Sport touring tire for 1250 Bandit?

[Ray Mooney]

I wore out the stock DUNLOP at 1,800!

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say your tires aren't the problem! 

[aussiebandit]

My stock Dunlop tires that came on my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA are crap. The rear is already down to the wear bar after only only 6000km (3700 mi. for those of you who still use the old Harley measurement system)
I have done No burn-outs and used the bike mostly for mountain touring.
The stock tires are Dunlop SportMax D218's
Has anyone else had a pair of these pieces of crap wear that fast?

You got 3,700 miles out of the stock rear tire??  I'd kill for 3,700 miles on ANY rear tire!
I wore out the stock DUNLOP at 1,800!

I got 6000km out of a Metzler M1 rear, but from the Stock Macadam I got 15,000, Metzler ZE4 I got around 10,000, I've now got a RoadTech Z6 with around 5000km on it and it still looks almost new.  I'm currently looking for a new front tyre.  Thinking about trying an Avon Storm.

[06 Greyhound]

My stock Dunlop tires that came on my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA are crap. The rear is already down to the wear bar after only only 6000km (3700 mi. for those of you who still use the old Harley measurement system)
I have done No burn-outs and used the bike mostly for mountain touring.
The stock tires are Dunlop SportMax D218's
Has anyone else had a pair of these pieces of crap wear that fast?

You got 3,700 miles out of the stock rear tire??  I'd kill for 3,700 miles on ANY rear tire!
I wore out the stock DUNLOP at 1,800!

I got 6000km out of a Metzler M1 rear, but from the Stock Macadam I got 15,000, Metzler ZE4 I got around 10,000, I've now got a RoadTech Z6 with around 5000km on it and it still looks almost new.  I'm currently looking for a new front tyre.  Thinking about trying an Avon Storm.

Yes my stock tire was done at 6000km  I have a BT 021 on now and with more that 7000 on it and it still looks pretty good.  The Dunlops are crap to be sure. 

[B6mick]

My stock Dunlop tires that came on my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA are crap. The rear is already down to the wear bar after only only 6000km (3700 mi. for those of you who still use the old Harley measurement system)
I have done No burn-outs and used the bike mostly for mountain touring.
The stock tires are Dunlop SportMax D218's
Has anyone else had a pair of these pieces of crap wear that fast?

You got 3,700 miles out of the stock rear tire??  I'd kill for 3,700 miles on ANY rear tire!
I wore out the stock DUNLOP at 1,800!

I got 6000km out of a Metzler M1 rear, but from the Stock Macadam I got 15,000, Metzler ZE4 I got around 10,000, I've now got a RoadTech Z6 with around 5000km on it and it still looks almost new.  I'm currently looking for a new front tyre.  Thinking about trying an Avon Storm.

One word "Shinko"

009. best all round sports tourer I've ever used.
005 best sports tyre, Ive ever used
003, best super sports knee dragging tyre I've ever used.
Ans now we have the new super sticky 003.

Having said that I've just had put on the rear of the B6 a Roadtech Z6.
Why?, you may well ask. Simple really the bloke I use for tyres, didn't have in stock a new 009, but did have the Z6. I was in no hurry for the tyre anyway, but he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Super discount, fitted and balanced, cheaper than a 009, a no brainer there.
Only been round the block on it, so I'm unable to give a true opinion of it thus far.
Mind you round the block in the Yarra Valley takes an hour or so and takes in some of the best world reknowned motorcycle roads. Shyte I just hated having to move here

[Dink_1170]

I got 2100 kms out of the stock Dunlops, am now using Continental TourForce, just over 3000 kms so far and barely any signs of wear;07 B1250.

Dink

[Daytona]

My stock Dunlop tires that came on my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA are crap. The rear is already down to the wear bar after only only 6000km (3700 mi. for those of you who still use the old Harley measurement system)
I have done No burn-outs and used the bike mostly for mountain touring.
The stock tires are Dunlop SportMax D218's
Has anyone else had a pair of these pieces of crap wear that fast?

You got 3,700 miles out of the stock rear tire??  I'd kill for 3,700 miles on ANY rear tire!
I wore out the stock DUNLOP at 1,800!

I got 6000km out of a Metzler M1 rear, but from the Stock Macadam I got 15,000, Metzler ZE4 I got around 10,000, I've now got a RoadTech Z6 with around 5000km on it and it still looks almost new.  I'm currently looking for a new front tyre.  Thinking about trying an Avon Storm.

Yes my stock tire was done at 6000km  I have a BT 021 on now and with more that 7000 on it and it still looks pretty good.  The Dunlops are crap to be sure. 

+1 on the Storms! Even better than the Stinko's IMO

[Blade]

My stock Dunlop tires that came on my 2008 Suzuki Bandit 1250 SA are crap. The rear is already down to the wear bar after only only 6000km (3700 mi. for those of you who still use the old Harley measurement system)
I have done No burn-outs and used the bike mostly for mountain touring.
The stock tires are Dunlop SportMax D218's
Has anyone else had a pair of these pieces of crap wear that fast?


I am searching for a good sport touring tire that has more life  such as these dual compound ones that are harder in the middle of the tread. Dunlop makes the Roadsmart touring tire that claims to be like that
http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tirecatalog_tire.asp?id=101 but after this last pair of nerf rubber donuts I am reluctant to buy another Dunlop.
Anyone have luck with this Roadsmart one or other tire make? Please give me your feedback.

Lets take a look at a couple of things. First you have a heavy bike, about 500 lbs. This bike is a sport touring type bike and has the ability to corner rather well. So using a sport type tire will get burned up quickly. Now even though you were not doing burn outs, did you do some hard accelerations? This will cause more wear.

So if you plan more aggressive riding a sport tire is a better choice for two reasons. Better grip and cheap insurance from going down due to tire grip.

If you do not plan on aggressive riding then you can go with a more road type tire like Pilot Roads at the cost of some grip, but they will wear longer.

Me personally, I am an aggressive rider and if I get 3 to 4K miles out of a set of tires I am a happy camper and I run Power Race. Not the kind you get in stores, they are the true race version of the Power Race for racers. Since I am a dealer it helps, but still it is a good chuck of change for a set. But I like the security of knowing the grip is there.

[02bandito1200S]

 I put Continental Road Attacks on my 02 1200S and love them.  Very good grip (I do not ride real agressively) and seem to be wearing very well 5200+ miles on them and judging by the current rate of wear I am thinking 12K+ miles from the rear.  If you do go with them, look at the specs on the Conti site.  They require a slightly higher pressure.  I am running mine at 38 fron and 43 rear.  I have run them through every thing but snow and they have performed very well. Grip in the rain is great. In fact grip over all is far greater than I expect to ever need.  The bike/tire combo is far more capable than I willing to be.

[oldandslow]

+1 "I have a set of Metzler Roadtec z6's on my B12,5 and I personally think they are great tires."

Another +1 on the Z6s.  '02 B12, ridden conservatively.  4K miles so far, and barely look worn. 

For comparison, I got about 10K-12K miles on the oiginal Macadams (terrible wobble in the front, squared off rear - both should have been replaced sooner) and also 10K-12K on a set of Conti Road Attacks (better front, rear was running low on tread anyway, and a bad puncture finished it off).  Would also recommend the Road Attacks, but heard good things about the Z6s and had good luck with Z4s on another bike years ago

[Vlad]

+1 "I have a set of Metzler Roadtec z6's on my B12,5 and I personally think they are great tires."

I wore off two sets of Z6 down to the metal in under 12,000Km. Although I don't baby the bike I'm far from a drag racer or knee dragger. No wheelies or burnouts either, mostly sport touring, with emphasis on touring. Never lost grip, though, tires were good for as long as they lasted.

I'll try the Michelin Pilot Road 2 or Shinko 009 next...

[Down Under]

Very hard to go past the Michelin Pilot Road 2 for wear and performance.   

[mi1lertm]

I put Continental Road Attacks on my 02 1200S and love them.  Very good grip (I do not ride real agressively) and seem to be wearing very well 5200+ miles on them and judging by the current rate of wear I am thinking 12K+ miles from the rear.  If you do go with them, look at the specs on the Conti site.  They require a slightly higher pressure.  I am running mine at 38 fron and 43 rear.  I have run them through every thing but snow and they have performed very well. Grip in the rain is great. In fact grip over all is far greater than I expect to ever need.  The bike/tire combo is far more capable than I willing to be.

I agree, very nice tire.  However I am suspect that you are getting > 5K miles on the rear.  I do not burn rubber or stunt and am hard pressed to get > 5K on the rear.  I use the sport attack on front and get close to 1:1 for rear and front.




Tire after 5110 miles and done.

Mark

[02bandito1200S]

However I am suspect that you are getting > 5K miles on the rear. 
Mark

 Mark,

  I have close to 5400 miles on the tires as of last week.  I just went out to the garage and measured the tread depth, on the rear, at the lowest point (middle of the tire) and I have just a tick under an 1/8" of an inch of tread left.  At the closest wear bar it reads 3/16".  Bear in mind that I do not ride aggressively and as of this date have never done any seriously heavy acceleration runs with it.  I have the bike for the fit and comfort, not for the motor size.  Something else that probably helps is that my two primary riding buds are on a HD Deuce and a Kawi Voyager so serious sport type riding does not enter the picture.  That and I have no desire to glean any performance awards from the local constabulary.

02

[mi1lertm]

Understand, I do sport around and commute at 4.5K rpms ~44 miles each way on freeway.  If you are not hitting it I could see the extended mileage.  As I stated, love the tire but need to get more mileage off my rubber.  Am looking to get the R2's after I burn up my winter tires on now.

Cheers,

Mark

[02bandito1200S]

 I am considering looking at a dual compound tire when this one wears out.  Seeing as I do not ride in a manner that is real hard on tires I may be able to get some serious miles from a dual compound donut.