Roadster Front Tire Wear

[Claviger]

I'm currently Cobras front and back. I had a non-max Excedra out back. It sped up cornering a good bit because of the change in rake from the extra height, it felt good around turns, but I still noticed it squirming around some and it couldn't hold full power in 2nd gear consistently, would spin even in dry.

The Cobra rear is 100% transparent. You don't notice anything, it just goes, no squirminess, not harsh, not soft, sticks like glue cornering and only spins in the wet when I'm trying to make it spin (hehe) or if I get all over 1st gear when the tires still cold after sitting a few hours. I like the Stone > Metz and I like the Cobra > Stone. Mileage will end up deciding which, Stone or Cobra, that I stick with in the long term.

I should say a good comparison, at 2500 RPM if I snapped it open in 2nd the stone would spin, the Cobra does a small power wheelie instead, probably a good comparison of their characteristics.

 

[mr hunt]

I'm currently Cobras front and back. I had a non-max Excedra out back. It sped up cornering a good bit because of the change in rake from the extra height, it felt good around turns, but I still noticed it squirming around some and it couldn't hold full power in 2nd gear consistently, would spin even in dry.

The Cobra rear is 100% transparent. You don't notice anything, it just goes, no squirminess, not harsh, not soft, sticks like glue cornering and only spins in the wet when I'm trying to make it spin (hehe) or if I get all over 1st gear when the tires still cold after sitting a few hours. I like the Stone > Metz and I like the Cobra > Stone. Mileage will end up deciding which, Stone or Cobra, that I stick with in the long term.

I should say a good comparison, at 2500 RPM if I snapped it open in 2nd the stone would spin, the Cobra does a small power wheelie instead, probably a good comparison of their characteristics.

I can echo your experience Avon v Bridgy rears. I've recently gone back to the Bridgy because I couldn't get the Avon...next time I'll order the Avon early..

 

[EasTexRIII]

I just picked up the R3R with a 140/75R17 67V instead of the 150/80R17 Metz.

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD IT'S A WHOLE NEW BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would go so far as to say the stock ME880s are a MAJOR safety Hazard!! No ****, every single behavior from the front end that upset the bike's stability or was a "quirk" of it's handling I didn't like is G O N E. Not reduced, not minimized, I mean G O N E.

Head shake when striking a bump mid corner - GONE TOTALLY.
Ability to lock the front brake on a sharp input with just 2 fingers - GONE TOTALLY.
Loose feeling from the front, like head bearings are ill adjusted - GONE TOTALLY.
Steering effort mid-corner to make corrections feeling like the front was going to wash out - GONE TOTALLY.

As a tire that will let you drive the bike from point A to point B, I guess the Metzler works. ANY scenario outside that, NOPE. I would go so far as to say, if I were to wreck my bike today, and buy another R3 tomorrow, I would tell the dealer to take the brand new ME880s off and put AVONs on before I'd take deliver, they are that much better. I WOULD THROW THAT $550 in the trash before putting metzlers on my bike again.

To detail the difference in feeling:
Initial turn in, like the first fraction of a second is actually more effort as it's much stickier, but then as soon as the Avon gets off center, it takes up a much lighter feeling, but still obviously much gripier. Mid corner corrections are nothing, super easy, effortless. It's a much quieter tire, and my bar has much less vibration. I didn't even notice I had a vibrating bar before, but its smoother now than the bike has ever been, from day one of ownership until now. There is now a tendency, like sport bikes, to over steer, and enter a corner at TOO sharp an angle. You don't so much muscle the bike into the turn, as gently guide it into the turn. The off center feeling is truly that of a sport bike, not a cruiser. Bear in mind, I do have longer Wilbers out back, wider than stock bars with better leverage, and higher rate front springs, but as a system, the Cobra is a flawless match to the suspension as it's set. I would NEVER have thought a R3 could feel this good!

My Gentle ride home:

If you look, when pulling into my spot, I TRY to lock it up, big hard front brake input...nothing

Nice! But something's wrong with your GoPro, It made it look like you were going faster than the posted speed lim's.
Nice "trackstand" at the stop sign
And where'd you get those cool swooping curved forks

 

[Claviger]

Thats considered a stop here, not sure why they call it a "California Roll", in Hawaii you get honked at for coming to a complete halt.

This is a pic I took yesterday of the Hawaii riding uniform, it's the island version of ATGATT:

 

[mully95]

Thanks for the pics Claviger the tire is a tad bit smaller width looks the same.

 

[Bigj1955]

I just picked up the R3R with a 140/75R17 67V instead of the 150/80R17 Metz.

OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD IT'S A WHOLE NEW BIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would go so far as to say the stock ME880s are a MAJOR safety Hazard!! No ****, every single behavior from the front end that upset the bike's stability or was a "quirk" of it's handling I didn't like is G O N E. Not reduced, not minimized, I mean G O N E.

Head shake when striking a bump mid corner - GONE TOTALLY.
Ability to lock the front brake on a sharp input with just 2 fingers - GONE TOTALLY.
Loose feeling from the front, like head bearings are ill adjusted - GONE TOTALLY.
Steering effort mid-corner to make corrections feeling like the front was going to wash out - GONE TOTALLY.

As a tire that will let you drive the bike from point A to point B, I guess the Metzler works. ANY scenario outside that, NOPE. I would go so far as to say, if I were to wreck my bike today, and buy another R3 tomorrow, I would tell the dealer to take the brand new ME880s off and put AVONs on before I'd take deliver, they are that much better. I WOULD THROW THAT $550 in the trash before putting metzlers on my bike again.

To detail the difference in feeling:
Initial turn in, like the first fraction of a second is actually more effort as it's much stickier, but then as soon as the Avon gets off center, it takes up a much lighter feeling, but still obviously much gripier. Mid corner corrections are nothing, super easy, effortless. It's a much quieter tire, and my bar has much less vibration. I didn't even notice I had a vibrating bar before, but its smoother now than the bike has ever been, from day one of ownership until now. There is now a tendency, like sport bikes, to over steer, and enter a corner at TOO sharp an angle. You don't so much muscle the bike into the turn, as gently guide it into the turn. The off center feeling is truly that of a sport bike, not a cruiser. Bear in mind, I do have longer Wilbers out back, wider than stock bars with better leverage, and higher rate front springs, but as a system, the Cobra is a flawless match to the suspension as it's set. I would NEVER have thought a R3 could feel this good!

My Gentle ride home:

If you look, when pulling into my spot, I TRY to lock it up, big hard front brake input...nothing

Realize this a late reply, but I just got in from a 65 mile highway ride and I get what everyone is saying....I continually have to correct steering, where I shouldn't have to - got to the point where I actually stayed in the right lane for a while at the speed limit (the humanity!!). Gotta change this front tire, starting to get me nervous - I only have about 700 miles on the bike, but I'm not feeling it!

 

[Ishrub]

Realize this a late reply, but I just got in from a 65 mile highway ride and I get what everyone is saying....I continually have to correct steering, where I shouldn't have to - got to the point where I actually stayed in the right lane for a while at the speed limit (the humanity!!). Gotta change this front tire, starting to get me nervous - I only have about 700 miles on the bike, but I'm not feeling it!

Check your tire pressures first and try 42 lb rear and 40 lb front. You may be happy enough to live with them for at least a couple of thousand miles. Then change front Metzler first as Metzler rear is less of problem apparently and wears out much faster than better Avon Cobra or Bridgestone Radial Exedra options.

 

[1olbull]

Both front and rear Metzelers indeed suck!
But, based upon my experience with them when my motor was new, the rear was by far the worst as it unexpectedly stepped out on me many times in turns (mostly from a stop) when there was NO REASON for it.

 

[mr hunt]

Both front and rear Metzelers indeed suck!
But, based upon my experience with them when my motor was new, the rear was by far the worst as it unexpectedly stepped out on me many times in turns (mostly from a stop) when there was NO REASON for it.

C'mon Bull...there's always a reason...maybe the "mostly from a stop" was from the WOT stop??

 

[1olbull]

By reason I meant speed and turn radius should not have exceeded the friction value.
Never have experienced this before with any other tire and motor and this happened 3-5 times in the first 5K. Since using Avon or Bridgestone - never a step-out issue.