Bandit Alley

MODEL SPECIFIC => SUZUKI BANDIT 250 & 400 => Topic started by: hangin_biposto on March 26, 2008, 04:33:49 PM

Title: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: hangin_biposto on March 26, 2008, 04:33:49 PM
Just looking for some input as I think these are what I'm going to outfit my B400 with. I've heard decent things about them but thought I'd check around just a bit more before I made the final decision.

They'll be going on my first rig and I'll be new to riding, so the beau and I figure these will be a decent 'beginner' tire (i.e. no crazy race profile and relatively good wear).

Thanks!

Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Banditmax on March 26, 2008, 05:05:30 PM
Id say opt for a sport touring tyre if your new to riding it'll give you longer life and help you learn a bit more than on commuter tyres.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Herr Tod on March 27, 2008, 10:49:37 AM
If money is not an issue, Pilot Power is the best choice.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: ippo on March 27, 2008, 11:56:19 AM
I have now Pirelli Diablo Corsa III on my bike.Best what I ever have ridden.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: PitterB4 on March 27, 2008, 10:52:08 PM
Asking about tires is a lot like asking about oil... everybody has an opinion and most of them are actually right.

Diablos?  I had them on my Kawi when I got it and was less than impressed.  Supposedly, the rear only had a few hundred miles on it.  With VERY conservative commuter style riding, I was on the cords in little more than 2K miles.  I've got over 2K on some Supercorsa Pro takeoffs!  They guy may have been lying to me but the tire looked relatively new when I got it.  I LOOOOVED the Pilot Powers on my B4 but sold the bike with them still in good shape so I don't know about longevity.  I've heard raves about the Corsa IIIs.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: gsxr400 racer on March 28, 2008, 02:55:33 AM
never seen a softer tire or than the metzler.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: ippo on March 28, 2008, 03:41:19 AM
never seen a softer tire or than the metzler.??? :?:
Pirelli=metzeler.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Herr Tod on March 28, 2008, 09:13:39 AM
Metzeler Rennsport on the street had as much grip as Pilot Power 2CT, but the Michelin gives more feedback. Diablo Corsa 3 is only available in 120, 180 and 190 if I'm not mistaken? I'm waiting for the new Bridgestone BT-016 to become available in 160/60. I'll give those a try. But to be honest, Pilot Power (2CT) has never ever let me down even though I've tried it a lot :bigok:

Super Corsa on the street is not an option, they have a bit more grip than Pilot Power but if they loose their grip they do so in an instance and they don't last long, same as the Rennsport really.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: VW_NUT on March 28, 2008, 05:49:32 PM
If not the pirelli's, what do you recommend? 

Also, a stock front is 110-70-17 and rear is 150-70-17.  Should we stick with the same sizes (which can be somewhat hard to find)? I was thinking a 150-60-17 rear might not be a bad idea because it might lower the back of the bike a little (Hangin_Biposto would be happy to get the bike just a little bit lower :grin:)
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: VW_NUT on March 28, 2008, 05:51:04 PM
Also, do you guys have any favorite vendors you use?  Hangin_Biposto is also looking for a new chain & brake pads. 
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Chris H on March 28, 2008, 07:08:52 PM
I wud'nt get sucked into the tyre debate if your new to the road, some of the guys on here race and so will push their tyres hard you wont do that so i wud'nt worry to much. I d'nt know how your tyres relate to the UK but i use Battleaxe 090's, they are only H rated up to 145mph, he Bandit a'nt fast enough to need ZR's so you can get a set much cheaper this way.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: interfuse on March 28, 2008, 07:35:58 PM
+1 for pilot powers. I've got great wear out of them with the b4. I
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: gsxr400 racer on April 02, 2008, 01:47:40 PM
150/60/17 is good usually you can go up one size in the back (meaning 150-160) but i always try not to do it in the front but have also raced like that as well. :motorsmile:
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: VW_NUT on April 02, 2008, 02:15:53 PM
Thanks GXR400Racer!  I think 150/60/17 will be a good size. 
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: GooseMan on April 02, 2008, 11:31:53 PM
I ended up with Michelin Pilot Activ's on my bike last year. I didnt wanna spend too much, and I REALLY dont need super sport tires (its a B4, its also my first bike etc...).

They are bias-ply tires, but so far, so good! I believe the B4 is designed with bias-ply tires in mind anyway. They were also the only tires I could find in the stock sizes (for a decent price). I think both of them ran me about $200 together, but you'll probably find cheaper prices in the US. I think its an excellent tire for the money!

Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Herr Tod on April 03, 2008, 06:00:46 AM
I ended up with Michelin Pilot Activ's on my bike last year. I didnt wanna spend too much, and I REALLY dont need super sport tires (its a B4, its also my first bike etc...).

They are bias-ply tires, but so far, so good! I believe the B4 is designed with bias-ply tires in mind anyway. They were also the only tires I could find in the stock sizes (for a decent price). I think both of them ran me about $200 together, but you'll probably find cheaper prices in the US. I think its an excellent tire for the money!



Pilot Activ is supposed to be a great commuter tire, offers enough grip on dry and wet roads, has deep profile and lasts long. I've never tried it though, I only want radial tires and nothing less than Pilot Power. Radial tires steer just that much better and have more grip and feedback. Even though it's a B4 it has enough power to make a Pilot Power 2CT slide in corners. As far as the front tire goes, it's offers loads of grip for braking hard into corners, good feedback as well. They have a rather linear slip curve as well. However it's only about 10 degrees centigrade right now, these tires really start to kick ass when it's about 20 degrees centigrade. It's not easy to get them to reach the right temperature on a B4. Some pics of the front tire on random spots to get an idea about this tire's compound :bigok:

(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/HerrTodB4/Bandit/SPM_A0083_CW_small.jpg)

(http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb280/HerrTodB4/Bandit/SPM_A0079.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: VW_NUT on April 21, 2008, 11:55:51 PM
Any reason not to run a 160/60/17?  Motorcycle superstore is having a sale on them & are back ordered on 150's.  Is it worth waiting for the 150's?
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: PitterB4 on April 22, 2008, 11:17:51 AM
Any reason not to run a 160/60/17?  Motorcycle superstore is having a sale on them & are back ordered on 150's.  Is it worth waiting for the 150's?

There's been some debate here about that.  Try doing a search for "160" in this forum.  You should get a decent number of hits and some good feedback.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: gsxr400 racer on April 22, 2008, 11:38:58 AM
Looks like a rebound issue to me there tod :motorsmile:
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: Herr Tod on April 23, 2008, 01:37:52 PM
:stickpoke: :shock: :shock: No, it's more like a braking hard into bumpy corners issue :wink:
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: gsxr400 racer on April 23, 2008, 06:20:57 PM
 :stop: :motorsmile:
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: andrewsw on April 24, 2008, 01:45:44 PM
Jay, weren't you recommending Shinko(sp?) tires for a while? what came of that?

/me's been gone too long.
Title: Re: Anyone Run Pirelli Diablo Tires?
Post by: gsxr400 racer on April 24, 2008, 03:25:28 PM
Not me but they make a great dot drag tire