Metzler 888 Ultra Marathon's

[JZach]

Does anyone have experience with Metlzer 888 Ultra Marathon tires? Though they are bias ply Metzler has the exact size for the front tire and the rear is 180-60-17. Will the rear tire fit? On other bikes I’ve had good luck with this tire. They last for a long time and can handle the Valkyrie's weight.

Some background. I’m an above average rider, not too aggressive (I have a sports bike to satisfy this need), I often have a passenger and I ride long distances, often 500-600 a day.

[Shrubbo]

Running great so far and running the matching 200 on the rear but never run with a passenger. That being said I am a fat bastard so for comparison purposes you might as well say there is someone on the rear. As far as how far I push it there is little in the way of chicken strips, I have bought more then my share of titanium pegs savers and I need another set of boots. Not racing but hey I get a kick out of the sparks, especially at speed

Don't know about the mileage yet but I intend to try the Commanders again next to see which one I prefer overall. I ran the Commanders with a 200 as well. I see no point to going back to 180's.

Commanders seemed to be more inclined to follow some grooves in the road but unsure of the wet weather performance of the 888's at this point. I had the front dip out on me a few times once but it is highly possible it was crap on that part of the road. Not been in real rain since.

Anyway the 888's are meant to last but the first set I ran I really was slack on the air pressure and well... unreliable results on that set

[dans2014]

Had them on a Yamaha Venture I own and didn't like them. Felt hard compared to the Michelins

[Speedracer28]

Had a new set installed on my 2012 Goldwing and hated them so much I made the dealer refund me and swap them out for Dunlop Elite 4’s which really worked well on the Wing. I didn’t like them because the tread pattern on the front produced a slight resonating vibration that felt like a “tingling” in the grips and made me hands go to sleep.

[Rain Man]

I had the Ultra on my wife’s VTX-1300 and it didn’t last any longer. Not impressed with it. Now has a Shinko Journey on it. Also using a Shinko Journey on rear of my Interstate till I replace it with a CT.

[JZach]

Appreciate everyone’s input. Guess I’ll look at other options, probably the radials mentioned in other postings. Thanks

[dans2014]

The Michelin's just seem the best, period!

[Shrubbo]

I had a chance to ride with the 888's in some significant wet on the weekend for the second time. I can't say I am filled with confidence after that.

They seem fine in the dry but yeah... looking forward to trying the commanders again as the 888's for me can be a little too interesting in the wet. I had a great fishtail down the road thing going on but I haven't been able to do that since the OEM's.