/17 and 140/70/17 on the Skorpion but was getting less than 3k on the rear with typically worn in the middle and lots on sides. What I've just put on is a pair of Avon Roadrider AM26 as allegedly they give better wear rates, we'll see. As an aside I took loose wheels to a local garage and boy are those wheels heavy with new rubber on.

Terry

[Skorpion]

Those tyre sizes 120/70/17 front and 160/60/17 rear, are not recommended for a Skorpion as the wheel rim's are too narrow,
The front in particular will have pulled in the sidewall and made the tyre too pointy giving you a fast turn in and maybe nervousness at speed.

110/70/17 front is right, the standard rear fitment 150/60/17 is regarded by some as also being too wide, and a 130/90/17 as the ideal.

Personally I'm using Dunlop Qualifier's in the standard sizes on mine, great grip and feel, and as a bonus they are inexpensive.

[basser23]

I am using Conti Attacks...so far they feel really nice,smooth ride,good grip..had them on for awhile now and compared to the Metzlers they seem more confident..granted the Metz's were old.
Sizes are stock...and as has been said before...HEAVY..but here in Florida it doesn't matter much as most of the roads are arrow straight.....Deals Gap has 300 turns in 11 miles? we have 11 turns in 300 miles....(wonder is they'll let ya run at Sebring for a day?)
BUT the upside is at least it's warm enough to ride all the time.....

[Skorpion]

I am using Conti Attacks...so far they feel really nice,smooth ride,good grip..had them on for awhile now and compared to the Metzlers they seem more confident..granted the Metz's were old.
Sizes are stock...and as has been said before...HEAVY..but here in Florida it doesn't matter much as most of the roads are arrow straight.....Deals Gap has 300 turns in 11 miles? we have 11 turns in 300 miles....(wonder is they'll let ya run at Sebring for a day?)
BUT the upside is at least it's warm enough to ride all the time.....

Here in the UK not only do all the roads have bends, but they are also littered with potholes, so we have to weave around the holes on the straights and in the corners.

We are so Lucky.

[Namikuz]

Those tyre sizes 120/70/17 front and 160/60/17 rear, are not recommended for a Skorpion as the wheel rim's are too narrow,
The front in particular will have pulled in the sidewall and made the tyre too pointy giving you a fast turn in and maybe nervousness at speed.
110/70/17 front is right.

The fitment is called "+1" sizing(an industry standard term) and I have personally found, over the lhe last 35-ish years riding, building, pit crew and racing motorcycles, that "+1" works very well. Now as I stated in the o/p, for THIS weight and power level, the tires are OVER KILL..... no doubt.
Well the tires have a Really nice round profile and not "pointy" at all, the side wall is not angled out much more than the 110 was, 5-ish-mm per side is fairly un-noticable. a nice fit, not un-like the front of the Ducatti 750 SS that was next to it at the bike shop. Not nervous at all to 90-ish mph..... The mis matched tires were not the most stable at 80+ and the Speedo is ALMOST accurate now.....But opinions vary..........

[DAVID THOMPSON]

having fun with tires ?
try finding a 110/80 16 for rear end of a saxon tour in the usa
and then when you do they do not have a 300x18 for the front
dave

[Namikuz]

having fun with tires ?
try finding a 110/80 16 for rear end of a saxon tour in the usa
and then when you do they do not have a 300x18 for the front
dave

OH YES.... I can feel your pain in that. My '78 Suzi GS1000 "C" had an 18" rear and 19" front. I almost always had to run Conti's OR Michelin Hi Sports soft compound. EXPENSIVE and not long on tread wear.....I never found a decent tire from any other manufacture to accomidate the 18" and 19" it took. Most Suzuiki's of the type and year had 17" rear. Mine had aluminum, spoked wheels, SINGLE front disc. This "C" model was known as the "Skunk stripe" because of the white stripe down the side of the black tank.
Had LOTS of fun wobbeling the frame and forks with the Hi Sports......

[Windmill]

My Skorp has a pair of new Maxxis on standard size wheels. I'm not up to Scratching speed yet after my long lay off, too wet anyway so far this year, but haven't had any "moments" on them to date . I'm sure these are the budget end.........any thoughts on them before the good weather comes and I get a little more enthusiastic?

[tigcraft]

My sport is running on Pirelli diablos,150/110's I just rate them middle of the road for the money as they feel a bit hard but would be interested to see what the budget maxxis run like as I feel they are very underrated and have had them before on big bikes and was impressed.

[Windmill]

For what it's worth the previous owner had them recommended to him and rated the handling highly Too much rain/mud/snow/tractors/horses round here to get enthusiastic at the moment so I'll reserve judgement

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i have Pirelli mt66 mt75 on my saxon tour DO watch them on wet pavement
this bike is hard to find a rear tire for
110/80-16 rear or 110/70-16 and a 300 x 18 front 120/80 x 16 is tooo wide in most brands

i am not a happy camper when it rains
DAVE

[billr]

Good to hear some real time review on the Shinkos.

Regular commuting, approx 25 miles per day.
Ran the stock Metzeler Sportec radials (1 front, 2 rears) less than 3k miles on each rear. Excellent stick in the curvies...felt very planted.
Next up...BT45s...110/70 front, 140/70 rear. Not as sticky as the Metz, but still very good in the curves. 6k miles on the rear.
Now running Avon Roadriders...110/70 and 140/70. Dry grip decent, not at all confidence inspiring in the wet if there's any paint stripes or tar snakes around... ...
As reported by others, I am seeing some tread splitting in the center groove, nothing large and the splits haven't gotten any bigger.
I will get 10k out of the rear, though. Keep it sensible and these are decent.
Checking reviews and mileage reports...thinking about Michelin Pilot Activs...any comments?
Later,
Bill R

[Namikuz]

Good to hear some real time review on the Shinkos.

Checking reviews and mileage reports...thinking about Michelin Pilot Activs...any comments?
Later,
Bill R

My brother has the Activs on his Buell, likes them ALOT....... said they are wearing very well and after about 2500 miles........................
The Buell coughed up its gearbox......... So we wont know how long he could have gone on them......

[Namikuz]

Rained today, and the Ravens did very well. pretty good traction.... and through an "un-seen" till to late standing lake of water about 3" deep..........did not miss a beat, I was drenched though.........Liked the available wet traction beter than the Metzlers I had on my Suzi.
Liking the Ravens prety well so far. Chicken strips are getting smaller too!