Triumphrat

Tankman · 08-28-2007

Hi all,
today I ordered a a new set of Z6's for my Sprint and I'm interested in any comments on them by my fellow Sprint rider, especially that mad Kiwi tyre shreeder DaveM.

Cya The Tankman

DaveM · 08-28-2007

Hi Tankman,
you are going to have to talk to Donski to get a first hand report on these puppies.

I can tell you that they wear well, they grip well in wet and dry and they are a rounded profile that makes them not the fastest at turn in but very stable.

Have I got it right Don?

DaveM

Benson · 08-28-2007

I can highly recommend Z6's.must be close to the perfect sport touring tyre. They are good in the wet and dry and not bad for the occasional track day at Baskerville. I usually run 36 psi front and 38 psi rear when riding solo. I have been getting about 12,000kms out of a rear tyre and about 15,000 kms out of the front which I reckon is not too bad. You wont be disappointed.
Stretch is the one needing tyres. That was a good ride on Sunday..but this is Tassie Motorcycle Heaven.

TripleTreat · 08-28-2007

I've gone through a couple of sets of Z6s and I thought they were great. Best tyres I've put on the Sprint... up until I started fitting Avon Azaros, and now, Avon Storm STs, which steer quicker and make the whole shebang feel lighter.

Having said that, you won't have a problem with the Z6s - good grip wet and dry, consistent handling right up til you need to change them. If you like the Z6s, you'll also like the Pirelli Stradas - basically the same tyre with a different tread pattern.

dolson · 08-28-2007

If you get the Z6's get both F&R as they are made to work together in the wet. And in the wet they are very effective. Wet or dry I don't recall being able to make them step out or push, and believe me I've tried. Very round, smooth and no balance issues. After thousands of miles no cupping that I can discern. Even now, fingertips on the bars no wiggle. Let the bars go no wiggle.
I use nitrogen exclusively and with this there isn't any PSI or size changes with heat variations and have found "for ME and my loading an riding style" 36/38 gives me the quickest changeups and traction in transitions. The rear isn't squared off either.

As DaveM said the front has a more rounded profile so the turn in is a bit slower then tires with a more angular profile but a little more push pull on the bars and some weight transfer handle that easily. But unlike a typical angular front, once in, they hold your chosen line with very little input even in tire edge shredding mode. With the amount of rain we get through a lot of the year and the amount of glop on the roads this stability is a nice feature when you are working your tires.

My dealer is trying to get me to try something else but these have been so good to me I'm not sure I want to switch just for the sake of trying something else. We'll see when the time comes.

Don

daveysew · 08-28-2007

I'm really happy with the z6's great balance between performance and longevity. Had them on the track 2x this year with great success. I'll be buying another set when the time comes.

dave

Tankman · 08-29-2007

Thank you everyone for the info on the Z6's. My Road Pilots are about shagged but they have almost 21,000 km on them and looking forward to a new set of tyres so I push hard again on these great Tassie roads.

Cya The Tankman

nmendham · 08-29-2007

Hey Tankman,

how're you getting 21000K's out of a set of tyres, thats what I want to know!

Cheers,

Neil

K8 · 08-29-2007

This is an opportune time for this thread. The stock tires that came with the sprint are now history. The back has squared off and is down past the markers.Reading here though I am more confused than settled. I've just had a look at the z6 tires on the web and they look , err , good. Given that I ride a bit and really like twisties , ride in all/any weather , my only concern with them is the slow turn in mentioned. The STs look good too but whats with the silica stuff . I dont know .
I'm more interested in really good grip and fast turn in over longetivity , though lasting a while is always good.
So , with that in mind , whats the three top choices for the sprint. I didn't even know about the z6 till this posting from Tankman.
What do you think ? I need a definitive list I can research and learn about so more.

DaveM · 08-29-2007

K8,
do you want a sports tyre, a sports tourer or a sports / race / track tyre?

If you want a sports tourer that handles well all round and wears quite well with excellent grip my vote is for the Avon Storm. These have a very nice "feel" to them. Turn in is not rapid but this tyre is superior in every way to a BT 020.
I get about 6,000kms from a rear.

If you want a sports tyre, I havent changed, and still think the Michelin Pilot Powers are great value because: excellent wet & dry grip, very fast turn in, good wear for a sports tyre. These really handle very quickly and have a great transtition and fast turn in rate due to the more V shaped front tyre. They do however track grooves or joins in the road and give immense bar feedback which some riders do not like.
These are my favourite sports tyre. I get 4,500kms to a rear.

If you want a sports / race road legal tyre then it would have to be either Bridgestones BT 002 Race medium or a Michelin Pilot Race medium.
These both offer superior handling and extreme grip in the dry with not so good wet or cold weather grip and will wear very fast.
I get 3,000kms on a set on the road.
These are a superb track tyre.
I am currently on my third set of these, but they are only suitable really if your riding is soley in the mountains and it has to be hard riding or your better off with a sports tyre.
The BT 002 is my most favoured tyre of all the above. But I do not commute etc and if I do a trip I mount Pilot Powers.

I have pics of all these tyres and quite a few more in both my albums see clicky below for tread and wear patterns.

DaveM