Kawasaki Concours Forum
The C-14, aka Kawasaki Concours-14, the new one :) => Accessories and modifications - C14/GTR 1400 => Topic started by: Dade22 on September 22, 2011, 09:33:23 PM
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;D
Lets start by saying I had almost 7300 on the factory tires. The back had the flat spot starting to show, but was a little ways away from the wear bars. The front on the other hand was at the wear bars and had a funky shape. (could be my riding style...or lack there of) LOL
Armed with a ton of info from this place, 2 trips to sears, a trip to HF, and one to Lowes, a stop by a friends house where she gave me a torque wrench (for free)...I was prepaired to remove the wheels and have the new PR3s put on.
With the factory tires I never felt 100% sure when taking curves with a hard lean. Even when I had my bandit with the new road attacks they gave me the feedback I was looking for.
After putting the PR3s on...WOW! I took it out for a test ride to see how they would handle. (yes...I scrubbed them in a little...but only about 35 miles of driving on them)
Found some nice curves and these things stuck like glue. Never had any doubt they would let me down! Very easy to manuver around and the bike feels more attentive to my input. I was so impressed I kept riding and didnt want to go back home for dinner. (wife wasnt mad..she guessed I was out having fun on the bike)
After a nice 80 mile ride I returned home. I see that I only have about an inch or so on both sides of the back tire that I havent touched yet, but that will change in the next few days or so.
I did do a short ride today adding about 40 more miles to the tires and Im looking forward to maybe some good weather this Saturday for a longer ride out of state.
If you have any questions to if you should or shouldnt buy these tires...just buy them...you will like them!
Dade22
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Thanks for the report. They will be my next tires.
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Very solid dry weather performer, and simply outstanding in the rain. First tire I was able to get shoulder to shoulder on the front with, as well. For me/my riding style, the Pirelli Angel seemed to push a bit more on corner exit than the PR3, so I'm glad I made the switch for that reason too. Have about 3500 on the rear, and 6500 on the front, and they are wearing quite well.
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I put on the PR3s in July after putting 10,500 miles on the OEMs. I now have 16,800 on it. So after 6300 awesome miles, I agree, these tires are pretty nice. I was waiting until they were through their life before giving any reviews on them. They are very grippy dry or wet. They were starting to show some wear at just under 6000 miles. I won't be completely sold on them until I go through the whole life of the tires. I got about 17,000 miles out of a set of PR2s in the past, so if they stay in the same ballpark, I'll get them again. If not, back to the PR2s.
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I'm on my third set. They are definitely my goto tire.
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I have about 6000 on a set of PR3's. It is has been mostly freeway driving unfortunately, but they are still round . I found some nice twisties this past weekend and they were awesome. The funny thing is I bought them to get an improvement in wet weather performance, and it hasn't rained since I bought them. At least not enough for a decent test. My buddies claim I get the credit for the Indy MotoGP being such nice weather this year.
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So did you guys go with the 190/50 or 190/55 on rear?
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Well, my stock front tire is toast at 4300 miles (looks like cooked bacon), the rear has a 1.5 inch flat spot around the center after riding 900 miles through Texas on the looong flat roads out there.
Anyway I was wondering if anyone has tried Dyna Beads in the PR3s, I'm having some mounted in a few days and trying to decide if I should have the beads put in or just go with conventional weights.
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Dyna beads and tire pressure sensors don't play well together. Go with conventional weights.
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PR3's are the best!!! Im on my third set of PR3's this year and I get about 8k out of rear and 11k or so out of front.
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First I want to say that the PR3's are a great tire in the rain, I never had them break traction even during heavy downpours with extreme ponding on the roads. I felt the same way with the PR2's and have went thru 5 sets on the Bike.with the PR3's I noticed at 7000 miles that the rear was showing a lot of wear, (I've been getting anywhere from 8500 to 11000 miles out of a rear tire with the PR2's) Recently I picked up 2 holes in my rear Tire and while trying to plug the tire I noticed it was at the end of the wear bars, so I made the decision to go back to the PR2's as I felt that they lasted longer.
Like I said in the begining of my post I liked the tire but I don't feel they were worth the extra expense for a better grip in the rain while sacrificing mileage.
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Dyna beads and tire pressure sensors don't play well together. Go with conventional weights.
Really? I haven't had a problem. As long as the valve isn't at the 6 o'clock position while adjusting air pressure it is fine. Dyna beads are considered snake oil by some, but I have had great luck using them.
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Dyna beads and tire pressure sensors don't play well together. Go with conventional weights.
No problem w/ DynaBeads and TPS here. Two sets of PR2's.
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Really? I haven't had a problem. As long as the valve isn't at the 6 o'clock position while adjusting air pressure it is fine. Dyna beads are considered snake oil by some, but I have had great luck using them.
Me too. Almost 3 years and 2 different sets of tires and no problems.
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Okay, I'll back down. My comment wasn't based on personal experience but from comments I read on another thread here. Sorry.
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Dyna beads and tire pressure sensors don't play well together. Go with conventional weights.
Just want to add some input....I only got 7.5K on the original Bridgestones and I can't say much for them as far as wear. They wore uneven (especially the front tire) and the rear wore down to the bare steel belts with no warning other than normal wear signs....I had purchased a set of PR3's and had them in my garage.
I put on my first pair of PR3's at that time. I replaced the rear PR3 at 16K miles on my Connie. That tire could have gone at least another 1K easily I am sure, but I drive 100 miles each day and decided to be safe rather than risk being surprised by bare steel belts as had happened with the Bridgestones. My replacement PR3 front tire is still on my bike (I am just under 20K miles) and it has almost all tread still showing with some minor flattening at the center. The PR3's have been ridden in heavy rains in Kansas and year round. I've passed cars that were pulling over due to the downpours and the PR3's have never given me any pause for concern...they have never hydro planed or lost traction on me yet.
As for the quote above regarding dyna beads and TPS...it is the truth. I mystakenly tried dyna beads when I replaced my OEM Bridgestones and my PR3 tire balance was irratic at best, especially the larger rear tire. At normal speeds (below 70mph) all was well as long as accelerations were slow and steady. BUT on a quick launch from a stand still or when whipping up to 110mph or greater in a quick pass, all hell would break loose. Needless to say I had the dyna beads removed from my PR3's after 4K miles of trying the beads out. I will never use them (dynabeads) with a tire/wheel that has a TPS installed and I hope I save anyone reading this the anguish of making this discovery on their own. My 09 connie has never been smoother.
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I just rode 700 hard miles on new PR3s in the Arkansas Ozarks, I must say the difference between these tires and the Bridgestone stockers is nothing short of shocking, I was very satisfied with the handling in all the twisties on those mountain roads. I would say the #1 improvement they made with the bike is how easy it was to negotiate the curves, on the stock tires I was having to muscle the bike because it would try to stand back up or (push) from the center of the curves off, with the PR3s the bike maintained its lean angle with ease from entry to exit. At this point I am very satisfied with these tires.
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+1
PR3's are amazing.
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I just rode 700 hard miles on new PR3s in the Arkansas Ozarks, I must say the difference between these tires and the Bridgestone stockers is nothing short of shocking, I was very satisfied with the handling in all the twisties on those mountain roads. I would say the #1 improvement they made with the bike is how easy it was to negotiate the curves, on the stock tires I was having to muscle the bike because it would try to stand back up or (push) from the center of the curves off, with the PR3s the bike maintained its lean angle with ease from entry to exit. At this point I am very satisfied with these tires.
highway 123 (the section from hwy 7 to mt judea) destroyed my rear PR3. the front is very worn but still servicable.
PR3's are outstanding tires :)
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I got a flat tire on the rear PR3 at about 8,000 miles. The front tire is just starting to show wear. The rear was showing a little more. It should be replaced for free with the insurance I have on tires,but we'll see in a day or two.
These tires have awesome traction in the rain or dry. Combined with the abs even nicer. The TPS really came in handy. Flying up the highway watching the psi come down. Singing in my head. I Know I Can, I Know I Can!!! And I did. Filled it to 50 psi and run her hard 50 miles to home and ended at 25 psi.
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highway 123 (the section from hwy 7 to mt judea) destroyed my rear PR3. the front is very worn but still servicable.
PR3's are outstanding tires :)
Yes, 123 is very abrasive but what a blast, we did 700 miles up there including Push Mountain. My tires were brand new and still look great.
I don't know why this rider left the road on 123 but his FJR looked to be totaled, I hope he's ok.
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I only got about 7500 from my PR3's (about the same as the PR2s). Decided to replace them with PR2's. I did not feel much of an improvement over the PR2's, so decided the PR3's were not worth the extra $40-$50 over the PR2s. Put the PR3's through their paces: Commuting, Rain, Interstate, Tail of the Dragon, Mountains... the PR3's are a good tire, just not worth the extra money over the PR2's.
PR2's are just really hard to really improve on...!
Aaron
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I got a flat tire on the rear PR3 at about 8,000 miles. The front tire is just starting to show wear. The rear was showing a little more. It should be replaced for free with the insurance I have on tires,but we'll see in a day or two.
These tires have awesome traction in the rain or dry. Combined with the abs even nicer. The TPS really came in handy. Flying up the highway watching the psi come down. Singing in my head. I Know I Can, I Know I Can!!! And I did. Filled
it to 50 psi and run her hard 50 miles to home and ended at 25 psi.
http://www.dynaplug.com/ (http://www.dynaplug.com/)
that happened to me, and now i don't leave home with out it and my pump. i ended at 12 PSI...
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The PR3 is becoming my favorite tire of the types tried so far on a C-14. They are displacing the PR2 in that regard. I have also been very happy with Pirelli Angels, and would rate them in this order: Bridgestone 021 (stock), Pirelli Angel, Michelin PR2, and Michelin PR3.
At first I thought the PR3s felt a little 'wooden' and did not yield good feedback but have come around on that idea. The tire does not squirm or 'hunt' like any (every?) other tire I have used on this bike and I believe it is do to the Siping cuts. These cuts seem to allow each tread block to conform to small variations in the road without actually forcing the bike to move sideways as the tire passes over them. It took a while but I now believe this is a very good effect of the Siping cuts on the tires. Siping cuts typically degrade dry road performance but that does not seem to be the case moving from PR2s to PR3; I believe the rubber on the sides of PR3s is a bit softer than it is on PR2s so that is probably what allows the Siping cuts to work without having a negative effect on dry roads.
After using five sets of PR2s, this is my first set of PR3s and I only have about 3,000 miles on them so I do not yet have any idea how long they will last. If they last close to as long as the PR2s have in the past, this will probably be the next tire of choice.
Brian
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I had the opportunity to put PR3's on another bike (SV1000) at only $20 more than a pair of PR2's. Not many miles so far, but they seem fine. The PO had a Shinko Verge 11 on the front that was still in good shape, and a Pilot Power in the rear that was worn. Handling seems about the same. I took the bike out in the rain and the traction was fine for a new tire in the wet. I was able to both lift the front and spin the rear, so traction was decent but not perfect. IIRC, the rear spooled up at about 8000 rpm in first in the center of the lane, so there oil drippings may have had an effect. Braking was good. I didn't push the front to the limit, but traction was good. I was able to lock the rear, but it took some effort. So far, so good.
Since it rains here very little, and I ride very little in the rain, no decision has been made as to whether the C14 will get PR3's or PR2's when her time comes. If the difference stays at $20, and the PR3's wear is close, they will probably get the nod.
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Yes, 123 is very abrasive but what a blast, we did 700 miles up there including Push Mountain. My tires were brand new and still look great.
I don't know why this rider left the road on 123 but his FJR looked to be totaled, I hope he's ok.
was it those real sharp switchbacks just south of 74?
Always sad to see a bike down like that. We were up there the first weekend of october. We intended to hit push mountain road but since our cabin was close by 123 (in ponca) we wound up going up and down it several times. We did a beer run to Harrison that turned into a night ride down 43 back to Ponca.
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At first I thought the PR3s felt a little 'wooden'.
Brian
What kind of wood Brian??
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A poor piece of wood. Something like a fallen tree branch, quite green and saturated with water. Or to put it another way, quite the opposite of a rare, high quality wood such as...... let me think....... need a good example..... I know!: amboina burl wood from southeast Asia! Yes, the opposite of that kind of wood.
;D
Brian
What kind of wood Brian??
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A poor piece of wood. Something like a fallen tree branch, quite green and saturated with water. Or to put it another way, quite the opposite of a rare, high quality wood such as...... let me think....... need a good example..... I know!: amboina burl wood from southeast Asia! Yes, the opposite of that kind of wood.
;D
Brian
:rotflmao: :hail: :thumbs:
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I rode from California to FL on a PR3. With a plug. Plug's name was Jill.
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A poor piece of wood. Something like a fallen tree branch, quite green and saturated with water. Or to put it another way, quite the opposite of a rare, high quality wood such as...... let me think....... need a good example..... I know!: amboina burl wood from southeast Asia! Yes, the opposite of that kind of wood.
;D
Brian
You rang?
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I have gone 12,000 miles on a Dunlop Roadsmart on my last bike. I picked up a nail at about 150 miles after installing it. I just ran it.
The only reason I am after the new rear tire is because I have the insurance plan now.
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You rang?
;D ;D ;D
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was it those real sharp switchbacks just south of 74?
Always sad to see a bike down like that. We were up there the first weekend of october. We intended to hit push mountain road but since our cabin was close by 123 (in ponca) we wound up going up and down it several times. We did a beer run to Harrison that turned into a night ride down 43 back to Ponca.
Yeah, that was my first ride on 123, you really have to be on your toes on that road, the switchbacks are amazingly tight. Next time you get up this way maybe we can make a ride up there.
Very proud of the PR3s.
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Portland Police Bureau motors have run a few sets of the PR3's. One con they relized with the PR3 and siping is that they didn't perform well with the ABS braking system. It is almost like the overgrab counter-acting the pulsating function. Rather than the pulsate they grab and release. This obviously is not what the rider wants out of a bike with ABS.
The PR2's (non siped) dosen't have this issue. PR2 has been a great year round tire. Wet or dry pavement is performs well.
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Portland Police Bureau motors have run a few sets of the PR3's. One con they relized with the PR3 and siping is that they didn't perform well with the ABS braking system. It is almost like the overgrab counter-acting the pulsating function. Rather than the pulsate they grab and release. This obviously is not what the rider wants out of a bike with ABS.
The PR2's (non siped) dosen't have this issue. PR2 has been a great year round tire. Wet or dry pavement is performs well.
Michelin's website shows videos of wet stopping tests of both PR2s and PR3s on a bike with ABS. You can see the PR3 actually locking and releasing rather than the ABS pulsing. BUT, the PR3 still stops shorter than the PR2. These are straight line tests with outriggers on the bike, so that locking/releasing action might be an issue in a curve.
Michelin also advertises that the PR3 gets 4% better tread wear mileage than the PR2, but I'm finding the price for the PR3 to be well more than 4% higher. So economically, the PR2 is cheaper "per mile" than the PR3 even with the longer wear of the PR3. It all comes down to how much riding you're likely to do in wet conditions. (I do very little.)
Having said all that, I think PR3s are in my very near future. I have 6,150 miles on my OEM Bridgestones and the front is toast. The rear probably still has some life left, but I'll be changing the pair. (Now it's just an issue of 190/50 vs. 190/55 on the rear.)
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[snip] (Now it's just an issue of 190/50 vs. 190/55 on the rear.)
No issue, just go with the 190/55 and you won't go back to an OEM sized tire.............ever. JMHO.