Sticky Tyres for my Spada??

Spada's still going great guns.

Incident into the back of a Taxi in the wet put me out for 3days or so
while I shopped around for a clip-on, a mirror and a few other
consumables (?!?). RESILIENT bike- cost me 120 bucks to fix after a
'slide and wedging beneath taxi' experience. Strangely managed to
avoid injury bar one altered knee.

Haven't done a major service on it yet (Big have you still got that
workshop manual CD in your backpack?), but it's running really well.

Just got a question for everyone really, particularly ex and current
Spada riders.
What options do I have in the sticky tyre dept.?
A friend has reccommended GP70's. I'm running Arrowmax GT501's at the
moment.

Anyone got any experiences to share?? I'm only using it to commute a
short distance to uni and for weekend blats.

I've modified the 'stone scraper' in my front fender to accommodate a
110/80 tyre because that's the profile that came on the bike and it
was rubbing something savage.

 

They'd be GRP70s and they are bloody good in the dry, but squirm about a
bit more than some of your other options in the wet.

If you want to stick to the original 140 section rear, I think the only
super sticky tyre around is the Bridgestone BT090. You can, however,
easily fit a 150/60 rear tyre, which opens up a whole world of
possibilities - the GPR70 (I'm reasonably sure they dont come in
140/70), Pirelli Dragon Corsas (I really liked the way the sharp front
profiles on these sped up the tip-in, but they are even worse than the
GPR70s in the wet), Dunlop 208s, and Metzler MEZ1s (these are superceded
now, I'm not 100% sure they're doing the replacement Sportecs in little
250cc sizes) and Rennsports (other people _hate_ these in the wet, I
found them OK)... You might also find Bridgestone BT014s or 010s in your
sizes if you hunt around.

In order of preference, I'd probably go BT090, Rennsport, GPR70, then
Dragon Corsa. If I was planning on a few trackdays in the near future,
the GPR70 and Dragon would move uo the the top of the list, the
Bridgestone wins out for me becasue it copes better with regular
commuting as well as serious weekend scratching and occasional
trackdays. None of them are _bad_ tires though, and I've done fast (for
me) times at trackdays on a rear Arrowmax GT501 (which I only bought
'cause I needed a new tire in Adelaide in a hurry once, and that was all
they had in stock that'd fit).

(Oh, and I've still got that cd of service manual pdfs here, you still
want it?)

big

 

------------^^^
or even "GPR"

grrr...

big

 

Congratulations on staying alive. I had a similar one with a 4WD last
year that sheared off the RHS pillion footpeg as my hand and knee made
contact with his bullbar. Walked away with a limp and footpeg was the
only damage to the Virago.

 

They'd be GRP70s and they are bloody good in the dry, but squirm about a

Thanks Iain that's _exactly_ what I was after- time to shop around!
Yeah I haven't had a problem with the GT501 rear either - I'm just
sure I can get a LOT more grip out of the front. It doesn't seem to
warm up at all. Then again seasonal icyness are at play.

Hell yes! Are you in the area today or tomorrow? My numbers are 0407
679952 and 93100637. Or if you email me your numbers I'll give you a
call. Couldn't be keener to get hold of that manual- I've got a week
off! Going snowboarding for a few days on Sunday though (!!).

-Chris

 

Congratulations yourself!

The guy following me had to help me by lifting up the back of the cab
so I could pull my bike out.
LESSON: No more riding on no sleep. Those little 'lapses' that happen
every few years driving a car tired have heavier consequences on a
bike.

 

S N O W ???
in Australia?
Where?
Or are you coming to NZ for a few days R&R ?

James.

 

Here. Monaro Hwy and Snowy Mtns Hwy, the 2 major roads to the NSW
snowfields, were cut on Saturday.

Gary (it even snowed in Canberra)

--

"My Government will always seek to be truthful and open with the Australian
public."

John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia

"According to Hitwise, JOHNHOWARDLIES.COM is the number 1 Australian
political website visited by Australian Internet users as of 16th July,
2004."

http://www.johnhowardlies.com/

 

I didn't realise Australia had snow and ice.
We think of your country as tropical.
(compared with NZ)

James.

 

I'm sure the rest of the whinging sheepshaggers are happy for you to speak on
their behalf.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

No Nev, I'm a kiwi not an aussie.
Sheep shagging only happens in your back yard, not in NZ.

We (my wife and I ) intended to have a short motorcycling holiday in
Australia
but thought your weather was hot all year around. Now we know it has colder
parts with snow for skiing, we will stay longer. Thanks for the help.
James

 

Have a good holiday. Motorcycles are illegal in Western Australia. You have
to park them at the border and catch a bus and arrange for the bike to be
transported to your point of departure from WA. Happy to help.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

By the way Nev,
I forgot to mention, we did have a bloody whinger here a few days ago, but
he's slithered back to your side of the Tasman, with those moaning losers
you
guys call "want to be's' or something. Think he's the one that tries to
help them
hold their (rugby) balls. Nurse somebody or other. Big mouth, big arse,
both
interchangeable, same crap comes out either end.

James
BMW F650
Suzuki 1200

 

Don't worry Nev buddy, we'll bring our ZX12R and put pedals on it for WA.
Probably crap out half way like most jappers.

James
BMW F650

 

S N O W ???
Less than 100km out of Sydney, at Bowral, it was BLANKETED. 80% of the
drive from Sydney to the Snowies was through snow covered landscape.
And the hill is going off!!!!

 

You'd better be talking about Nurse Hammo ...

-----sharks "Hammo's not home yet. I hope you like meat."

 

Don't be silly, paul. Of course I know about rugby, I live and breath rugby.
That's the game where fat polynesian men with no necks and headbands made from
electrical tape stick their fingers in each others' bottoms. New Zealand are
the best in the world at this, apparently.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

..
Don't be silly, paul. Of course I know about rugby, I live and breath
rugby.

Poly are ya Nev?
James

 

...and the award for the most predictable and lame response for the month of
July goes to... It's nice the way you display ignorance and take all the
usual bait, but you really should try harder if you want to keep us
entertained. Even Hatz and Biggus are better at playing this game than you
are.

Nev..
'03 ZX12R

 

Sob...
Only for July Nev?
James