Maxxis tyres - lomgish

After years of forking out for branded tyres I decided to take the plunge
and buy some cheap ones. Conventional wisdom would seem to dictate that this
would result in my immediate and painful death but on the plus side I could
save a few quid.

I decided that remoulds were perhaps a step too far (though some people on
the hornet site swear by them) at this stage of my quest.

Enter a pair of Maxxis Kelvar Radials. How butch do they sound then? Maxxis
is the new(ish) name for Cheng Shien who were famous for making rubbish
tyres. I had a pair on my BMX many years ago and can confirm they were crap.

The Maxxis however did appear to look like real tyres - though of course we
all know they are really made of special super slippy rubber that can kill a
man at twenty places.

I got a pair in ZXR400 sizes (120/60 160/60) for £119 plus £8.50 a wheel
fitting and balancing. They were heavily discounted but i suspect that
you're unlikely to find a pair at full retail.

At the moment I just have just the rear fitted and am happy to report that
after about 500 miles I am still alive.

They seem to have a huge amount of grip in the wet - something to do with
having a deep (for a sports radial) tread pattern I suspect - and I managed
to get my knee down this morning after a few tentative laps of a roundabout.
This was something of a buttock clencher as I can't get rid of the nagging
feeling they are waiting to kill me but in reliality they felt absolutely
fine despite it being a bit nippy.

So it would seem maybe there is an alternative to the big brands but its
early days yet and I'll keep you posted in any change to my current being
alive state.

 

Sounds painful. Which twenty places? London, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow,
Paisley...........?

 

flash wrote

That is utter fucking bollox. They are only tyre that could ever offer
a lifetime guarantee against failing through fair wear and tear. Nor
can you ever have any concerns regarding levels of grip when using them,
best not to think about it at all was my experience. As to the matter
of rider feedback, you could be 100% aware of them from the moment the
bike started moving.

As a tyre for learning some of the more subtle arts of survival whilst
riding a motorcycle they come with my highest recommendation.

 

Fair point. I got a new GPX750 (my second) many hoons ago and got the OE
japlops changed to Michelins because they scared me. That first 500
miles taught me a lot about wet throttle control though.

Same as a broken clutch cable (on a BMW) taught me a lot about antici



















pation (many thanks to Tim Curry)

 

<snip>

Interesting. In the 70s, Bridgestone was a synonym for instant death,
and now they're one of the best tyres you can buy. Looks like the
chinese are getting their act together too. It's not original, but it
looks like the 21st century will be the chinese century.
--
Please add "imo" to above post.
Champ
GSX-R 1000, GPz 750 turbo, ZX7RR Endurance Racer x 2
GYASB#0 BotToS#2 BOTAFO(T|F)#35 WG*#1 DFV#8
Team UKRM Racing : www.team-ukrm.com

 

flash wrote:

<snip>

Sounds like a good price, I'm on the look out for cheap tyres for my FZR
and will give those a look.

 

Usually a few on ebay, i got mine from Abbey Motorcycles in Leicestershire.

 

Maxxis are *the* tyre to fit to your 'motard according to everyone I
know who's used them, and even come in grades (ala slicks) depending on
what you want to use them for

--
Veggie Dave
UKRMHRC#2 BOTAFOF#08
IQ 18 FILMS http://www.iq18films.com
Extreme Racing http://www.veggie-dave.co.uk
Toxic Shock Syndrome Gets More Girls Than Me

 

flash says...

I sold literally hundreds of Maxxis radials when I was a rep for the
importer. No-one I sold them to ever reported any problems or misgivings
about them and al I ever heard back about them were positive comments.
One of my oldest mates uses them on his 1100 Zephyr and rates them about
as good as 020s. I have had Maxxis tyres on my CB250RS, the Barracuda
front that is still on there is very very grippy. I wore the Barracuda
rear out a bit quick because the wheel was in on the piss[1], but I
remember it being the best wet weather tyre I've ever had. There's a
Cheng Shin on there at the mo which is keeping the old reputation alive.

[1] Some young fuckwit working for a local bike shop managed to put the
wheel in ok, but omitted a little bit on the end of the swing arm that
the chain adjuster bears against. The wheel slipped out of line, but
being the foul handling Honda I never noticed until the tyre was
prematurely fucked. I did return to give him a slap. The missing little
bit was still under the workbench, where he'd obviously managed to knock
it weeks previously.

 

Well I'm convinced, I need a tyres for my 1200 Bandit and there are a pair
on ebay for £100..........

Nick

 

Might be worth a look on the Busters website.
http://www.busters-accessories.co.uk/products.asp?id=117

Don't know your sizes but they appear to be good prices.

 

One point to note is that the ones I got are only W rated - 170mph. Not a
problem for my zxr400 and I suspect maybe not for your Bandit.

 

And I can get a set of road tyres for the Tigger at roughly the same
cost as one trailwing for the rear - handy!
--

Cheers!
Fr Jack
96 Tiger.
FRJACKUKRM AT GMAIL DOT COM

 

They make fucking good off road tyres.

 

Appears to be £45 for 100/90H-18 and a 120/90H-18 the PAIR! Can't be
right...

 

sweller says...

Oh yes it is. I put a pair of Barracudas on the CB for less than 50
quid.

 

I have never had a problem with their prices.
if it's on the website, then stuff it in the basket!

 

Christ. That's the 400 Four sorted, then.

 

How do you find them?

 

Verdigris says...

I find that walking into a bike shop and asking for them works quite
well.