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Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 3:18 am
by vanzen
Well, to complicate the issue, not even the MC tire industry can agree upon a specific definition of "radial".

I certainly appreciate the concept
of manufacturing and marketing tires of current technology / design in antique sizes,
The product will have my interest simply in terms of the vastly improved wet-weather performance
(any current market radial vs bias-ply).
I believe the Classic Attack is soon to be introduced in the UK,
and I will be curious to see how they will be received.

MCN review / testing, dated 22 June, 2012:
"Thomas Zoller, Continental head of motorcycle R&D, explained the thinking behind the Classic Attack:
“We wanted to expand our success from the Classic racing range,
and create a road tyre that would improve the ride quality of classic machines."

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/ ... es-tested/

Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:27 am
by chasbmw
It will be interesting to see some objective reviews of these tyres.

I was also pleased with the stability of the new Michelin pilot range of tyres, produced in imperial sizes, they seemed to be fairly impervious to the various imperfections in UK roads tracking true, better than the worn BT45s that they replaced.

Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 9:32 am
by Seth
the big issue with traditional radials is they required wider wheels than those that came on the bikes. That's why the article mentions how you can retain your stock wheels.

Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 11:11 pm
by vanzen
Seth wrote:the big issue with traditional radials is they required wider wheels than those that came on the bikes. That's why the article mentions how you can retain your stock wheels.
Not that there is anything about a radial MC tire that requires wider wheels,
but rather the marketing choice was made
to only manufacture the new-tech radial tires in a range of sizes
that would fit current production MC rims

– and not those antiquated sizes as would be appropriate to an airhead.

Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 5:40 pm
by dhc4ever
Well its always good news that the required sizes of tyres are still being produced and hopefully improved.
I tried radials on my Lemans about 12 years ago (bt 53) neither the bike nor I liked them, been on BT45's ever since.
My R100rs will need new rubber when its back on the road after a 19 year long period hiding in a garage,these might be worth a look.

Re: new airhead appropriate tire option

Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:32 pm
by Chuey
Interesting, the side bar in the upper left corner. The author speculates that improving one thing may lead to realization of faults or shortcomings elsewhere. He cites the inadequate nature of frames when more power came out.

I'm wondering if tire improvements will go that way? Are we going to be cornering so fast that increased pucker factor will mean our underpants will prove to be not up to the job?

Chuey....feeling like a wimp because I haven't out-ridden my tires....not even in the rain, and I love riding in the rain and don't slow down much from dry.