Tyres for Skorpion Sport(further to tourer request by Owen)

[iktank]

You lot are a fountain of knowledge, your advice would be appreciated again
Ma Skorpion 1999 model is almost run in now (400 miles on the clock) can feel the engine freeing up a bit already.
The orig tyres are Metzler MEZ1 110 front 150 rear. The tyres are 10 years old so dont want to push them once i've run the bike in
What is the best handling tyres for the Sport, dont care about mileage or wet weather.
Many thanks in advance

[Bill Jurgenson]

What is the best handling tyres for the Sport, dont care about mileage or wet weather

Pirelli Dragon SuperCorsa in 110/70 and 150/60.

really great tire.

[iktank]

Bill ta for reply like your links done a bit havent you
Bbeen looking into the tyres, I have for the last few years used Battlax,
Will the skorpion have enough horses to warn the tyre up since the tyre is w rated and meant for few more horses kicking some energy into them to warm them.
This is such a different style of riding for me.
As can be seen from tyre below bit too much motorway use (flat bit).

Image003.jpg (599.06 KiB) Viewed 4912 times

[aah5]

Best tyres I have used on my Tour have been the Continental Road Attack 110/70-150/70.Have tried all the others Mich.Metz.Pirr. and have now had 3sets of Conti. which suit my style, warm up quick and do give a reasonably good wear rate. Was going to try Bridgestone but my tyre supplier,(who is Bridgestone dealer suggested the wear rate is fairly high),so stuck to Contis. Road surface temps are fairly high over here so maybe the Bridgys are a little to soft for the conditions.

[DAVID THOMPSON]

just told a fellow i would buy his 97 MZ Skorpion 660 Traveller
which tire for me but i use bikes as daily driver
and tour in the rain
some thing that does good in rain but good tread life also
not racing but don't like to be slipping and sliding on the road among the cars
dave

[aah5]

As above Conti Road Atack, use my Tour nearly every day 50klm return to work and any where between 200- 400 klm on Sundays and the occasional 2,000 + tour, no matter what the weather(except we don't get snow here),get about 12,000klm safe use out rear tyre,bit more from the front ,but always replace both at the same time.

[Bill Jurgenson]

Unlike Michelin for instance, the SuperCorsa gets warm fast and is never a problem. I would not try scratching the pegs right out of the garage, but once the motor is warm, the tires are fine. I have used them on the road myself as well as several sets on the race track on different bikes. My SOS Skorpion weighed only 125kg ready to race and the admittedly much stronger Bimota only 135kg ready to race and the SuperCorsas are up to temp after about two laps. For actual racing we used tire earmers, becuase you can, of course, charge right off the line and, more important, tire wear is better. As far as that goes, my blue street Skorpion weighed only 155kg. Never a problem. They never let go without warning, which cannot be said for PilotPowers at all, which until they are warm are downright treacherous on anything weighing less than 200kg and with less than 100HP.
The new Diabolo rosso may be a good alternative available in the right size. I have not tried it yet.
Not as good but more than good enuf, especially on the street, the Bridgestone BT090 Pro which is my personal choice. It is good even cold and very good in the wet which goes hand in hand. Handling is superb. Its big drawback is wear. YOu can't have everything,a d if you think you need pegs cratching, knee down grip, you are not going to get good wear from any tire, regardless. If you have race track ambitions, however, the BT090 is not a good choice because it gets too hot too fast. It doesn't get dangerous, just starts to smear but remains controllable. Lets you drift like the big guys, if at a much lower speed. Not fast. But for really fast road riding it is more than anyone in this forum can ever need.
While availabe in the 150/60, I alway run this tire (SZR and Skorpion) in 140/70 as Bridgestones, unlike Pirellis which tend to be very narrow, tend to the wide side: The 150/60 SuperCorsa is 143mm wide on the 4" rear wheel. The 4" wheel is too narrow for a 150 tire anyway according to the manufacturers: Pirelli 4,25"; Bridgestone 4,5".

Where good wear is one requirement, wet grip another and all out knee-down grip not that important, there is only once choice on the market:
BT45, here, again in 140/70 on the rear wheel. Haven't I just written a long piece o this stuff?
I have ridden lots of miles with this tire on the Skorpion, both in 140/70 on a 4" rim an 130/70 on a 3,5" rim and never had any grip problems at all; handling was described by others after trying the blue bike as being like a mountain bike. Of course there were occasions where I could feel the front scuffing, occasions were the knee was way down. But it does not suddenly slip off like turning the lights off, no warning, no nothing like the Michelins or the old Pirelli MT01(DO NOT under any cirumstances use this tire) do. FWIW, we run the BT45 on the 3 cylinder 1200cc Laverda racer and have not yet(!!) gone down due to the tire letting go.


It is shiny in the middle due to starting with the the starting machine, after a lap that is gone.

Another Brigestone available in 150/60: B016. Again, I have not had a chance to try this one but it could definitely be worth it.
The Conti Road Attack has a good reputation but I cannot comment on it. Since it is popular in the Sumo scene, I suspect it is much like the BT090, also very popular there, in that it gets very warm very fast and is easily driftable. Thus, for street use, just right.

Bill  Tuning

Blog

[iktank]

Thanks all for that

Bill - ta read your previous comments on tyre size and not your comments onthe tyres you have used, normally ride speed triple so this is a different type or riding for me. Gona see wats available local, either the BT090 pro or the Pirelli you recommend seem a good choice for me

Oh joy off to work i go, 6.09am here now

Have a good one to all of you

[Bill Jurgenson]

Yes, noticed the photo was not a Skorpion. In street use, nobody gets tires like that with a Skorpion, Besides, the one-arm swing arm is a give away.

[RiverDrive]

Bill I know this is about tyres but how did you get the street bike down to 155Kg, Wow

[iktank]

Bill
thought you'd notice, thats ma 1999 speed triple - with 955i engine - on stupid day out. Dont do that any more too old!!!! Hence the skorpion for lazy sunday ride outs thro the back roads to Llandovery. To many speed camera now!!!
Really appreciate your input
Regards
Ian

[iktank]

has anyone used the Dunlop D207e tyres been offered pair awfully cheap cannot really refuse unless they as bad as the MT01's. Any feed back would be appreciated ta (actually checked my spelling this time and not insulted anyone - I think)

[Bill Jurgenson]

my personal opinion?
even worse than MT01. Can't refuse?
It's your own life your playing with.

[iktank]

beat around the bush why dont u
Thank for that (confirmed ma gut feeling)- you care really dont you!!!!!!!!
Will stick to BT's as ever
Damn its gona be expensive month - new BT's for:
speed triple 190/60 and 120/70,
Skorpion 150/60 and 110/70
Plus do dare i mention Car tyres AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Thanks again - can i call you uncle Bill, looks like you look after us all
Regards
Ian