DJW000 Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 A few weeks back I made a quick post about the new addition of Dunlop Roadsmarts on my 03' K12GT. So far I have put about 500 miles on them and I am utterly impressed at the difference they have made on my machine. If anyone has been thinking of a new tire purchase... try em'! In case you haven't seen it. Motor Cyclist magazine (August 08' Edition) has done a review on the Dunlop Roadsmart tire. As Quoted; "You can study all the engineering details, but when it's all said and done... the tire delivers everything! Dead-neutral steering, excellent high-speed stability, great feedback, outstanding wet weather grip". I took my bike to a meet tonight in which there was at least 100 bikes and about a half dozen guys stoped to ask me about the tires (in all my years of riding, that was a first). There certainly seems to be alot of buzz about these. As far as I'm concerned (so far anyway) they live up to the press.
KingBiscuit Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 +1 on the RoadSmarts. I too just installed a set and have about 500 miles. Really handle well. Dan
blkvelvt Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Getting mine installed tomorrow with my 12K service. Thanks for the tip and input.
Albert Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Mine are in my garage waiting to go to Utah (I hope).
realshelby Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 Thanks to ShovelStrokeEd's early ride reports I bought a set for the RT. I only have about 1500 miles on them but I am VERY happy with them. Running 37f 42r (42 front was too harsh). Ride is better than the ME 880's, stick is probably more than I'll use since I am more touring than sporting! Ridden in rain a couple times and tried to break the rear loose in first gear, did not spin. No surprises from front or rear in the rain while turning or braking. I pay a lot of attention to my tires. I have a tread depth gauge that I use to measure wear regularly. The first 3K on my Diablo Strada seen over half the usable tread depth worn away. On the RoadSmart at 1200 miles the wear was BARELY perceptible on the depth gauge! I'm talking an amount of around 1/4 of 1/32" (depths are usually referred to in 32nds of an inch). The front tire actually shows more wear. The center of the tread has almost no wear but it is showing a little of the standard RT wear starting about 3/4" off center. Typical pattern and no problem.
smiller Posted July 11, 2008 Posted July 11, 2008 I have had a front Roadsmart installed on my 1100RT for about 5k miles now. I can see some wear on both sides of center (as is normal for front tires) but lots of tread depth and I think total mileage is going to be very good. The right/left side wear is very even so far BTW. An interesting note is that the multiple Avon tires I used prior (both AV45 and Storms) has a significant left-side wear problem on the front which killed the tire in about 6k miles. The Roadsmarts don't do this at all on the same bike, same rider, same conditions... so it would appear that there is definitely some weird problem with the Avons. A shame because I liked their handling better, but for obvious reasons I'm going to stick with the Roadsmarts going forward.
boatzo Posted July 13, 2008 Posted July 13, 2008 An interesting note is that the multiple Avon tires I used prior (both AV45 and Storms) has a significant left-side wear problem on the front which killed the tire in about 6k miles. The Roadsmarts don't do this at all on the same bike, same rider, same conditions... so it would appear that there is definitely some weird problem with the Avons. A shame because I liked their handling better, but for obvious reasons I'm going to stick with the Roadsmarts going forward. I had the same problem with Avon Azro on the front. Have Mich pilot roads on now and have even wear???
kcscout Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I've got 30 miles on my Roadsmarts (front & back - 1100RT). Can't give them a thumbs up or not ... yet. Just a quick ride to scrub them a little. Give me another 70 miles and then I'll put them to the test - as best one can in Kansas.
Todd_Z1 Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 I have to say that the Michelin Pilot Power and Power 2CT are no longer my favorite tires. Although they offer excellent wear characteristics on my K12S they get greasy, slide and spin when you push them. I am definitely going to try the Dunnies if they make them for the K12S rim size. Cheers! Todd
RPG Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 what about noise? Any tire noise when you lean the bike off center? RPG
dogboy11 Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Seems like a lot of you have not had these tires on for very long ... anybody know about the wear on them? ... do they wear out quickly? .... what is their rating? Thanks. DB
ShovelStrokeEd Posted July 17, 2008 Posted July 17, 2008 Zero noise because there is zero cupping going on. I'm at 10.4K and will do 1400 miles between tomorrow and Saturday. Right now, the tires look like a set of Pilot Roads with about 4K on them. Tread depth is down in the center but contour remains quite good both front and rear. Amazing when you consider that at least 8 of that 10K has been done on the slab with 140 lbs of luggage on the bike. I've been through a bunch of tires in the last 5 years, logging over 170K miles in that time and nothing has given me the combination of confidence inspiring handling and long wear like these tires.
RPG Posted July 18, 2008 Posted July 18, 2008 Good to know Ed, my only complaint with the Pilot Road's is their tendency to make noise when leaned. Not as bad as some other tires I've had on the RT, but it starts within the first thousand miles after mounting. Although I must admit the noise doesn't get worse. As you say it's the cupping that causes it. Maybe time to go back to Dunlop. I've got 8k on my Pilot's now and there's maybe another 1-2k left if I stretch it. RPG
MotoMatt Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 Any thoughts on how these compare to the Roadtec Z6? I am going to need a set of tires in about 2K and plan on doing 1K this weekend. I am currently using the Z6 and have been happy with the performance, but not so much with the flat spot on the rear at the middle and end of the life.
ShovelStrokeEd Posted July 21, 2008 Posted July 21, 2008 No comparison. In terms of tire life, at least twice what a Z6 will give. Equal, if not better stick at all lean angles and very nice on turn in. No surprises. Dunlop got it right this time and I have NEVER been a fan.
MotoMatt Posted July 22, 2008 Posted July 22, 2008 Thanks for the thoughts. Sounds like I am going to be giving it a try in a few weeks.
blkvelvt Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 I've now got a few hundred miles on a new set of Roadsmarts. Very nice. I like planted/stable feedback on roadway grooving and painted lines. My PR2's were fine but these Roadsmarts do not seem to wiggle at all so far. Haven't done twisties yet, but I'm happy so far.
GregB Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 Dunlop got it right this time and I have NEVER been a fan. I have been so little a fan of Dunlop that it took both the positive experience with the D208 OE tires riding a RC51 and Fernando's recommendation to even try them. Even then I tried them semi-reluctantly, expecting only to be reasonably happy with them. I am thrilled with them!
drzep Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 Just finished off a set of RoadSmarts on the RT. The rear lasted 6200 miles. I changed both even though the front had another 500+ left. About 50% of the miles were at 2-up load with pressures at 38/42 psi. The rear had a flat spot at 3500 and was at the wear bars at 6000. The front was cupped at 4000. Awesome grip in dry and wet and there was no wear noise to speak of. Good performance under load as well. Replaced with Pilot Roads, which I have routinely got 7000 miles out of before hitting the wear bars.
g_frey Posted July 23, 2008 Posted July 23, 2008 The mileage figure is very dissapointing (6200mi) to hear. I expected better from the advertizing. Of course I should know better!
ShovelStrokeEd Posted July 24, 2008 Posted July 24, 2008 Side comment. Joe and I had our bikes parked side by side with my tires at 9000+ and his at about 6000 and his rear was considerably more worn than mine. I can't figure that one out at all as my loading was similar, my bike is about the same weight with MUCH more HP. I am a bit more gentle with the throttle since I don't need to be as harsh to get equal performance.
drzep Posted July 24, 2008 Posted July 24, 2008 Another thing, Ed, that might come into play is that 3000 of those miles came on pavement that was in poor condition and chipped (Maritimes / Newfoundland). Eats them up quick, especially with a fairly high-set load.
bimmers Posted July 24, 2008 Posted July 24, 2008 I have 2k on my rear tire and did not yet install front. Happy with it and expect to get more than the 4k I got from the old OEM Dunnies. Happy so far.
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