CB650R No front end feel, anyone?

[miweber929]

I think we should have the option to choose the tyres when we buy our bikes. That would please everyone.

You don’t when you buy a car so why would motorcycles be any different?

OEM tires are different than non-OEM and are built to a (very) low price point. The OEM Rosso III on the Ducati Supersport only lasts between 2500 and 4500 miles and fall off handling wise very quickly but the non-oem ones last 2k more and keep feel their entire life.

 

[EuroBadger]

Gotta add that the 650R feels and rides like a nose-heavy F/R car which understeer a lot until you actively shift weight and steer the vehicle with throttle. Very rear wheel oriented.
One of the upsides is that it makes trail braking and throttle steering extra satisfying.

 

[John Jive]

Nothing wrong with the Dunlop tyres

Of course, I'm not a Motogp rider like some... 😁

 

[Redrocket]

Well, the cheap-spec ons I had on my new NC750X a few years back were terrible - we called them Dunaplops on the NC forum. The ones on my CBR are not very confidence-inspiring either, though not so bad. I certainly won't be buying Dunlops to replace them - my NC was utterly transformed using Michelin Road 5s - different bike altogether. I'll put 6's on the CBR.

 

[EuroBadger]

Well, the cheap-spec ons I had on my new NC750X a few years back were terrible - we called them Dunaplops on the NC forum. The ones on my CBR are not very confidence-inspiring either, though not so bad. I certainly won't be buying Dunlops to replace them - my NC was utterly transformed using Michelin Road 5s - different bike altogether. I'll put 6's on the CBR.

Nothing wrong with Dunlop. Dunlop has great tyres in their product line up. It's just that Honda did not care to put an expensive set of high quality tyres in the NC or CBR because neither of them are premium bikes.

 

[MacRoadster]

You don’t when you buy a car so why would motorcycles be any different?

Why not for cars too? We have so many options/extras to choose from, most of them useless, why not something that matters and has a direct impact on driving/riding?

Sure, many people doesn't know the difference between a good and bad tyre, but everyone knows which colour looks cool... 😆

 

[miweber929]

Why not for cars too? We have so many options/extras to choose from, most of them useless, why not something that matters and has a direct impact on driving/riding?

Sure, many people doesn't know the difference between a good and bad tyre, but everyone knows which colour looks cool... 😆

Nobody knows the difference and there would be less than 2% that would pay more for better tire. All people want is the lowest price.

 

[MacRoadster]

Nobody knows the difference and there would be less than 2% that would pay more for better tire. All people want is the lowest price.

Not sure if would be just 2%, but I agree with you that most people would go for the lowest price.

I only go for the lowest price when comparing same quality level tyres. It makes such a big difference on safety and performance, for the lowest tier tyres, that the price difference becomes small 🙄

 

[EuroBadger]

I have even seen some track dudes running lower pressure in the rear even though I don't know why they do it.

Increased my front tyre pressure to 33 (it was around 32ish) and lowered the rear to 30. It did not necessarily give the front more feel or made it more agile but did make the bike feel more natural and balanced by slowing down the rear. Now the bike feels less like a nose heavy FR car.

 

[67ratrag]

I can honestly tell you that the day I changed the tires to Road 6's I thought I was driving a completely different machine. I'll admit I am frugal and wanted to wear the Dunlops to get my $$ value but changed them out with more than half the tread left because I was so dissatisfied with the overall feel of the bike. So noticeable, so worth the change and it handles better, gives me more confidence in trusting the bike in corners. Did many more upgrades, Ohlins rear shock and internals for the front forks but that has not had as an immediate change in the feel of the ride as the tires did. And 33/33 is not the way to go. Period. Many good suggestions given by others so I won't preach, I just wanted to really encourage you to Ditch The Dunlops!! Yes the Road 6's are pricey but well worth the improved feel and confidence under all road conditions. But, the Pirelli Supercorsa SP's that came on the Triumph 765 RS are just SO great, they really are a level (or 3) above the Road 6's. Wow, just wow.

 

[EuroBadger]

I can honestly tell you that the day I changed the tires to Road 6's I thought I was driving a completely different machine. I'll admit I am frugal and wanted to wear the Dunlops to get my $$ value but changed them out with more than half the tread left because I was so dissatisfied with the overall feel of the bike. So noticeable, so worth the change and it handles better, gives me more confidence in trusting the bike in corners. Did many more upgrades, Ohlins rear shock and internals for the front forks but that has not had as an immediate change in the feel of the ride as the tires did. And 33/33 is not the way to go. Period. Many good suggestions given by others so I won't preach, I just wanted to really encourage you to Ditch The Dunlops!! Yes the Road 6's are pricey but well worth the improved feel and confidence under all road conditions. But, the Pirelli Supercorsa SP's that came on the Triumph 765 RS are just SO great, they really are a level (or 3) above the Road 6's. Wow, just wow.

Thanks for the input. Doesn't the Supercorsa SP require more warmup time and higer operating temp?

 

[miweber929]

Doesn't the Supercorsa SP require more warmup time and higer operating temp?

in my experience with them on my ‘24 STRS, absolutely on both points.

They are a VERY sticky tire but unless you’re doing multiple track days or very aggressive sport riding all the time they are way overkill as street tires and more about bragging rights than performance. I have a set of Rosso IV’s waiting to go on when mine are toast in the next couple hundred miles which will equal about a 2,000 or 2,250 mile lifespan. The Rosso’s, Q4s or a Power 6 are a much better streetbike sport tire choice than the Supercorsa SP.

 

[MacRoadster]

the Pirelli Supercorsa SP's that came on the Triumph 765 RS are just SO great, they really are a level (or 3) above the Road 6's. Wow, just wow.

You're comparing sport tyres to touring tyres...

 

[67ratrag]

I agree on the comparison between the sport vrs touring tires, but I bought the Triumph and after driving it a few days was so impressed that the bike came from the factory with the Pirellis I had to comment. Yes they are overkill on the street but I will take them up in the mountains here, the Mae Hong Son loop, 600 km (370 miles), 4,088 curves. Tail of the dragon, yawn, don't bore me. Been there, done that. A yearly trek for me in December. The 1,800 curves many guides claim is driving counter clockwise on the loop From Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son, not the total loop. Add in side adventures to the border with Myanmar, a Chinese tea village, a cave with bamboo rafts to explore with, multiple waterfalls, a Karen long neck village, highest point in Thailand, Temples, mountains, scenery, adventure. And so many curves in some areas you long for a piece of straightway, really. So 4,088 curves plus all the side adventures and you easily blow past 5,000 curves, truly the road trip you've always wanted to take.

 

[MacRoadster]

the Mae Hong Son loop, 600 km (370 miles), 4,088 curves.

Interesting, and it must have some goods parts. However, from what I could see on the web, the quality of the road isn't very good... potholes, mud on the road, just one lane with slow traffic... many dangers.
The tail of the dragon seems to have better road and better curves, and to me it looks more attractive.

I never been in the USA or Thailand, only in many roads across Europe. From my experience, longer doesn't mean it's better.