V7 Stone Rear Tire Recommendations

[Flea]

Not one to check threads on a tire, but after a recent low side due to rear slip out, it turns out I have about 2mm of threads left on the center of the rear tire.

The front still has a lot of life left in them, so I'm only itching to replace the rear for now.

Current configuration:
Pirelli Sport Demon 130/80 -17

My experience with the Sport Demon has been excellent riding in fair weather in NYC and somewhat scary in torrential downpour on the freeway. I've had a few manageable fishtail experiences during emergency braking and feel pretty comfortable on the bike at this point.

My question is this:
Is there is anyone on this board that have changed out of the Sport Demons to another type with better characteristics than the original?

Thanks

[Flea]

Currently looking at the following:
Michelin Pilot Activ:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/michelin-pilot-activ-tire

Bridgestone BT45:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/bridgestone-battlax-bt45-sport-touring-tire

Metzeler Tourance:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/metzeler-tourance-tires

[rocker59]

I like the Michelin Pilot Activ better than the Pirelli Sport Demon.

I think you'll find it's better in the wet.

[SmithSwede]

Strong recommendation for Michelin Pilot Activ

[kingoffleece]

Pilot here, too.  Much better IMO.

[TimmyTheHog]

Either Michelin Pilot Activ

or Continental Road Attack 3 <-currently using this tire and loving it so far.

[Toecutter]

I loved the Sport Demons in the wet!

...for the first 50% of their life. The second half they're pretty mediocre on everything but dry pavement.

[Flea]

I loved the Sport Demons in the wet!

...for the first 50% of their life. The second half they're pretty mediocre on everything but dry pavement.

I'm certainly experiencing the later half!

Will be ordering the pilots!

Thanks for the recommendation.

[menzies]

+++++ Pilot Activ's

[sign216]

Currently looking at the following:
Michelin Pilot Activ:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/michelin-pilot-activ-tire

Bridgestone BT45:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/bridgestone-battlax-bt45-sport-touring-tire

Metzeler Tourance:
https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/metzeler-tourance-tires

I've been running the Bridgestones and are happy w them, except on gravel roads. 

[malik]

I've been very happy with the Avon Roadrider AM26, with the Pilot Activ as second choice.

I do note that the Avons did not score well for northern Europe's winter conditions - constant rain, snow & slush - but they seem to suit the weather over here - more like California.

I haven't heard any feedback on Continental's new radial for our wheel size. Anyone?

[knowmaddd]

I like the Michelin tires.  I have a set on my V7C right now.  Good grip and long wearing.  I did a fair bit of riding in the rain with them, no complaints. 

I had a set of Metzeler tires on the bike when I purchased it.  These were (in my personal experience) awful in wet weather.  I swapped them out with ~2K miles they were so bad.

Sadly I have to switch to Pirelli as my maintenance options in Houston are limited. 

[Yukonica]

Sadly I have to switch to Pirelli as my maintenance options in Houston are limited.

??? buy whatever tire you want online. Have it mailed or shipped to you.
I don't have any nearby maintenance options and I've had Sport Demons, BT45's, Scorpion Trail all shipped to me.
You have way better online options your side of the border. I'm betting on the Michelin next if I can't locate any Scorpion Trails.

[fossil]

I can highly recommend the Dunlop Arrowmax StreetSmart for the V7 Stone. It is dramatically better in the wet and in the cold than the Pirelli, yesterday I had an ADAC Driverīs training on a track (9 hours in temperatures between 25 and 28 degrees Celsius), and the Stone was absolute docile also in these conditions - and fast in the corners. And really good in the brakes.

[Flea]

not sure what to say, but I ordered the tire right after my post yesterday from Revzilla and it arrived this morning 

Free shipping and all. Shocked would be an understatement.

[egschade]

I find myself on gravel and dirt roads so am switching to Pirelli MT-60s. OEM tire on the new V7 Rough.

[Muzz]

My question is this:
Is there is anyone on this board that have changed out of the Sport Demons to another type with better characteristics than the original?

Thanks

I changed the rear on the Breva simply because the radial Metzeler ME-Z2 was the only one available at the time. I have liked the Demons, but I must say the Metzeler has improved the bike a lot, especially under load. It is a radial and I think it may be steel belted. The Demon rear always cut out quite quickly and I was always intending to swap it out for a Pilot Active; sadly they were always unavailable when I needed one.

I will continue with the Demon on the front but will continue to put the Metzeler on when required. Bike feels really planted, excellent with a load on and has felt good in both the wet and the dry. OEM for the Thruxton so always available too.

[Flea]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone.

I ended up changing the rear tire and doing a full balance myself this weekend. Involved 2 C-clamps & jack stands since all the moto shops I called in my area turned me down on a tire change unless I bought the bike in and let them do the disassembly.

30 minute rear tire dismount instructions:
*Lift bike up
*Remove Left Muffler
*Remove bottom bolt from Left rear shock
*Remove Hex bolt for Rear Caliper & dis-mount. Make sure to support the caliper from the bottom when the bolt is halfway out
*Loosen Tension Hex Bolt for rear axle
*Get a pipe to aid in rear axle bolt loosening. You can choose to engage the Hex (left side. Same size as rear caliper hex) or if you're lucky and have the correct bolt for the nut on the right side.
*Jimmy the rear wheel out *Watch for the cush drive!


How to remove the rear tire from your rim without scratches:
*Get C-Clamps and start clamping down on the tire wall closest to the rim
*I only needed 2 C-Clamps positioned about 6 inches apart
*Tighten C-Clamps until bead disengages
*Go take a break and clear your head
*Remove tire with tire-iron and a couple layers of duct tape to protect your rims.
*I find that pulling up on the tire bead while you're sitting on the tire with the disengaged bead on the bottom makes this entire operation close to effortless.

Installing new tire:
*Grab your tire iron and repeat the steps above.

So far loving the improved grip of the Activ. No more fishtailing/powersliding when I give it a little too much gas in a turn :) The Sport Demon front is tracking well and have not felt any incompatibility.

[Kev m]

Sweet to hear.

Had I been around last week I would have said to go with the Activ!

[Flea]

Sweet to hear.

Had I been around last week I would have said to go with the Activ!

Thanks Kev!

One thing I wanted to note was that the Activ does not come with a painted mark for reference during installation.

[rbond]

I have  put a set of Conti Go's on my V7C, big improvement over the stock Metzlers. Ignores all most every crack, groove, etc. on the road and just feels better cranked over at any speed.

[sign216]

I have  put a set of Conti Go's on my V7C, big improvement over the stock Metzlers. Ignores all most every crack, groove, etc. on the road and just feels better cranked over at any speed.

Good to know.  I found the Mezlers to be overly sensitive to rain grooves, gravel roads, etc.

[MMRanch]

I read on another post about somebody getting 7,000 miles out of the rear Sports Demon .   I just replaced the original rear on my V-7 at 4,138 miles --- I can't help but wonder if that 7000  miles should read 7000 km ?
Mine was past the wear bars by 500 miles and I don't think that tire would have gone another 500 with-out being in the cords. 
I've had really good traction and millage (30,000+ MILES) out of Front AM26 Road-Riders so I'm tying a rear AM-26 in 130/90-17 on the V-7 ... the 90 series makes the speedometer and the GPS agree on what speed we're going too. 

So , I'd like to ask the question :  What is the Maxium "MILES" you've ever got out of a REAR Bike tire ?

[Muzz]

So , I'd like to ask the question :  What is the Maxium "MILES" you've ever got out of a REAR Bike tire ?

My speedo is in miles and I was getting 6000 miles out of the rear. However, I at that stage lived in a place where the bike was leaned over more than it was upright. As soon as I shifted down here to Christchurch which is flat, the mileage dropped because the centre was worn out but the sides were still perfect.

[Toecutter]

I've averaged about 8000 km per rear Speed Demon. The first one I had... wore really quick, replaced at 7000 km. The second lasted almost 10,000. The last, came off last night, to be replaced with the a Heidenau Scout.

[TimmyTheHog]

my first and the only set of demon lasted me 9300 KM

Both front and rear...well, front maybe got another 2000 KM on it, but the rear was just about done...MAYBE another 1000KM but I know it is about time.

So far I only able to put about 500~KM on my Conti RA3 but man, the handling are already day and night...sometimes it turns too easily when was used to the demon :P

[malik]

. 

So , I'd like to ask the question :  What is the Maxium "MILES" you've ever got out of a REAR Bike tire ?

So you want it in miles, eh? As different bikes seem to treat tyres differently (as do different riders), you'd be more interested in the V7 - here's my rear tyre history -

V7C

Lasertecs.       10,648
Sport Demon.   9,916
Sport Demon.   7,577
Sport Demon.   5,176
Sport Demon .  5,374
Sport Demon.   6,276
BT45.               5,776
BT45.               7,135
Avon AM26.     11,728
Avon AM26.     12,188
Avon AM26.     12,915
Avon AM26.     10,507

And the V7 Special

Pilot Activ.       12,120
Avon AM26.     11,156
Avon AM26.     12,885
Avon AM26.       9,676
Avon AM26.     11,025

[MMRanch]

 malik

That's 162,078 miles on Guzzi small blocks .   I'm glad to see the first one ran over 100,000 miles ! 

I hope to get that many miles out of mine too!
 

[malik]

Sounds more in kilometers - 270,000 so far. Lots of fun there. Still going, but since yesterday both now have slight hiccoughs to fix.

[Muzz]

I measure my mileage in "how many miles per gearbox repair" . As Kev (Steamdriven) remarked a couple of days ago as we found that the gear behind the offending nut that came loose is sloppy as on the mainshaft, "Luigi certainly had a field day on your box".

I think that the movement on the shaft was enough to work the nut off in spite of being staked.