Which tyres for my H2 SX?

[black-k1]

When I used to commute every day I was very happy with the Pilot Road 2/3/4/5 on the K1300S and then (later variants) on the H2 SX. On both bikes I'd get about 7500 miles, decent dry and wet grip, reasonable feel and good stability.

The set of tyres on the H2 SX currently are the Metzler Roadtec 01SE. They've done a tour of Sctoland, a tour of the Alps and a very small number of commuting runs. After 7000 the rear is shot although the front has a bit of life left. They will, however be replaced as a pair.

I'd say the feel and grip on the 01SEs has been slightly better than the Roads but only be a very small amount, Turn in has definitely been quicker althoug the H2 SX is still a 256kg bike. If I was still commuting regurlarly, it would be a toss up between the Road or the SE01. But I'm not commuting and my tour this year will be to Northern Spain on the ferry so I won't even have several hunderds of motorway miles just to get there. As such, I've been looking at the Metzler M9RRs.

My questions to anyone with a slightly "chunky" sports tourer are:

Have you tried the M9RRs? How did you find them? How long did they last compared to a more traditional "sport/touring" tyre? What was the wet weather and cold weather grip like?

I will not be tracking the bike, the use is strictly road only.

[the cueball]

I have the Metzeler 7RR on mine, I'll be changing to the 9RR before my next trip in the summer.

The rear on at the moment has done around 3,000 miles.. mixture of around UK and a fast(ish) trip down to the motoGP in italy via the Alps and Autobhan... the previous rear only managed 1,400 miles when I first got it and was "testing" the bike out.

I have a mate that's made the update from the 7 to the 9 and they're slightly better... but just an update in his eyes..

[wa16]

round ones, they are usually black in colour, you can get square but the ride's a bit lumpy

FFS you'll be asking us what colour undies you should choose next

anyway popcorn icon anyone?

[trickywoo]

Road 6 is out now.

That or the SE01 is still the best option.

The M9RR won't give much more of anything useful and will be half the mileage at best.

[black-k1]

Thanks for the responses, I am trying to work out if any gains in grip/feel/turn in etc. are going to be noticeable. While the mileage is not as important as it was, getting only 3000 miles out of a tyre that gives me nothing over the 01SE is a pretty pointless exercise.

wa16 said:

round ones, they are usually black in colour, you can get square but the ride's a bit lumpy

FFS you'll be asking us what colour undies you should choose next

anyway popcorn icon anyone?

Useful!

[SteveKTMer]

As you know I love the M9RR, on the KTM it's plush, very progressive, loads of grip and just feels absolutely brilliant, it's the perfect tyre for the 1290 even in the wet and cold. But even on a long trip it's done after 4500 miles, maybe 5500 on the front.

I've just bought two pairs, one for the May trip and one for the June trip to Spain via France, £284/pair delivered from FWR. They are in short supply as are most tyres at the moment.

The KTM came with Pirelli Angel GT which were perfectly good but felt a bit harsh, I changed them before they were finished but they Angel GT II is out now, might be worth a try.

[SteveKTMer]

black-k1 said:

While the mileage is not as important as it was, getting only 3000 miles out of a tyre that gives me nothing over the 01SE is a pretty pointless exercise.

The M9RR will feel plusher and smoother than the 01. When I had the 01 (not the SE version) on the R9T it felt a bit harsh and wooden unless it was a hot day and I was pushing on a bit but you might not find that as the SX is a bit heavier than the R9T and accelerates faster so puts more load on the tyres, and similar for the K1300S. So the 01 might just be in the sweet spot for the SX and the K1300S and not the R9T.

I've now got Power 5 on the R9T and it's got that typical Michelin suppleness and movement that the M9RR doesn't have - the M9RR in a fast corner feels very supportive and you can move the bike around by almost thinking whereas the Michelin needs more effort to move the bike around, as if it's got a marshmallow feel - not quite as supportive as the M9RR but just as much grip. Carcass versus compound.

They are both excellent tyres as is the 01 probably, but they do feel different.

[black-k1]

SteveKTMer said:

As you know I love the M9RR, on the KTM it's plush, very progressive, loads of grip and just feels absolutely brilliant, it's the perfect tyre for the 1290 even in the wet and cold. But even on a long trip it's done after 4500 miles, maybe 5500 on the front.

I've just bought two pairs, one for the May trip and one for the June trip to Spain via France, £284/pair delivered from FWR. They are in short supply as are most tyres at the moment.

The KTM came with Pirelli Angel GT which were perfectly good but felt a bit harsh, I changed them before they were finished but they Angel GT II is out now, might be worth a try.

And this is part of my problem.... My 01SEs did everything your M9RRs did on the Alps trip, wet or dry, mountain pass or Autobahn, Lotus or not , on a bike that's 30+kg heavier and puts out 40bhp more yet I got 7000 miles from the rear and could get 8500 from the front. I had no issues with feel, so I want to know that I'll get something noticable and improved if I move to the M9RR and wear them out in around two thirds of the time. FWRs website says they have 50+ in stock of all the tyres mentioned.

[black-k1]

SteveKTMer said:

black-k1 said:

While the mileage is not as important as it was, getting only 3000 miles out of a tyre that gives me nothing over the 01SE is a pretty pointless exercise.

The M9RR will feel plusher and smoother than the 01. When I had the 01 (not the SE version) on the R9T it felt a bit harsh and wooden unless it was a hot day and I was pushing on a bit but you might not find that as the SX is a bit heavier than the R9T and accelerates faster so puts more load on the tyres, and similar for the K1300S. So the 01 might just be in the sweet spot for the SX and the K1300S and not the R9T.

I've now got Power 5 on the R9T and it's got that typical Michelin suppleness and movement that the M9RR doesn't have - the M9RR in a fast corner feels very supportive and you can move the bike around by almost thinking whereas the Michelin needs more effort to move the bike around, as if it's got a marshmallow feel - not quite as supportive as the M9RR but just as much grip. Carcass versus compound.

They are both excellent tyres as is the 01 probably, but they do feel different.

I didn't like the original 01 as much as the Road 5 but the 01SE is a better tyre. More feel, quicker turn in, less effort and no "marshmallow" feel at the limit. As you say, given the SXs weight (not to mention me!! ) the 01SE may just be that sweet spot but you often don't know that until you try something that's not as good!

Decisions, decisions!!

[SteveKTMer]

black-k1 said:

SteveKTMer said:

As you know I love the M9RR, on the KTM it's plush, very progressive, loads of grip and just feels absolutely brilliant, it's the perfect tyre for the 1290 even in the wet and cold. But even on a long trip it's done after 4500 miles, maybe 5500 on the front.

I've just bought two pairs, one for the May trip and one for the June trip to Spain via France, £284/pair delivered from FWR. They are in short supply as are most tyres at the moment.

The KTM came with Pirelli Angel GT which were perfectly good but felt a bit harsh, I changed them before they were finished but they Angel GT II is out now, might be worth a try.

And this is part of my problem.... My 01SEs did everything your M9RRs did on the Alps trip, wet or dry, mountain pass or Autobahn, Lotus or not , on a bike that's 30+kg heavier and puts out 40bhp more yet I got 7000 miles from the rear and could get 8500 from the front. I had no issues with feel, so I want to know that I'll get something noticable and improved if I move to the M9RR and wear them out in around two thirds of the time. FWRs website says they have 50+ in stock of all the tyres mentioned.

There's no way you'll get 7000 miles from the M9RR - think more like 5000 max. I don't think the M9RR will give you anything you necessarily need over and above the 01 SE- neither of us is Guy Martin so it's how they feel, and is potential better feel worth a significant reduction in mileage ?

[the cueball]

black-k1 said:

Thanks for the responses, I am trying to work out if any gains in grip/feel/turn in etc. are going to be noticeable. While the mileage is not as important as it was, getting only 3000 miles out of a tyre that gives me nothing over the 01SE is a pretty pointless exercise.

I'm sure many people will be getting more mileage out of a rear 7RR than me, so don't use me as a bench mark!

I have my suspension set up for me and my riding style. The tyre pressure is always set slightly lower than the manual suggests plus I also turn the traction control off as much as the bike will allow.

[black-k1]

FWR recommended the Road 6 so decision made.

[the cueball]

I have a mate with them on his SD1290 Gen3 and loves them.

In fact won't shut up about them.

So much so that I always seem to have "sena connection issues" when I'm out with him..

Enjoy...

[black-k1]

I'll let you know how I get on with them.

[bogie]

black-k1 said:

FWR recommended the Road 6 so decision made.

Will be interested to hear what you think, still running Road 4 on my Triumph Trophy, just had a new rear on due to puncture and so much left on front didn't want to change the rear to latest version. Next time may change the pair to Road 6.

[Rene Souffle]

I’ve just fitted a pair of Pirelli Angel GT 2s to my GS. I admit it’s a totally different bike, but I keep hearing and reading really good things about them

[zzrman]

Have a look at the Bridgestone BT32. I have the BT30 on the K1300s and the BT31 on the R1200 GSA and both have been very good in terms of tyre life, handling and grip in the wet and handling predictability.

[2ndclasscitizen]

When I stopped commuting I went from the Road 5 to the Power 5. They seem to be holding up fairly well in terms of wear and do feel like they have more grip than the Road did.

[the cueball]

black-k1 said:

I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Tyre time is fast approaching for me... the run down to BSD will wear out my current set..

How are you finding the Road 6? Any better than the RoadTec?

I'm thinking either 01SE or 9RR at the moment.......

[black-k1]

the cueball said:

black-k1 said:

I'll let you know how I get on with them.

Tyre time is fast approaching for me... the run down to BSD will wear out my current set..

How are you finding the Road 6? Any better than the RoadTec?

I'm thinking either 01SE or 9RR at the moment.......

I think the Road 6's are very slighty better than the 01 SEs but there really is very little in it. For road work, I'm not sure what the 9RR would offer that the Road 6 or the 01 SE don't but both the Road 6 and the 01 SE will last longer and give better wet weather grip. I'd not even consider the 9RR.

The road 6's certainly didn't stop me having fun in Northern Spain in June!