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AdrianR
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« on: September 05, 2015, 05:49:32 AM » |
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Leaving shortly to have a new set of Michelins mounted on 'me' bike... I will report back with my initial thoughts... I will 'try' to be as objective as possible...  *********************************************** Okay, back from approx. a 150 mile jaunt with the new tires...Michelin P/4 GT rear, and Michelin P/4 Trail on the front (120/70-19)..pressures set @ 38psi front, 40psi rear. Definitely DIFFERENT.. First of all it rides much softer/better...seems to roll better and absorb bumps/vibrations...a more comfortable ride for sure. The front tire due to it's slightly taller profile..and thinner(approx.10mm) wants to turn REALLY fast...it like falls into turns more readily making it feel more like a sport bike...At first this sensation was unnerving..but after 50 miles or so I started getting used to it...and then TRUSTING it... I 'maybe' think a properly sized front tire; as Honda designed it to be, would be better...but the rubber compound and it's stickyness, breeds confidence... I found it not to want to follow grooves in the road like the old front tire. I liked that allot... The rear tire stays well planted...and in the sparse gravel, stayed right on line... So far it seems like a good investment....the bike imo, definitely rides and handles better... Oh and that premium, corn free fuel up in Pell Lake is 'da shite' man! I felt like the pilot of a P-51D Mustang picking off antiquated FW-190s.. (referring to the scores of loud ass Harleys) One by one they all fell prey to the mighty Valkyrie man...it wasn't even close...even the big bore models were child's play for that bike! It's an AWESOME machine!  |
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« Last Edit: September 05, 2015, 07:58:40 PM by AdrianR »
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Just a guy who likes to ride and rock...
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hungryeye
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« Reply #1 on: September 05, 2015, 07:36:17 AM » |
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Make sure you scuff them in before you report that they are to slippery...  |
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2014 F6c Red ish
1983 GL650 cream puff
2010 Spyder RS
we DRIVE our cars, we RIDE our motorcycles!
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AdrianR
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« Reply #2 on: September 05, 2015, 07:54:30 AM » |
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Make sure you scuff them in before you report that they are to slippery... These new Michelin tires have a very sticky feel brand new...nothing glossy about them...I doubt their gonna need much 'scuffing' based on my initial observations...but to be sure...I will be cool with the turns until they get good and warm...and gradually start having fun... |
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Just a guy who likes to ride and rock...
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buzzard
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« Reply #3 on: September 05, 2015, 05:45:44 PM » |
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Adrian
Why did you choose the PR 4 TRAIL for the front and not the matching PR 4 GT 120/70?
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Buzzard
USAF 72-76 S.E.A. X 2
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Robert
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« Reply #4 on: September 05, 2015, 06:11:27 PM » |
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Adrian
Why did you choose the PR 4 TRAIL for the front and not the matching PR 4 GT 120/70?
Only comes in a 17 or 18 not the required 19 for the Valk, the Trail is the closest size Micheline makes to fit. Adrian glad you like it, I may switch early before the OEM's wear out. |
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“Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don’t have time for all that.”
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AdrianR
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« Reply #5 on: September 05, 2015, 06:16:20 PM » |
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Adrian
Why did you choose the PR 4 TRAIL for the front and not the matching PR 4 GT 120/70?
Their isn't a GT 120/70 19...only a trail P4 in that size. |
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Just a guy who likes to ride and rock...
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Jess from VA
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« Reply #6 on: September 05, 2015, 08:39:03 PM » |
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Just to confirm Michelins, I've run (running) two Michelin Commander IIs on the front of my Interstates (140/75 instead of 150/80). I could find no release agent of any kind on either tire, and they stuck good right from the start, though I was still careful for a couple hours on each (I've been down before on a greasy new tire, right in the installer parking lot  ). Never seen a new tire with no goop on it before. They work great and inspire confidence, but undersize did not last on my 1500.... 7200 on the first one. Not done with the second, and doubt I'll get another. $45 cheaper than my regular size tire but low miles makes them unacceptable. They had great reviews on other bikes, esp for longevity. |
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« Last Edit: September 05, 2015, 08:46:13 PM by Jess from VA »
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jerry426
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« Reply #7 on: September 06, 2015, 03:56:16 AM » |
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As of yesterday, I am running a Michelin PR4 rear (not the GT), and Dunlop American Elite front (which was installed last week). Put a hundred miles on them yesterday and very happy to report that handling is excellent - VERY neutral which I like. Heading to Blue Ridge, GA today for a week of good roads.
Did I mention that the handling is EXCELLENT?! The more rounded profile of these two tires gives me a very linear response to steering input - which is as close to neutral as I think it could be. Corners like it's on rails. And at a given lean angle, because of the tire profiles, the bike actually turns sharper than before IMO.
Jerry
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16769
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #8 on: September 06, 2015, 05:13:31 AM » |
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As of yesterday, I am running a Michelin PR4 rear (not the GT), and Dunlop American Elite front (which was installed last week). Put a hundred miles on them yesterday and very happy to report that handling is excellent - VERY neutral which I like. Heading to Blue Ridge, GA today for a week of good roads.
Did I mention that the handling is EXCELLENT?! The more rounded profile of these two tires gives me a very linear response to steering input - which is as close to neutral as I think it could be. Corners like it's on rails. And at a given lean angle, because of the tire profiles, the bike actually turns sharper than before IMO.
Jerry
I have a Pilot Road 4 on the back and a brand new bias-ply Dunlop on the front. I paid $260 for a mounted OEM radial, but when I got home it was the $100 bias-ply tire. I rode 400 or so miles on it yesterday, in all kinds of conditions. It howls in the turns. I think it slowed down the handling a little, it is more like the original Valkyrie now. I think I might like it better than the OEM. They are going to replace the bias ply tire with the tire I paid for on Tuesday morning. Keep us informed about how long the bias-ply tire lasts... I think the PR4 I have on back is great, but I'm not sure the quicker handling people who have the PR4trail on front report is what I want... http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-American-Elite-Touring-Front/dp/B0068FVFD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441541656&sr=8-1&keywords=130%2F60b19I need to work up lift technology for this new bike so I can change my own tires like on the old Valkyrie - motorcycle dealer experiences just don't seem to work out for me (the HD dealer in Greenville is very good, though). I took the Mini in for its normal dealer maintenance (155,000 miles now) last week, and it is in great shape. Depending on what kind of machine you have, some dealers are GREAT... -Mike |
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jerry426
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« Reply #9 on: September 07, 2015, 04:26:34 AM » |
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As of yesterday, I am running a Michelin PR4 rear (not the GT), and Dunlop American Elite front (which was installed last week). Put a hundred miles on them yesterday and very happy to report that handling is excellent - VERY neutral which I like. Heading to Blue Ridge, GA today for a week of good roads.
Did I mention that the handling is EXCELLENT?! The more rounded profile of these two tires gives me a very linear response to steering input - which is as close to neutral as I think it could be. Corners like it's on rails. And at a given lean angle, because of the tire profiles, the bike actually turns sharper than before IMO.
Jerry
I have a Pilot Road 4 on the back and a brand new bias-ply Dunlop on the front. I paid $260 for a mounted OEM radial, but when I got home it was the $100 bias-ply tire. I rode 400 or so miles on it yesterday, in all kinds of conditions. It howls in the turns. I think it slowed down the handling a little, it is more like the original Valkyrie now. I think I might like it better than the OEM. They are going to replace the bias ply tire with the tire I paid for on Tuesday morning. Keep us informed about how long the bias-ply tire lasts... I think the PR4 I have on back is great, but I'm not sure the quicker handling people who have the PR4trail on front report is what I want... http://www.amazon.com/Dunlop-American-Elite-Touring-Front/dp/B0068FVFD2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441541656&sr=8-1&keywords=130%2F60b19I need to work up lift technology for this new bike so I can change my own tires like on the old Valkyrie - motorcycle dealer experiences just don't seem to work out for me (the HD dealer in Greenville is very good, though). I took the Mini in for its normal dealer maintenance (155,000 miles now) last week, and it is in great shape. Depending on what kind of machine you have, some dealers are GREAT... -Mike Mike, When I ordered my new front tire from the dealer, and later went in to pick it up, I discovered they had done the same thing to me - however they were charging me the correct bias ply price. I went ahead and had them install the bias ply because my OEM front was completely shredded as a result of my spirited riding style. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really liked how the bias ply was handling. Now with the addition of the new PR4 rear, for me at least, the handling is just about perfect. Based on what I've read elsewhere it seems like this Dunlop bias ply is capable of delivering many miles of use, however, I am not sure how that will translate with how I ride the bike. Motorcycle dealers have been a hit-or-miss thing to me too. Some great. Some terrible. Just like so many other small businesses out there I guess. I will try to report back with my thoughts on this week's riding in the mountains regarding my tire combination and how the front tire looks after a few days. Jerry |
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AdrianR
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« Reply #10 on: September 07, 2015, 07:32:32 AM » |
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The more I ride the bike with the new Michys....the more I realize how much better the bike is compared to what it was with those stock slugs...
You guyz running the stock rubber..well...replace them man....It's a much better handling bike AND comfortable with the Michys...
The only thing that kinda burns me is that I had to shell out nearly $500.00 for a new bike that SHOULD have had decent tires from the start...
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Just a guy who likes to ride and rock...
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hubcapsc
Member
Posts: 16769
upstate
South Carolina
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« Reply #11 on: September 07, 2015, 07:57:08 AM » |
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The more I ride the bike with the new Michys....the more I realize how much better the bike is compared to what it was with those stock slugs...
You guyz running the stock rubber..well...replace them man....It's a much better handling bike AND comfortable with the Michys...
The only thing that kinda burns me is that I had to shell out nearly $500.00 for a new bike that SHOULD have had decent tires from the start...
I think you're probably describing the front pr4trail accurately... I like the input I get from mashing on the bars through the twisties on my 1500 Valkyrie... the heavier feel is desirable to me. If the bias-ply dunflop works out mileage-wise for Jerry, I'll probably get another one when the time comes. I expect tomorrow's swap-out for the "proper" OEM tire to leave me underwhelmed, as before... we'll see... -Mike |
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maddoggie501
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« Reply #12 on: September 07, 2015, 10:33:06 AM » |
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Adrian, glad you like the PR4's on the bike. The more I ride mine the more I'm impressed with those tires. Enjoy it.
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AdrianR
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« Reply #14 on: September 07, 2015, 12:16:43 PM » |
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500 $ !   Yup..$338 for both tires plus $160+ dollars to have both tires mounted and installed on the bike...Like I said, not really happy with that...and feel I should charge Honda for it! The bike is FAR more enjoyable to ride now not to mention significantly more safe....The stock tires suck &ss... |
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« Last Edit: September 07, 2015, 12:33:51 PM by AdrianR »
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Just a guy who likes to ride and rock...
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goldstar903
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« Reply #15 on: September 07, 2015, 01:08:50 PM » |
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$160 to mount! Holy Tires, Batman!   |
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I love to go fast, but my wallet doesn't! Maybe I should leave my wallet home!
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