tyre recommendation for gsxr1000 ?

That's kind of my point, but not entirely.

 

I noticed the difference between some sort of michelin touring tyre and an
010.

Okay, there was a VFR attached to the Michelin, and a GSX-R on the 010, but
that's just splitting hairs.

 

<g>

My point is that mostly people go from old fucked, square tyres to
nice new round ones. Of course they'll feel better.

I bet that a good proportion of riders wouldn't be able to
consistently notice any difference on a tyre test.

 

The average person has one[1] tit and one testicle.

[1] Approximately.

 

Can you get more specific on what constitutes a 'good proportion'?

I'm not necessarily disagreeing with you, certainly there are some
riders who couldn't tell any difference in tires whatsoever. I'll
venture to say that if you restricted your sample of riders to those
that would be comfortable doing a tire comparison at a track day,
a majority of them could reliably detect the difference between a
typical OEM 'rim protector' high mileage oriented tire, and sticky
sport-oriented street tires.

I am no riding god, but I could tell a huge difference between
Metzeler MEZ4s and Pirelli Diablos on the SV, and it certainly wasn't
a case of worn vs. new.

 

I changed the Michelin Macadams on the Bandit 12 because they were
Teflon in the wet and not much better in the dry. I wept a little
tear, as they still had 4mm of tread on 'em when removed.

I could tell the difference between the Macadams and the 020s that
replaced them though, and had a little grin instead.

 

'Course it does. It says "Outlook Newsreader" on the top.
The fact that it looks and acts exactly the same as OE, has nuffink to do
with it.

 

For this purpose, I'd say something like 80 - 90pc.

What's the point of restricting the sample?

I maintain that even in your restricted sample, a huge number couldn't
consistently make comments on tyres which (a) agree with themselves,
and (b) agree with experts.

I've never been able to tell a difference between tyres.

 

Remove the outliers. We both agree that there are some riders who can't
discern any differences whatsoever between tires, we just disagree on
the percentage.

Here I actually agree with you... I only claimed this specifically:

"...a majority of them could reliably detect the difference between a
typical OEM 'rim protector' high mileage oriented tire, and sticky
sport-oriented street tires."

I do think that most experienced riders, yourself included, could do
this specific assessment. (a) and (b) above are more difficult, and I
think you are probably right about that.

You don't give yourself enough credit.

 

I certain of it.

 

I've been out this evening, for a pleasant bimble over Alston and
Hartside. I'm no fast bloke anyway, I was passed by several sportsbike
riders on the way down, but I just don't seem to have any confidence in
the tyres on the B12 at the moment - it's still on its original set;
they feel at best just about adequate. I'll change them when I need to,
and not before, but I don't think Michelin will be getting my money.

 

Ask yourself this: if Champ, Bonwick, Ferrier or Ballistic had been on
your bike at that moment, do you think that anyone would have got past
them?

I think not. And while any one of those fine chaps may have been less
that impressed with the OE tyres on your bike, the tyres are not the
ultimate limiting factor.

See what I'm getting at?

 

On the other hand, confidence is important. Changing the tyres may be
strictly unnecessary - or not: maybe they really are shit - but it may
help Darren to concentrate on his riding and not worry that the tyres are
going to let him down.

 

probably not. But the people you list above would be quicker on a B12
with 010s on than a B12 with Macadams on.

you're correct, and in general I agree with you on the "tyres are all
pretty much the same" front. However, I make an exception for Macadams
- they really are a terrible tyre.

 

This is true, but changing the tyres are going to make a minimal
amount of difference compared to changing the rider. The rider being
the "problem", where he ways above: " I was passed by several
sportsbike riders on the way down".

 

I never felt that.

Horses for courses, innit.

 

<mode=Champ>

I just get on and ride it.

 

<AOL>

 

You didn't notice that either, then, Will?

 

Nope.

But then, I doubt I would. I once rode the CX for 5 miles before
noticing that the rear tyre was almost flat.