New Michelin road pilot trail on it's way

[dans2014]

  Ok, I ordered the new Michelin road pilot trail, 120/70r-19 for the front. I'll let you all know how it works on the Valk. Suppose to be really, really good in the rain and not so good highways of our fine nation. I decided to take it to my dealer to pull the tires as they have a lift that lets the rear swingarm down and makes it easy!!

[bradrcfii]

I did the same, ordered the Pilot Road 4 Trial for the front.  A little worried about it but we shall see.  I am having the rear tire installed today.  It will be interesting to se how the Pilot Road 4 GT rear performs with the stock OEM fromnt tire.

Brad

[bradrcfii]

Got the Pilot Road 4 GT installed on the back and OEM up front.  Only rode about 15 miles but it feels very good.  The two tires seem to play well together.  Definetly smoother and I get the sense it turns easier.   I have the odd sized Pilot Road 4 Trail on the way but I do not think I will install it until the front wears down.

[AdrianR]

I've started a few threads about tires..lol ..

The stock tires suck...

Michy Trail 4 up front..(in the size as mentioned) and the Michy GT4 in the back..

a MUCH improved ride......

Rolls smoother, rides softer, turns quicker.. and STICKS...

[dans2014]

  Beautiful. I can hardly wait to ride on them. The Valk is a pleasure in stock form, I can't imagine it being better but Michelins have improved every vehicle I've ever owned. Too bad they are a French company and not American

[goldstar903]

Adrian, just a quick question! Do the OEM tires really suck?  And, I didn't know that you played guitar!  JK 

[AdrianR]

Adrian, just a quick question! Do the OEM tires really suck?  And, I didn't know that you played guitar!  JK 

Yup, hard core Gibson/Marshall guy....LOVE jamin'!

[AdrianR]

My Pilot Road 4 Trial arrived today.  One look at it and I packed it up for a return.  It is so narrow.  No wonder it turns so quickly.  Very litle center area.  This tire is safer in a turn than it would be going straight. I have the pilot road 4 on rear and the bike does turn even with the OEM tire up front.  Going to stay as is for now.

Ahh what?  Have you been reading from others here who actually have used the tire? It is only 10mm more narrow...which is less them .5 inch..  It only looks narrow because it is not mounted on the rim...lol    The tire is incredible on this bike man...imo it is what it SHOULD have come with in the first place...  Here is a pic of it mounted on my bike..

[dans2014]

 ??? Mine showed today and looks GREAT!! I will post the results after it's mounted and I test ride it. The stock Dunlop's were crying when I rolled the pair of Michelins up to them!!!

[bradrcfii]

1/2 a inch?  Funny, seems like a lot to me.  I wonder what the percentage of total tire cross section on the road when the tire is straight up?  Ya, I did not think about how it would have looked on the wheel.  Got me there. 

After the rear tire was installed, my bike definetly had a lighter feel into a turn and it was fine with stock front and back for me.   I was focused on the rear because of some wet road sliding experiences and I was not riding aggressively. 

I was on a grooved road (length wise) the other day and my bike wandered.  A little un-nerving.  I wonder how it might have been with less rubber on the road?   

I am glad to hear others are having good experiences with the Trial up front.  I will keep my eye on the forums as my front tire wears to see if all remains positive with greater adoption. 

Thanks

[Robert]

Already have my rear tire ordered my front today, as soon as the tread wears down a bit more I will replace them. The rear has a repaired nail hole in it that could be just the excuse to replace the rear. 

[dans2014]

  I to have had a box staple go thru my rear Dunlop tire. Ive been riding street for years without a flat. I'm wondering if these dunlops are so soft they are prone to road hazards. won't miss them

[GA VALK]

The front tire looks square.  Not round or conical shaped

[Robert]

Looked at my front OEM tire today and noticed its already starting to crack in the tread area.    Of course it may give me a good excuse to put on the new Michelin.

[goldstar903]

I think Adrian started Mass Hysteria! Crap, the sky is falling! 

[Robert]

The reason I mentioned the cracking is, it is an indication that the tire is going bad. The small cracking
that the tires have now is not dangerous but every tire that I have seen that has cracking in it has lost some of its riding characteristics.
    
   Depending on the extent of the cracking is proportional to the hardness of the tire and if very bad is a cause for warranty on the tire. The  differences in handling includes a harder ride and a loss of adhesion to the road in turns. In wet they are much worse with this condition. This actually supports everyone's idea that the OEM tires are not good. I have just over 3k miles on my bike and  its only a few months old with plenty of tread there is no way that this should be happening this fast. That is the reason for a real justification for replacing the tires.

    Could I get by with the existing tires, of course, but on cars I have had to replace many tires because of these kind of cracks in the surface and some going down all the way to the carcass of the tire.

  So for the better handling that Adrian has so nicely tested for us and what I see on the tire I am looking forward to an improved handling and riding bike. Thanks again Adrian for your road testing the tires that someone on this board recommended. Thanks also to all the guys that reported back to say the differences.  


  This is not hysteria but fact and has been written up in quite a few articles. It can be a dangerous condition and warrants replacing the tire if extensive. I mentioned this because some dont know about this indication of a bad tire. I posted the Tire Rack answer and another so you can go in depth to understand what is being talked about is real and can be dangerous.

I will say this I enjoy Adrian's exuberance  
These tire facts give me a legit reason to replace them if I want


https://www.rightturn.com/tire-guide/cracked-tires/

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=30


 Someone I know that had a Lexus and when driving the noise was so bad with the Bridgestone tires that it actually sounded like a wheel bearing. The car was bumpy, slipped in wet weather, did not have good traction. He put on 4 brand new Toyo tires even though the tires technically weren't bad and it was a different car. It went from undrivable to being comfortable with better handling and softer ride. This is the reason its not just new tire syndrome either. I don't know what these manufactures are doing with their tires but some are just terrible.

[AdrianR]

The reason I mentioned the cracking is, it is an indication that the tire is going bad. The small cracking
that the tires have now is not dangerous but every tire that I have seen that has cracking in it has lost some of its riding characteristics.
    
   Depending on the extent of the cracking is proportional to the hardness of the tire and if very bad is a cause for warranty on the tire. The  differences in handling includes a harder ride and a loss of adhesion to the road in turns. In wet they are much worse with this condition. This actually supports everyone's idea that the OEM tires are not good. I have just over 3k miles on my bike and  its only a few months old with plenty of tread there is no way that this should be happening this fast. That is the reason for a real justification for replacing the tires.

    Could I get by with the existing tires, of course, but on cars I have had to replace many tires because of these kind of cracks in the surface and some going down all the way to the carcass of the tire.

  So for the better handling that Adrian has so nicely tested for us and what I see on the tire I am looking forward to an improved handling and riding bike. Thanks again Adrian for your road testing the tires that someone on this board recommended. Thanks also to all the guys that reported back to say the differences.  


  This is not hysteria but fact and has been written up in quite a few articles. It can be a dangerous condition and warrants replacing the tire if extensive. I mentioned this because some dont know about this indication of a bad tire. I posted the Tire Rack answer and another so you can go in depth to understand what is being talked about is real and can be dangerous.

I will say this I enjoy Adrian's exuberance  
These tire facts give me a legit reason to replace them if I want


https://www.rightturn.com/tire-guide/cracked-tires/

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=30


 Someone I know that had a Lexus and when driving the noise was so bad with the Bridgestone tires that it actually sounded like a wheel bearing. The car was bumpy, slipped in wet weather, did not have good traction. He put on 4 brand new Toyo tires even though the tires technically weren't bad and it was a different car. It went from undrivable to being comfortable with better handling and softer ride. This is the reason its not just new tire syndrome either. I don't know what these manufactures are doing with their tires but some are just terrible.

Thanks Bob...I totally agree with everything you've mentioned.  I honestly think Honda SUCKS for putting those tires on the bike...They were 'ok' at first...but man, after about 2K they changed...it is hard to explain...but they changed.  The one characteristic I definitely do NOT like is that hard arse ridge the runs down the center of the front tire...I swear my tire was starting to come apart as that ridge sported bumps along it's major axis...and the that stupid rain groove would catch cracks in the road..of which would commandeer the tire!  The rear tire, although cool looking..just is to damn hard and slip on everything...

Don't waste you time riding on those tires man...once you put on the Michys...the bike becomes a real sport touring machine...and the ride is FAR softer and more comfortable...rolls nice and easy and too...

[bradrcfii]

I have been going back and forth with installing the trial up front.  I actually had one in my living roon and the width scared me.  I recently had a miss hap and my bike is at the shop waiting for parts.  Crash bars are hard to get.  The dealer wanted three weeks to fix my bike so I took it to a custom shop.  They called and said the front tire needs to go and guess what he recommended, the Trial.  So I have finallly heard enough and will install the trial to go with the GT in the rear.  Looking forward to geting my bike back.

Are the crash bars on the Valk the same has on the wings or F6B?  I have a feeling he ordered the VALK part number and there are not any in the US.

[dinosnake]

Yes, according to the parts diagrams on hondapartshouse the F6B and the Valk use the same engine guards, the parts numbers match.  Do not go for Wing guards, as they are chromed.

[AdrianR]

They called and said the front tire needs to go and guess what he recommended, the Trial.  So I have finallly heard enough and will install the trial to go with the GT in the rear.  Looking forward to geting my bike back.

Good to hear!  Like we've ALL been saying...like it was MADE for that bike...but be forewarned...it will turn MUCH faster...it *almost* feels as if you can turn the bars 90 degrees with respect to the forward direction of movement....odd at first...but man once you get used to it..WATCH OUT!   The bike with these tires is insane...the way it handles...it will make you a better rider...

[bradrcfii]

My biggest almost only concern is safety.  I just had a spill due to debre I did not see at night.  I liked the way the bike handled with stock tires but I am not an expericned rider and have never owned a sport bike.  A little counter sterring seemed to move the bike well with stock tires.  My initial concern is having enough rubber on the road.  But looking at your front tire picture, it appears to have plenty, maybe even more while vertical and maybe less during turns?  Have you had the bike over in a steep turn?

When I get my bike back, I will take it very easy having just been down and knowing I have a faster reacting front tire.  Having a stickier tires makes me happy.  I will trade miles per tire any day for a softer tire that grabs the road.  I also look forward to the better ride.  God the tread down the middle of the stock tire is dumb.  What is the design goal?  Not a question anybody can answer but why the heck did they call it a trial?  That alone turned me off.

[dinosnake]

God the tread down the middle of the stock tire is dumb.  What is the design goal?

It's a water groove to move water out from the center of the tire to the outside.  It's a traditional design, the most 'conventional' of performance tread patterns.  

Not a question anybody can answer but why the heck did they call it a trial?  That alone turned me off.

Because they figure that the size combination, 19-inch diameter, is almost exclusively used on ADV bikes these days.  So to help those ADV buyers pay attention to the product, they labeled it "Trail".

[bradrcfii]

Good to know about the "Trial" name.  I should have my bike back from the shop tomorrow.  Getting parts took a ton of time.  Some had to come from over seas. 

I am looking forward to seeing how the bike handles with the Pilot Roads.  I also had the torque loopz installed and will report back on my thoughts after I get some riding under my belt.

[GA VALK]

Did you install new pipes with your Torque Loops?

[bradrcfii]

I am picking up the bike today or tomorrow with just the Loopz installed.  I have yet to receive the pipes and plan to install myself.  I will let everybody know my thoughts with the Loopz and with both the loopz and the pipes.

Thanks,

Brad

[GA VALK]

I ordered my loops and pipes yesterday, now just waiting for UPS, go Big Brown!  I will have the headers and loops ceramic coated to match the slip-ons prior to installation

[bradrcfii]

Does taller front tire (Trail) efect odometer and speed readings?

[buzzard]

Add me to the Michelin buyers club! I have a full set coming in at the end of the week.
I still have enough tread on the Dunlops to get me through the next month or so, but wanted tires on hand when I decide to swap them out.
Look forward to getting the new tires on and feeling the improved ride and handling. 

Buzzard

[Thor32]

Does anyone have a link to a good tire provider for these Michelins? I do not see them on RevZilla or BikeBandit

[buzzard]

Thor32

I checked pricing and availability at J&P, Cruiser Customizing, Bike Bandit, Motorcycle Superstore and Chaparell Motorsports (Ebay).

M/C Superstore had the best price and ships next day. I've purchased from them several times before and always had good results.

The difference in pricing between all 5 was not very much, maybe $ 20.00 max

[dans2014]

  I did the best at Rocky mountain atv&mc in Utah

[Thor32]

Thanks guys