looking for a good tire that will last me 8,000 miles for my next trip

[pmackie]

Hey Bandit1250

Past Pleasures....all memories
2006 Triumph Sprint ST1050

I see you recently had a Triumph Sprint ST. I am seriously looking at selling by B6 to my younger brother and buying a new Sprint. Another option might be a new Bandit 1250...

Since you've had both (among others) tell me about your experience with the Triumph, and how you ended up with, and feel about the Bandit 1250.

[Bandit1250]

Hey Bandit1250

I see you recently had a Triumph Sprint ST. I am seriously looking at selling by B6 to my younger brother and buying a new Sprint. Another option might be a new Bandit 1250...

Since you've had both (among others) tell me about your experience with the Triumph, and how you ended up with, and feel about the Bandit 1250.
[/quote]

Well, I loved the Sprint's motor, 125hp and smooth as silk almost totally vibe free and the computer gizmo's were fun to play with.......but the party ended there for me.........
I had quite a few problems with mine and lost gfaith in the bike.

!. Had a warm engine no start problem that turned out to be a clutch spring issue, replaced clutch.
2. Had the plastic gas tank bubbeling up under the paint, replaced under warranty.
3. Various rubber pieces rotting after only 1 year of ownership and less than 13,000 miles.
4. Recall on suspension bolt that could snap and cause the suspension to collapse.
5. The seat attachment is the worst I ever encountered on a motorcycle, PITA to reattach.
6. Front tire would wear almost the same time with the rear, never had a bike do that before, ususally they wear 2 to 1 rear to front, not a defect but more expensive come tire time.
7. Long cold crank time.
8. Suspension is very soft.
9. Very tall geared had to downshift twice for strong power even after going one tooth down in the front sprocket, helped a litttle though.
Most of the above were handeled under warranty.
That being said mine was an earlier model and I've heard TRIUMPH has corrected some of these issues but I'd buy a 2007 or newer if you're serious about one........the RED 2007 looks awesome too!!

So far I love the Bandit1250.
 I have almost 12,000 miles on her and no issues. The suspension on the Bandit 1250 is firm but I like that for solid twisty riding here in twisty road California. The Sprint used to wallow in the twisties when I pushed it hard (I'm heavy though at almost 300lbs) The Bandit is real solid. Sprint is faster but the 1250 has MUCHO torque down low and makes peak HP and Torque at much lower RPM's so less shifting is involved.

IMOP the British bikes arn't as dependable as the Japanese.....one of my friends is taking TRIUMPH to litigation for problems he's had on his 2007 Speed Cripple. A broken piston at 4,000 miles and a no start problem that the dealer couldn't fix even after having the bike for 3 months. I've been to TRIUMPH sites and quite a few people complain about electrical probs with the Speed Tripple. For a company that's trying to increase it's market share I'm surprised they didn't offer him anything for his problems, no buy back of the bike or offer of a new one or anything........that's why he hired a Lawyer.

If you're looking for a Sport Tourer I'd seriously consider a KAWASAKI Concourse 1400....I have 3 friends who have them and love 'em! It might be my next bike..........

[PaulVS]

I've been to TRIUMPH sites and quite a few people complain about electrical probs with the Speed Tripple.

A British motorcycle with electrical problems???

That's unheard of!!!!!   

[pmackie]

That being said mine was an earlier model and I've heard TRIUMPH has corrected some of these issues but I'd buy a 2007 or newer if you're serious about one........the RED 2007 looks awesome too!!

I lookiing at a 2008 leftover...brand new, non current. Still not much of a discount however...

Colour choice is either Graphite or Blue.

Sorry to hear about your problems...most people I have talked to that are my size, shape and age (5-11, 185 lbs, 52 years) and have one are pretty pleased. I recognize the potential for a few more problems, but as a former mechanic, I hoping that may help. Of course the little air/oil cooled Bandit has been as reliable as a stone. Other than my fiddling with things, it has only needed tires and chain/sprockets, and I still love the little bike.

But, after 6 seasons, I've decided I can't keep it forever, and want to try something different. My good friend has a Connie 14 and had the older Connie as well, and he loves his, but I'm still looking for something a little lighter and a touch sportier, that still has hard bags. I've looked at and ridden VFR's, and they are an option, but the Triumph still has some allure, and here in Canada, a whole LOT cheaper than a VFR with factory hard bags.

We'll see...thanks for the comments.

[gyrogearcrunch]

I've used Conti Road Attacks exclusively on my B12S for the past three years.
Adhesion/grip is fantastic, wet or dry and I run out of ground clearance before I run out of grip.  Tracking and feedback are also excellent.  My riding is probably a normal mixture of zoom and plod.  LOL  Tire milage averages about 6k miles to about 1/16-1/8" tread left and replacement.  I would be surprised if anyone could get 8k miles out of a set.

Blue

The biggest problem with tire life is how you use 'em. Use up the "chicken strip" and you'll have lousy tire life, regardless of brand. Do burn-outs and you'll say goodbye to your expensive rear "tars". Every asshole pays the price, regardless of intent or pursuit of the chickadees. So do the math, and don't bitch when physics meets the bottom line.

Under normal use, you can expect even the old standard Bridgestones to give you 12K miles. The Metzler ME4's give great performance and shorter 8K lives. Now I'm working on installing a set of Shinko (Yokohama) 005's on my '99 1200. We'll see.

[Pillage]

The highest mileage tire I've found is the BT021, but I only get around 8K out of them.
I guess "Normal Use" in Florida is probably a little different, we have curvy roads & frost heaves up here
(so we don't really have any chicken strips on our rear tires.) 

[Bandit1250]

I live in Southern Cal.....I don't know ANYONE here in So Cal that gets more than 4,000 miles out of a rear tire on a sport or sport touring bike.........but then again we DO have curves here! 

I'd be ecstatic if I could get 5,000 miles out of a rear tire........if anyone finds pne, please let me know!

[Bandit1250]

 

A British motorcycle with electrical problems???

That's unheard of!!!!!   

You'd think that by now they'd have it figured out??!!

[mi1lertm]

I live in Southern Cal.....I don't know ANYONE here in So Cal that gets more than 4,000 miles out of a rear tire on a sport or sport touring bike.........but then again we DO have curves here! 

I'd be ecstatic if I could get 5,000 miles out of a rear tire........if anyone finds pne, please let me know!

Mich Road 2's will give you > 5K miles and still pull fast track days.

Mark

[Bandit1250]

I'd have to see it to believe it..........I do have the regular Pilot Road on the rear now, we'll see how that holds up, just about 1,000 miles on it now.

[Red01]

I'd have to see it to believe it..........I do have the regular Pilot Road on the rear now, we'll see how that holds up, just about 1,000 miles on it now.

I got 10K miles out of my PR rears and 15K out of the fronts. 
Tested over the course of three rears and two fronts.
*Caveat* I do tend to get more miles out of my tires than most... but 5K should be easy and 8K shouldn't be much of a reach.

[Bandit1250]

I got 10K miles out of my PR rears and 15K out of the fronts. 
Tested over the course of three rears and two fronts.
*Caveat* I do tend to get more miles out of my tires than most... but 5K should be easy and 8K shouldn't be much of a reach.

That would be nice but I doubt I'll see anywhere near that good of mileage. For instance, I wear out the sides of my Front tire before the center of the tread. It kills me to throw away the tire when it has like 50% of the center tread left!