New Michys ROCK....

[AdrianR]

Nuff' said...  You guyz (and I must only assume) with the stock tires have no clue how much better the bike rides AND handles with the Michelin tires... To me it handles like a true sport touring machine...  total confidence in the turns now...even sparse gravel doesn't scare me anymore...amazing difference...

[hubcapsc]

I have the pr4gt on the back of mine, it is wearing great and giving me no trouble,
I'll probably keep getting them.

I have the "crummy" bias-ply Harley Dunflop on the front, I like it
way better then the OEM tire... but it made my bike handle more
like the old Valkyrie, not like a sport bike. I like the input, the way
the bars feel when I press on them, in the curves. We'll see how it wears...
They HOWL in the curves, I think that is kind of fun, but it probably
represents rubber getting eaten away...

-Mike

[goldstar903]

I like the Michelin Man's tires. They are on my other bikes. The Valkyrie is very excited about wearing them too! 

[bradrcfii]

What is the load rating of the trial tire you have up front?

[AdrianR]

What is the load rating of the trial tire you have up front?

I forgot, but I do remember it being within spec...The tire is designed for heavy sport touring bikes...

[jerry426]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

My riding companion for this trip is a very experienced (and fast when he wants to be) rider on his naked Suzuki SV1000. I had ZERO problems staying glued to his tail light on any roads up there including the tightest parts of highways 60, 180, 28, (and 52 and Cherohala where I led and he admitted needing to be very focused while keeping up with me).

Our first ride out was the the tightest section of hwy 180 where I never let him get more than 2 bike lengths on me. I was finding it nearly impossible to believe what was happening - I'm on a cruiser easily maintaining pace with a fast sport bike rider.

Quite honestly, we were both stunned at how easily I was able to fling the bike around in the tight curves. There is NO WAY it could perform like that with the OEM tires. Only the outermost 1/8 inch of the rear PR4 is untouched. The entire remainder of the tire was well used during our nearly 1000 miles of riding.

I knew what to expect with the PR4 rear, as I've run the PR2 and PR3 tires on my GSXR1000.  Given some of the bad reviews I've seen on the Dunlop American Elite, I was not sure what to expect - however was very happy to find it works great in both dry and damp/wet conditions.

[AdrianR]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

My riding companion for this trip is a very experienced (and fast when he wants to be) rider on his naked Suzuki SV1000. I had ZERO problems staying glued to his tail light on any roads up there including the tightest parts of highways 60, 180, 28, (and 52 and Cherohala where I led and he admitted needing to be very focused while keeping up with me).

Our first ride out was the the tightest section of hwy 180 where I never let him get more than 2 bike lengths on me. I was finding it nearly impossible to believe what was happening - I'm on a cruiser easily maintaining pace with a fast sport bike rider.

Quite honestly, we were both stunned at how easily I was able to fling the bike around in the tight curves. There is NO WAY it could perform like that with the OEM tires. Only the outermost 1/8 of the rear PR4 is untouched. The entire remainder of the tire was well used during our nearly 1000 miles of riding.

I knew what to expect with the PR4 rear, as I've run the PR2 and PR3 tires on my GSXR1000.  Given some of the bad reviews I've seen on the Dunlop American Elite, I was not sure what to expect - however was very happy to find it works great in both dry and damp/wet conditions.

OUTSTANDING post Jerry!  I agree, the bike handles like a real sport bike now man...amazing the difference a set of tires can make.  Oh and btw...I rode exactly where you did as well back in 05'.  The Cherehola Skyway (or however you spell it)...was hands down the *best* bike ride of my life..I want to be back there with this bike!

[_Sheffjs_]

  Ok! ok! I'm sold! Here Michy Michy!! As soon as the first set melts away

[hubcapsc]

What is the load rating of the trial tire you have up front?

The load rating is the letter at the end, right? If so, same as OEM...

-Mike "Harleys weigh a ton...  and I miss Big Al  "

[jerry426]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

My riding companion for this trip is a very experienced (and fast when he wants to be) rider on his naked Suzuki SV1000. I had ZERO problems staying glued to his tail light on any roads up there including the tightest parts of highways 60, 180, 28, (and 52 and Cherohala where I led and he admitted needing to be very focused while keeping up with me).

Our first ride out was the the tightest section of hwy 180 where I never let him get more than 2 bike lengths on me. I was finding it nearly impossible to believe what was happening - I'm on a cruiser easily maintaining pace with a fast sport bike rider.

Quite honestly, we were both stunned at how easily I was able to fling the bike around in the tight curves. There is NO WAY it could perform like that with the OEM tires. Only the outermost 1/8 of the rear PR4 is untouched. The entire remainder of the tire was well used during our nearly 1000 miles of riding.

I knew what to expect with the PR4 rear, as I've run the PR2 and PR3 tires on my GSXR1000.  Given some of the bad reviews I've seen on the Dunlop American Elite, I was not sure what to expect - however was very happy to find it works great in both dry and damp/wet conditions.

OUTSTANDING post Jerry!  I agree, the bike handles like a real sport bike now man...amazing the difference a set of tires can make.  Oh and btw...I rode exactly where you did as well back in 05'.  The Cherehola Skyway (or however you spell it)...was hands down the *best* bike ride of my life..I want to be back there with this bike!

I forgot to mention - the new tire profiles provide the most neutral handling I've EVER had on any motorcycle (dozens of them over the years) including any of my supersport bikes with various great tires on them. I merely need to think about turning and it just turns - and at any lean angle and any speed it is absolutely neutral - to the point where it took me a little while to acclimate to it as I was going too sharp into curves until I finished the mental recalibration. This, and the low center of gravity, is what makes it sooooo easy to flick the bike left/right in the tightest curves.

[idcrewdawg]

Where did you get them? Online, or a brick and mortar?

[AdrianR]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

My riding companion for this trip is a very experienced (and fast when he wants to be) rider on his naked Suzuki SV1000. I had ZERO problems staying glued to his tail light on any roads up there including the tightest parts of highways 60, 180, 28, (and 52 and Cherohala where I led and he admitted needing to be very focused while keeping up with me).

Our first ride out was the the tightest section of hwy 180 where I never let him get more than 2 bike lengths on me. I was finding it nearly impossible to believe what was happening - I'm on a cruiser easily maintaining pace with a fast sport bike rider.

Quite honestly, we were both stunned at how easily I was able to fling the bike around in the tight curves. There is NO WAY it could perform like that with the OEM tires. Only the outermost 1/8 of the rear PR4 is untouched. The entire remainder of the tire was well used during our nearly 1000 miles of riding.

I knew what to expect with the PR4 rear, as I've run the PR2 and PR3 tires on my GSXR1000.  Given some of the bad reviews I've seen on the Dunlop American Elite, I was not sure what to expect - however was very happy to find it works great in both dry and damp/wet conditions.

OUTSTANDING post Jerry!  I agree, the bike handles like a real sport bike now man...amazing the difference a set of tires can make.  Oh and btw...I rode exactly where you did as well back in 05'.  The Cherehola Skyway (or however you spell it)...was hands down the *best* bike ride of my life..I want to be back there with this bike!

I forgot to mention - the new tire profiles provide the most neutral handling I've EVER had on any motorcycle (dozens of them over the years) including any of my supersport bikes with various great tires on them. I merely need to think about turning and it just turns - and at any lean angle and any speed it is absolutely neutral - to the point where it took me a little while to acclimate to it as I was going too sharp into curves until I finished the mental recalibration. This, and the low center of gravity, is what makes it sooooo easy to flick the bike left/right in the tightest curves.

AGAIN...right on the money dude...You are right, as I said earlier, a bit uneasy at first...I mean, it turns SO fast...but then you get used to it...and then you are like..HOLY CRAP...this things STICKS too...Oh, and lastly, did I mention it's ALSO a softer ride?  I mean, how the hell is that possible, a softer yet BETTER handling ride??

[dinosnake]

I forgot to mention - the new tire profiles provide the most neutral handling I've EVER had on any motorcycle (dozens of them over the years) including any of my supersport bikes with various great tires on them. I merely need to think about turning and it just turns - and at any lean angle and any speed it is absolutely neutral - to the point where it took me a little while to acclimate to it as I was going too sharp into curves until I finished the mental recalibration. This, and the low center of gravity, is what makes it sooooo easy to flick the bike left/right in the tightest curves.

AGAIN...right on the money dude...You are right, as I said earlier, a bit uneasy at first...I mean, it turns SO fast...but then you get used to it...and then you are like..HOLY CRAP...this things STICKS too...Oh, and lastly, did I mention it's ALSO a softer ride?  I mean, how the hell is that possible, a softer yet BETTER handling ride??

If I may add MHO - it's the silica.  From my own experience, the difference between just about any tire and 'high silica content' tires is simply AMAZING, it's like "Why do the other brands even bother trying to compete with this??..."  Add in the removal of the central rain groove from the OEM Dunlops, and I'm not surprised at all at the night-and-day difference, in fact I would be surprised if people didn't report that level of astonishment.

When my own OEM's burn out, I guess I'm gonna go for the Michelin P4 duo myself, well, after people report back on longevity.  Thanks everyone!

[bradrcfii]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

Is the Dunlop American Elite a bias ply tire and if so, what does that mean?  Is it quiet?

I have ordered a PR4GT for the rear.  I am not even sure I need to change the front.  I have had the rear slide out a couple of times on wet pavement.  I do not get the sense the front tire is a problem and changing aspect ratio scares me a little (PR4 Trial).  My dealer will not install a size other than stock. 

[AdrianR]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

Is the Dunlop American Elite a bias ply tire and if so, what does that mean?  Is it quiet?

I have ordered a PR4GT for the rear.  I am not even sure I need to change the front.  I have had the rear slide out a couple of times on wet pavement.  I do not get the sense the front tire is a problem and changing aspect ratio scares me a little (PR4 Trial).  My dealer will not install a size other than stock. 

The only prob I see with the A/Elite is that it's a bias ply tire...and mixing it with a radial seems problematic to me...however, as you can see, some guyz have done this with success.  The Michy Trail 4 is a slightly different profile...by a small margin...but it's a radial..and seems to be a better solution...I have reported that it actually turns faster as a result...but to me seems awesome...WAY better then the stock Dunlop..and sticks really well.  If your dealer will not put it on find a different one...I priced out the job to 3 different dealers/shops..they were all willing to do it...

[hubcapsc]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

Is the Dunlop American Elite a bias ply tire and if so, what does that mean?  Is it quiet?

I have ordered a PR4GT for the rear.  I am not even sure I need to change the front.  I have had the rear slide out a couple of times on wet pavement.  I do not get the sense the front tire is a problem and changing aspect ratio scares me a little (PR4 Trial).  My dealer will not install a size other than stock. 

Several other guys have proved the pr4trail is a good tire, someone will install it.

I have the bias-ply dunflop now, and have ridden 500 miles on it. I like it, I have no
clue if it will last. It makes a noise in the mountain curves on a smooth road. It provides
more feedback through the bars than the OEM tire, similar to the way a big Avon
does on a 1500 Valkyrie... must be a different feel than the skinnier taller 120/70
Micheline... I like it...

Look at the wiki page on bias/radial tires, it shows the differences in the way
the plies are laid down...

-Mike

[jerry426]

I just returned from 4 days of riding in the mountains. Stayed in Blue Ridge, GA and we hit pretty much every good road in the area.

Just before the trip I installed the Dunlop American Elite front and the Michelin PR4 rear. Scuffed them in a bit before leaving Florida. Discovered that with the rear preload fairly stiff for me that the bike handles as good as any sport touring machine out there.

Is the Dunlop American Elite a bias ply tire and if so, what does that mean?  Is it quiet?

I have ordered a PR4GT for the rear.  I am not even sure I need to change the front.  I have had the rear slide out a couple of times on wet pavement.  I do not get the sense the front tire is a problem and changing aspect ratio scares me a little (PR4 Trial).  My dealer will not install a size other than stock. 

Yes, the American Elite is bias ply. Plenty of info here.

From what I can find, discussions on bias vs radial and mixing the two on the same bike run about as strong as a good oil thread. The tire and bike manufacturers generally don't recommend mixing them.

For me, the bias front and radial rear combination is working fine - and I have pushed the Valkyrie hard riding with fast sport bike riders. The only thing they have on me is ground clearance. For relatively sane street sport riding this isn't a problem.

For me, the American Elite tire profile is much better suited for my riding style than the OEM radial (and I only got 2500 miles from the OEM front before the sides were pretty much bald).

Jerry

[ledany]

I've said it before and I repeat : I have a Dunlop 408 F (bias) on the front and a PR4 GT (radial) on the rear and everything's fine 

[havoc]

Nuff' said...  You guyz (and I must only assume) with the stock tires have no clue how much better the bike rides AND handles with the Michelin tires... To me it handles like a true sport touring machine...  total confidence in the turns now...even sparse gravel doesn't scare me anymore...amazing difference...

stuff like this shows just one of the reasons why forums like this are so awesome.  

[bradrcfii]

Is this the size you put on the front?  120/70R19  60V.  Pilot Road 4 Trail

Brad