V7 Classic tires

[icenian]

I find the rear Sport Demon on the 2013 Stone breaks traction easier than any tire I've ever used in my life.  Even hard braking at 10mph will lock the tire in a slide.

Erm, you do know it's a modern Guzzi and the brake pedal only operates the rear brake?  ;D

I'm no riding expert, but I would say if you're braking hard and using the rear brake, pretty much any tyre is likely to slide as it will have little weight on it.  Usual mantra is 75% braking from the front, but that depends a lot on the bike's wheelbase and centre of gravity (high CoG and/or short wheelbase means more weight shift so more emphasis on front brakes) and how hard you're braking; on a lot of modern bikes it is pretty close to 100% braking at the front if you're really trying.

If the rear really had poor grip, you should notice it under power, especially hard acceleration out of slower bends.   But the V7 isn't all that prone to losing the back under power  ;)

[falcone]

I put the Michelin Pilot's on my V7 last tyre change and they are well over 7000 miles at the mo' with much more to go. Very impressed!

[malik]

Here's a brief rundown of my tyre history on the V7C. (In kilometers)

REAR
new    - 17,136 Lasertec        - 17,136
17,136 - 33,094 Sport Demon - 15,958
33,094 - 45,288 Sport Demon - 12,194
45,288 - 53,619 Sport Demon - 8,331*
53,619 - 62,265 Sport Demon - 8,646
62,265 - 72,365 Sport Demon - 10,100
72,365 - 81,661 BT45            - 9,296*
81,661 -          BT45

* = flat tyre from folded tube - tube replaced beside the road - not re-balanced
(Doing my own tyre changes now - can't always trust the professionals - a wrong size tube twice now)

FRONT
new     - 17,136 Lasertec       - 17,136
17,136 - 45,288 Sport Demon - 28,152
45,288 - 63,671 Sport Demon - 18,383
63,671 -          Avon AM26 - still going & looking good

Appears to be factors other than the brand involved in tyre wear.

Prefer the Sport Demon over the Lasertec (don't track on weather strips). Love the Avon on the front. The BT45 on the rear was used mostly on the trip to the Alice -lots of straight roads. Handles as well as the Sport Demon. Still looked good when I changed the tube at 8,000k but scrubbed out quickly on the 1,500k home when I didn't re-balance.  Have balance balls in the current BT45. Testing how that affects wear.

It's all good fun, isn't it.

Mal

[Kev m]

I put the Michelin Pilot's on my V7 last tyre change and they are well over 7000 miles at the mo' with much more to go. Very impressed!

That's very encouraging, thanks  ;-T

Malik  :o  How the heck are you getting that kinda wear out of Sport Demons???

[LongRanger]

My curiosity too. Recognize that one's "worn" tire might be another's "perfectly good" tire, so YMMV. For me, once the profile goes to hell, the tire is crap, regardless of how much tread is remaining.

[bettythebear]

I have just over 6k miles on my 2011. When I bought it used from AF1 last year it had about 2500 miles on it, and had a fairly new Sport Demon on the rear. I did not ask why. The front is still the original Metzeler, it's tread is pretty much done, but the sides have been cracked for quite a while. I'm planning on a new front next month and am going to order a Pilot Activ, it seems best for my uses based on people saying it lasts quite a while.

[DaSwami]

No expert rider, but I've had/ridden Suzuki GS850G, Sukuki GSX1100G, DR650, TU250X and TW200.  Here in Montana "panic" stops/slow downs from critters darting out from the sides of the road is pretty standard.  Plus I practice sudden stops at least once every trip.  Never had a tire/rear end lock up like the V7/Pirelli combo.  It's TOO EASY to do.  Doesn't breed confidence.  All except the TU250X have factory radial tires.


Is there not a set of radial tires someone has tried that fit the tubeless rim of the Stone?

I may have to be the first



quote author=icenian link=topic=57392.msg983272#msg983272 date=1377595505]
Erm, you do know it's a modern Guzzi and the brake pedal only operates the rear brake?  ;D

I'm no riding expert, but I would say if you're braking hard and using the rear brake, pretty much any tyre is likely to slide as it will have little weight on it.  Usual mantra is 75% braking from the front, but that depends a lot on the bike's wheelbase and centre of gravity (high CoG and/or short wheelbase means more weight shift so more emphasis on front brakes) and how hard you're braking; on a lot of modern bikes it is pretty close to 100% braking at the front if you're really trying.

If the rear really had poor grip, you should notice it under power, especially hard acceleration out of slower bends.   But the V7 isn't all that prone to losing the back under power  ;)

[/quote]

[Pfaff!]

No expert rider, but I've had/ridden Suzuki GS850G, Sukuki GSX1100G, DR650, TU250X and TW200.  Here in Montana "panic" stops/slow downs from critters darting out from the sides of the road is pretty standard.  Plus I practice sudden stops at least once every trip.  Never had a tire/rear end lock up like the V7/Pirelli combo.  It's TOO EASY to do.  Doesn't breed confidence.  All except the TU250X have factory radial tires.


Is there not a set of radial tires someone has tried that fit the tubeless rim of the Stone?

I may have to be the first

No.

But if you can find radials fitting the SBs, please let us know.
Though I cannot see why SB-handling should be improved by radials.

[Kev m]

No expert rider, but I've had/ridden Suzuki GS850G, Sukuki GSX1100G, DR650, TU250X and TW200.  Here in Montana "panic" stops/slow downs from critters darting out from the sides of the road is pretty standard.  Plus I practice sudden stops at least once every trip.  Never had a tire/rear end lock up like the V7/Pirelli combo.  It's TOO EASY to do.  Doesn't breed confidence.  All except the TU250X have factory radial tires.


Is there not a set of radial tires someone has tried that fit the tubeless rim of the Stone?

I may have to be the first



quote author=icenian link=topic=57392.msg983272#msg983272 date=1377595505]
Erm, you do know it's a modern Guzzi and the brake pedal only operates the rear brake?  ;D

I'm no riding expert, but I would say if you're braking hard and using the rear brake, pretty much any tyre is likely to slide as it will have little weight on it.  Usual mantra is 75% braking from the front, but that depends a lot on the bike's wheelbase and centre of gravity (high CoG and/or short wheelbase means more weight shift so more emphasis on front brakes) and how hard you're braking; on a lot of modern bikes it is pretty close to 100% braking at the front if you're really trying.

If the rear really had poor grip, you should notice it under power, especially hard acceleration out of slower bends.   But the V7 isn't all that prone to losing the back under power  ;)

This looks like one of my attempts at using quotes on a smartphone.  :BEER: :D

[Guzzimundi]

This looks like one of my attempts at using quotes on a smartphone.  :BEER: :D

You ride a Guzzi and have a smartphone? I don't believe you. Without carbs?  8)

Now, where were we...I very much prefer the Demons because ...  :beat_horse

[kirkemon]

On my bikes I've had Michelin Pilot Activ and Bridgestone BT45, and Metzlers, but never had Pirelli Demons.
The best IMHO are Dunlop GT501 ;-T

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/road/street/gt501/

[Kev m]

On my bikes I've had Michelin Pilot Activ and Bridgestone BT45, and Metzlers, but never had Pirelli Demons.
The best IMHO are Dunlop GT501 ;-T

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/road/street/gt501/

I'm not normally a fan o Dungflops, but we have so few options it's worth consideration. What do you like about them, profile, stick, wear?

They've got our front, but closest rear is a 130/70-17, instead of a 130/80.

Thoughts?

[Pfaff!]

Dungflops,

 ;D

[malik]

Malik  :o  How the heck are you getting that kinda wear out of Sport Demons???

Do a lot of country riding, mostly loaded with gear. Try to hunt up the twistier roads. I do run tyrecheckers (www.tyrecheckers.co m.au/‎) and keep a reasonably close eye on tyre pressures. Still manage a lot of trips with the big blocks that have me scratching to keep up. (Some other small block riders don't seem to have that problem). Have noticed that some road construction techniques do seem to effect tyre wear - in particular, the Gulf of Carpentaria (which is under water part of the year) & the South Island of NZ (which gets a lot of rain). Didn't do these roads on the V7C, but although these road surfaces grip, they are hard on tyres. A mate ran a Dunlop K70 on the rear of a Carberry Enfield V-Twin to the Gulf from Cairns to Kurumba to Longreach - completely bald in 1,500k. The Avon AM26 on my Carberry handled it without that kind of wear at all. Still looked new 6,000k later when the bike caught on fire. (Google "Carberry Flambe"). 3/4 of the tyre is still perfect. Maybe your roads affect your tyres differently, too. 

Mal

[DaSwami]

Yes, do tell. 

On my bikes I've had Michelin Pilot Activ and Bridgestone BT45, and Metzlers, but never had Pirelli Demons.
The best IMHO are Dunlop GT501 ;-T

http://www.dunlopmotorcycle.com/tire-catalog/road/street/gt501/

[bettythebear]

Hey guys, I'm about to order a pilot activ for my front (100/90), but what size tube should i get? 2.5"x18"?

[oceanluvr]

Just bought a replacement front Sport Demon today for my Breva 750....9300 miles  ;-T

[bettythebear]

Just got the first 600 or so miles on the Pilot Activ front on my v7c. Initial impression is worlds better than the lasertec. I hit loads of "tar snakes" and never got nervous about it at all. I didn't do much aggressive or crazy twisty riding, but so far the grip seems great for my needs.

[Kev m]

Just got the first 600 or so miles on the Pilot Activ front on my v7c. Initial impression is worlds better than the lasertec. I hit loads of "tar snakes" and never got nervous about it at all. I didn't do much aggressive or crazy twisty riding, but so far the grip seems great for my needs.

 ;-T Thanks for the report - I'll keep watching for more as you rack up the miles.

My rear Sport Demon is definitely on its way out, but considering winter is coming I can probably hold off till spring for a replacement (probably a Pilot Activ).

[bettythebear]

Kev, it's a shame you haven't moved down here to a warmer climate yet, as it really seems that you and I enjoy extremely similar types of riding. Maybe some day...

[Kev m]

Kev, it's a shame you haven't moved down here to a warmer climate yet, as it really seems that you and I enjoy extremely similar types of riding. Maybe some day...

Tell me about it  :-\

I've been singing that tune to the woman in my life for many a year.

We've started the final countdown though - Jenn is FINALLY in her LAST YEAR of residency/fellowship (we met when she was starting college FIFTEEN YEARS AGO)!

So she's starting to send out her CV to hospitals that are hiring looking for a job when she graduates next summer.

And though she's concentrating on hospitals LOOSELY in the area there are some that are hiring in the south - and I believe Houston is one of them. So I can cross my fingers and hope that maybe, just maybe, we run south...

...time will tell.

[bettythebear]

Kev, just out of curiosity, what specialty is she in?

[Kev m]

Kev, just out of curiosity, what specialty is she in?

Neonatology (NICU)

[bettythebear]

Neonatology (NICU)

Austin would be perfect! We have Dell Children's Medical Center, and 6 other level 3 NICU's in city limits. I've been told by my father, the respiratory therapist, that Dell CMC is consistently on top ten lists for NICU.

[Kev m]

Austin would be perfect! We have Dell Children's Medical Center, and 6 other level 3 NICU's in city limits. I've been told by my father, the respiratory therapist, that Dell CMC is consistently on top ten lists for NICU.

I'll mention it to her...

[barenekd]

 My 2012 V7R has 6500 miles on the Sport Demons and still a ways to go. I figure they'll last 7500 to 8000 miles. I already have a new set waiting in the garage. Love the tires! I had a set of MT66s on my Enfield. they were great on that bike. I think the difference is the speed rating between the two and the MT 66s were available in smaller sizes. They felt exactly the same as far as handling went. They haven't scared me yet! And there are definitely no wanker stripes.
Bare

[1911MotoChick]

About 100 miles into my sport demons, I love them!  Feel way more stable... maybe that's the word I want... than w/ the metzlers.  Did a quick jaunt down a twisty today and during the turn, not once did I feel uncomfortable.  When I would go out on my metzlers they felt like so unstable and turning is s dream :)  Anyways, I love them! 

[LaGrasta]

After reading this thread, making multiple considerations and wearing the current Demons to smithereens, I just placed an order from J&P Cylces, no tax, no shipping. And unlike my many past tire purchases being Battlax, I went with Dunlop GT501. J&P were the cheapest price on the web, same thing last time I purchased too. They cost about $20 more than the Bridgestone, but with no tax/no shipping, I went for them. Plus the tread looks super cool (shallow, I know). My biggest hurdle was the manual said Radial, but could only find Bias. After reading this thread, I see the manual is wrong! Just as it is about the valve specs! Grrr!

I plan to try and mount them myself with my new tire changer (Harbor Freight) along with some balance balls.

[DaGoose]

Interesting. No one has yet to mention the Continental Conti Go. The previously mentioned magazine article rated them highly. I ran them on my Thruxton after going through two sets of Demons. I ran them so I could share first hand information with my customers and the local Rat Pack. I really liked them, good feedback  and a little rounder profile than the demons. They will do the ton with very good stability! You can't go wrong with a set. The demons have been around for a while and they haven't changed the compound. The Contis are newer with what think is a better compound.

[drw916]

spam:  I just sold my V7 Stone and have an unused Pilot Active.  It is 90 /90 x 18 spec rather than a 100 spec.  I wanted to try the smaller tire to see if it would lighten up the low speed feel.

New was $111.00

How about $75 plus shipping?