Tire life update.

[ray nielsen]

I'm on my first set of Metzeler ME 880s (radials) on the Bandit 1200 and the life seems quite good compared to the original Michelin Macadams  
(A 90 and M 90).

The originals were quite worn at 11K miles and the Metzelers are getting ready for replacement at about 23K miles -- maybe another 1-2 K left at most with 4/32" tread left front and rear.  No real visible cupping on the front, but the rear has a noticeable wear pattern unique to radials that I've seen before with Michelins, sort of raised in the center with scalloping on either side of center.

I'm using a standard 120/70-17 VR front and the rear has been changed to a 170/60-17 VR for a slightly larger diameter and subsequent correcton effect on the speedometer.  That, with a change to a 16 tooth front sprocket yields a very accurate speedometer, checked at 60 MPH and 72 MPH.  These speeds give a one mile time of 60 seconds and 50 seconds respectively on a marked freeway.  The odometer is about 6% off, reading low, but easily compensated for when calculating mileage.

Next tires wll be Avon Azaros in the same sizes as above, but I don't know what to expect -- a friend riding a Kawasaki Concours reports about 12K miles, which I hope to better as I tour at just above the speed limit.

More on the Avons later.

[Red01]

Good luck getting more than 12K out of the Azarros. Will depnd on your style, but they seem to get about the same milage as Pilot Roads, Z6's and other ST tires like them.

The ME880's aren't as sporting as these, hence the longer tread life.

[NCBANDIT]

11k, wow. I'd fall over dead if I ever got more than 3k out of a rear and 5-6k out of a front. But I tend to throw down in the twisty stuff and I want all the grip I can get. If I was a flatlander and didn't live at the foot of the NC mountains I might would change the type of tire I run, but for now I'll have to bite the bullet and buy alot of tires.

[solman]

11k, wow. I'd fall over dead if I ever got more than 3k out of a rear and 5-6k out of a front. But I tend to throw down in the twisty stuff and I want all the grip I can get. If I was a flatlander and didn't live at the foot of the NC mountains I might would change the type of tire I run, but for now I'll have to bite the bullet and buy alot of tires.

If I didn't live in the flat wastelands of Texas, I would buy some stickier tires too.  That is why I went with the Metzler Z6's I got the front on, but not the back yet.  So far I love how the Metzler feels.