Michelin Commander II (front) ride report.

[Jess from VA]

Just mounted yesterday.  Did take 2oz to balance.  Has very little or no release agent feel or look on the new tire.  Went on a 100 mile easy to medium hard break-in ride today.

Folks, I am really liking this tire.  Very smooth ride (well, aren't all new tires?).  Grippy and positive handling right out of the gate.  Toned it down in corners and clovereleafs for about half the ride, but not one slip or exciting moment all day, including some sand and gravel.  By the end of the day, I was very pleased indeed.  MAX PSI on the sidewall is 42, and I am at 41.  

The 140 75 17 is a tad narrower, and a half inch shorter than OE size, but really don't notice.  Seems I touched boards about the same time as always.  

A distinct improvement over the rear bias Avon Roadrider 130 70 17 I just finished on the front (which got about 11.5K, and had at least 5-700 more decent miles left, but it was time to swap for upcoming trips.  The Avon slipped for the first 200 miles (a lot of that first 200 was in the rain).

It may be a bit early to give it a full five thumbs up, but if it gets decent mileage beyond 10K, this is looking like a great front tire.  Esp for all you car tire guys out there.  Of course new fronts always minimize rear car tire anomalies.  I will report back on how it is riding and wearing.

Also, the 180 65 16 rear is only a third inch shorter than OE.  (I think a pair of these would be great.)



See reviews at bottom.
http://www.amazon.com/Michelin-Commander-Motorcycle-Tire-Front/dp/B005J88JLK

Others seem happy too (no high mileage reports yet)
http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/41873/pr/michelin-commander-ii-cruiser-rear-tire



  

[SANDMAN5]

Friend of mine has them on his Heritage Softail. He really
likes 'em and they've already outlasted the oem Dunflops.

[BF]

I've been hoping that they'll make a set in Valk size, but you've got me interested in pulling the trigger on a set of these.  

Do you use Ride On in your tires, or just the weights. 

[donaldcc]

   
   I love new tires after they are scrubbed.

[Jess from VA]

I've been hoping that they'll make a set in Valk size, but you've got me interested in pulling the trigger on a set of these. 

Do you use Ride On in your tires, or just the weights. 

I contacted Michelin USA direct by message last week and told them thousands of Valk guys would like OE size Commander IIs (perhaps a fib, but why not try?).  Their answer was (cryptically).... we don't make the Commander II tires, all we can do is pass it on to our market research people.  My immediate response was.... well they have your name on them... so who does make them?   And they never answered.

I have never used Ride-on, and I probably should (would not use beads); just the weights.  The (one) guy who does all my tires is a real pro, and I always get a perfect balance and even wear if I do my part with PSI.  (Only used ME 880s for many years until the CTs, and the one Avon bias rear on front experiment.)  This Commander II is giving me the confidence of the ME880, so far (I'd still run them in front if I could get more than 8K good miles from one at $180 or more apiece).

I hate to put this in writing, but I have not had a bike flat for 40 years.  Pulled a few random staples and small chit from the tread, but never all the way thru.  I have never had a cupping or uneven wear issue on a tire, so Ride-on would be mainly flat protection for me.

[PAVALKER]

I've been hoping that they'll make a set in Valk size, but you've got me interested in pulling the trigger on a set of these. 

Do you use Ride On in your tires, or just the weights. 

I contacted Michelin USA direct by message last week and told them thousands of Valk guys would like OE size Commander IIs (perhaps a fib, but why not try?).  Their answer was (cryptically).... we don't make the Commander II tires, all we can do is pass it on to our market research people.  My immediate response was.... well they have your name on them... so who does make them?   And they never answered.

I have never used Ride-on, and I probably should (would not use beads); just the weights.  The (one) guy who does all my tires is a real pro, and I always get a perfect balance and even wear if I do my part with PSI.  (Only used ME 880s for many years until the CTs, and the one Avon bias rear on front experiment.)  This Commander II is giving me the confidence of the ME880, so far (I'd still run them in front if I could get more than 8K good miles from one at $180 or more apiece).

I hate to put this in writing, but I have not had a bike flat for 40 years.  Pulled a few random staples and small chit from the tread, but never all the way thru.  I have never had a cupping or uneven wear issue on a tire, so Ride-on would be mainly flat protection for me.

I agree....  I just took off a set of Metz ME880s recently.  Back went first and the front with just over 7k.  I now have the Austone on the rear and trying a new Shinko SE890 on the front... So far it's good, seemed to hold well in wet run off even new before the nubs wore off. 

[The emperor has no clothes]

Thanks for the report. How come you won't use balancing beads?

[Jess from VA]

Thanks for the report. How come you won't use balancing beads?

Mainly the same reason I haven't used Ride-on, my tires once balanced and maintained at the high end of PSI, stay balanced and wear evenly to the end with no cupping or other issues.  I have not been convinced the beads consistently lead to a better balance throughout the life of the tire, or consistently result in more miles/longevity than without them.  And they get into the valve stems.  

[PAVALKER]

Thanks for the report. How come you won't use balancing beads?

Mainly the same reason I haven't used Ride-on, my tires once balanced and maintained at the high end of PSI, stay balanced and wear evenly to the end with no cupping or other issues.  I have not been convinced the beads consistently lead to a better balance throughout the life of the tire, or consistently result in more miles/longevity than without them.  And they get into the valve stems.  

Not a fan of beads either....but only because they got stuck in the valve stem quite a few times...and dumped the air out when all I was doing was checking the pressure.  Fortunately I was in my garage with a compressor.  I also had a rear blow out 2up lat one night...and...now use Ride On or Quad Boss in the tires to balance and provide some piece of mind.

As far as tires maintaining balance once balanced.... I can't see how they do, they don't wear evenly regardless, so unless you have something inside to dynamically balance it all the time, they will be out of balance I imagine at least 50pct of their life....and most likely the second half of the tires life.

[big poppa pump]

How much are you off from your speedometer?

[Jess from VA]

How much are you off from your speedometer?

The same 5% as everybody.

My IS's have electronic speedos (unlike the std/tourer mechanical).

I frankly do not know how tires of non OE size may affect the IS speedo, if they do.
 
As I posted earlier.........Using the Discount Tire conversion link Mr. Whiskey posted, however,  the Michelin Commander II front 140 75 17 comes out .59"shorter , with 36 more revolutions per mile than a stock front tire (150 80 17).  Over a half inch.

And the rear Commander II 180 65 16 comes out .35" shorter, with 22 more revolutions per mile than the stock 180 70 16.  A hair over a third inch.

Some mathematical equation may be able to pinpoint how the 36 additional revolutions per mile would affect a mechanical speedometer on the front wheel.  

I just go with a rule of thumb that I am probably around 5mph slower than my speedo tells me, regardless of tires.

And when riding to avoid performance awards, I use general flow of traffic and inside lanes more than my speedo.  

[John Schmidt]

No beads huh? Hmmm....my current bias front Metz is going on 17k with beads since installed. No cupping or irregularities, run 40psi, never had a bead caught in the valve stem.   

Probably 'cuz I kiss the cat every night and put the wife out. Such a good husband. 

[Jess from VA]

As I stated, I emailed Michelin and asked for the Commander II's in Valk OE sizes.

First, they replied they did not make the Commander II, so I asked who did make them.

Today I got this from Michelin:

The previous email should have said we do not make the tire in the requested sizes.

(No crap Sherlock, I pointed that out to you and was asking if you would)


We have no plans in the near future to produce the OE size for the Honda Valkyrie's at this time.
 

It does not mean we will not produce them in the near future so check back in 2015.

(So 2015 is in the near future?)

We are they we do have the requested size tire for your motorcycle at this time.
(WHAT?????)


We appreciate your business and thank you for choosing Michelin.

(good thing I made the choice based on quality of the tire, and not quality of customer service)

Apparently, all you need is a 3d grade diploma to work in customer service.
  

[big poppa pump]

Ha! Ha! Ha!

And we wonder why all Dell and HP call centers are in India? Over there you did need to have a college degree to even apply for a customer service position.