Much Better Now!

[steelwheeler]

For  those Valkyrie 1800 owners who still have the OEM Dunlop tires you will be amazed with the transformation  by changing to the Michelin tires. Immediately noticeable was a little less jarring on bumps with a smoother ride, more responsive handling and turning. I didnt get the "GT" version  for the rear ....my mistake. I am still impressed with the standard Pilot Road 4. It's  also good with maybe  less mileage accrued over time.  What a great upgrade!

[PAVALKER]

Don't forget to let us know the mileage out of that.  I have read that lots of tires are not getting the mileage that the OEM (Rear) Dunlop gets.  And then I see that the front Dunlop wears out much sooner than the rear.   The old 2 rears to one front doesn't seem to be the case with the OEM Dunlops on this beast.   

[steelwheeler]

PAVALKER
Gladly I'll report my mileage upon getting another  set. My OEM Dunlop tires lasted until 11,358. miles. They could have gone another 1000 miles I guess. I asked my tire guy what did he think about the Dunlops and he said my original tires wore pretty good.....no cupping. He also uses Michelin  tires so he may be biased.

[PAVALKER]

PAVALKER
Gladly I'll report my mileage upon getting another  set. My OEM Dunlop tires lasted until 11,358. miles. They could have gone another 1000 miles I guess. I asked my tire guy what did he think about the Dunlops and he said my original tires wore pretty good.....no cupping. He also uses Michelin  tires so he may be biased.

What was your front tire mileage?    I got my 14 Valk last year and the OEM rear was still good at 10k miles with maybe 1 or 2k left, but I changed it to darkside this month.   The front tire on mine was replaced with an Avon Cobra at approx. 7k miles the original owner said.  I have about 3k on my front and it is wearing very good. 

[jkiser01]

I just order these 2 tires for less than $200 shipped on Ebay:

Pirelli 180 55 zr17 Angel ST
Pirelli 130 90 16 Night Dragon

I will post my findings after I get them installed. I have had great luck with Pirelli tires in the past.

PS: I just bought my 14 Valk and the OEM tires both front and back are shot at less than 4k miles.

[goldstar903]

For  those Valkyrie 1800 owners who still have the OEM Dunlop tires you will be amazed with the transformation  by changing to the Michelin tires. Immediately noticeable was a little less jarring on bumps with a smoother ride, more responsive handling and turning. I didnt get the "GT" version  for the rear ....my mistake. I am still impressed with the standard Pilot Road 4. It's  also good with maybe  less mileage accrued over time.  What a great upgrade!

Adrian? Is that you? 

[steelwheeler]

Hello Fellas
Okay, I had a chance  to put about 100 miles on my Michelins today. If any of you are still riding on the Dunlops you are in for a treat if you switch  to Michelins. I  can't understand why Honda even installed the Dunlops on the 2014 and later Valkyries.  It should be considered a crime. Probably better sales for this version would have been produced no doubt.

With the Michelins , there's a confidence  I really feel inspires  skill that you didn't realize you were capable of. Handling is effortless and sport bike like. You can flick this Beast from side to side and not really feel the weight. At least to me, the Michelins don't have the road noise that I had with the Dunlops which was annoying. Much better grip and smoothness. Sometimes in the past before the Michelins , whenever making "right turns" it seemed heavy and uneasy when turning. Now it's like my Valkyrie is pardon the term "on rails".  Much better......I was considering purchasing a Goldwing but those wishes are dashed. I  have just discovered with the Michelins this bike has created great visions of happiness like never before.  Might be my last bike purchase......Well we will see......

[AdrianR]

Yep, TOTAL night and day difference. If u still have the stock tires u have no clue how good this bike really is. Now if you haven't tried ethanol free fuel, or at least treated fuel with ethanol.. again, no clue.. of the POWER..   lastly, NGK Iridium plugs for that last little 'snap' to throttle response. 8 n;D

[steelwheeler]

Hey Adrian
I must "THANK  YOU" because I do remember that you were the first to sing the praises of the Michelin tire combo. Your enthusiasm cemented my thirst to find out if there was a difference of magnitude that was worthwhile. Well as always, curiousity  got the best of me. I thought "why not" give the Michelins a try because I picked up a nail in ny rear Dunlop a few weeks ago and it was time to change tires anyway. Almost immediately, I knew my Valkyrie was a "new creature" rolling it out of my tire guy's  garage. It even rolled different backing up out of his garage.  I figured "Mother Honda" knew something about the Dunlops that we didn't know. Well, she ain't all knowing as we all know. Should Honda have outfitted the 2014 and later Valkyries with this combo , assuredly  it would have benefited the sales of the of the Valkyrie . Again, keep texting with your enthusiasm and discoveries.  Some of us are listening........

[goldstar903]

I just order these 2 tires for less than $200 shipped on Ebay:

Pirelli 180 55 zr17 Angel ST
Pirelli 130 90 16 Night Dragon

I will post my findings after I get them installed. I have had great luck with Pirelli tires in the past.

PS: I just bought my 14 Valk and the OEM tires both front and back are shot at less than 4k miles.

Hopefully, you meant 130/60-19  This tire is also bias-ply. Just saying.

[steelwheeler]

Pardon me if this has been posted before for those who desire to give Ethanol free gas a try that Adrian speaks about. This is listing for stations that may  carry Ethanol free gas.

https://www. pure-gas.org

[AdrianR]

Hey Adrian
I must "THANK  YOU" because I do remember that you were the first to sing the praises of the Michelin tire combo. Your enthusiasm cemented my thirst to find out if there was a difference of magnitude that was worthwhile. Well as always, curiousity  got the best of me. I thought "why not" give the Michelins a try because I picked up a nail in ny rear Dunlop a few weeks ago and it was time to change tires anyway. Almost immediately, I knew my Valkyrie was a "new creature" rolling it out of my tire guy's  garage. It even rolled different backing up out of his garage.  I figured "Mother Honda" knew something about the Dunlops that we didn't know. Well, she ain't all knowing as we all know. Should Honda have outfitted the 2014 and later Valkyries with this combo , assuredly  it would have benefited the sales of the of the Valkyrie . Again, keep texting with your enthusiasm and discoveries.  Some of us are listening........

You're most welcome!  I openly admit that Iearned about these tires too from this site, I simply passed the baton!  The bike is awesome though with those tires, shame on Honda for equipping the bike stock with such sheet.

[Robert]

I just order these 2 tires for less than $200 shipped on Ebay:

Pirelli 180 55 zr17 Angel ST
Pirelli 130 90 16 Night Dragon

I will post my findings after I get them installed. I have had great luck with Pirelli tires in the past.

PS: I just bought my 14 Valk and the OEM tires both front and back are shot at less than 4k miles.

https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/pirelli-angel-sport-touring-rear-tire

[jkiser01]

I just order these 2 tires for less than $200 shipped on Ebay:

Pirelli 180 55 zr17 Angel ST
Pirelli 130 90 16 Night Dragon

I will post my findings after I get them installed. I have had great luck with Pirelli tires in the past.

PS: I just bought my 14 Valk and the OEM tires both front and back are shot at less than 4k miles.

Hopefully, you meant 130/60-19  This tire is also bias-ply. Just saying.

Yep, thats what I meant. I have run bias on the front and radial on the back many times with no issues.