Tire Question

[ireimers]

So I have a 195/70 KR108... should I run a 120/70 KR106 or a 125/80 KR106?

Anyone run a 125/80 on a Gixxer 1000 and have to adjust their front fender?

[mieff]

i would assume you would need to adjust more than your fender.

[MotoFuzzle]

You should run those 125/Bacon KR106s, Erik says they're awesome. The problem is they lose they're grip the crispier they get.

[Lost]

I would love to know the answer to this question as well..

[shaggy]

I'd run the 125/80 with the 70 series rear, that way you'll be raising the whole bike up instead of just jacking the back up, limiting the geometry changes. plus that 125 front is supposed to be the shiznit!

I know a couple guys running 125's on newer gixxer 1k's and they didn't change anything, as long as your not running warmers you should be fine (like you'll need warmers next weekend...:))

[ireimers]

I'd run the 125/80 with the 70 series rear, that way you'll be raising the whole bike up instead of just jacking the back up, limiting the geometry changes. plus that 125 front is supposed to be the shiznit!

I know a couple guys running 125's on newer gixxer 1k's and they didn't change anything, as long as your not running warmers you should be fine (like you'll need warmers next weekend...:))

Thank you Jason... That's what I needed to hear.

[Lost]

Thanks Jas!

[pulse]

jason you will be rocking these tires as well right?

[Lost]

Ive got a med-hard front and a hard rear. Since its going to be 100 out, will i need tire warmers for these Jason? I'm thinking just to put the on in between sessions but not plug em in..

[pulse]

so you guys were saying these tires are not good on warmers because it over heats them? Don't know anything about these new slicks. Aaron my guess would be you would be fine with no warmers (especially because of the 90-100 degree temps) and just give it til turn 8 on your first lap for warm up.

[MotoFuzzle]

I think they said no tire-warmers cause of the lack of clearance with the more agressive tires. They'd prolly hafta shim their fenders. I can't wait to see those tires in action.

[shaggy]

ha, better to get outta the heat than waste time putting warmers on your bike! they'll never really cool off in that heat, just give em till you crest 6 then go for it, thats what I always do!

I'm running the DOT ntech's (211's). I have a 190/55 rear and a 200/55. gonna try them both out to see what I like/can make work. Gonna be running Pirreli superbike slicks on friday though at streets...sub 20's anyone?

[Lost]

Even for the hard compound?

[shaggy]

heck yeah, they aren't THAT hard. Just don't pull a Rossi and pin it outta the first left hander...by the time you finish a lap they will be ready to go, then again with the mobile Lost mobile it wouldn't be to hard to hook them up for the first session, then just feel it out from there

[Arnold_R1]

Ian, so whats the verdict on the tires?; Pros & Cons!?!

[ireimers]

Ian, so whats the verdict on the tires?; Pros & Cons!?!

First off... if you have an 01 GSXR1000 (or a lot of other bikes I'm sure) and you want to run a 195/70, make sure your axle can go at least as far back as the 1/2-way notch on the swing arm with your chain... I spent Friday taking off my brand new DID ZVM2 chain and putting on an RK chain (GB520XSO) because my tire was rubbing the front of the swing arm (and that's before it expands at speed). I know this RK chain is only "rated" for up to a 750cc bike, but it had the same tensile strength as the DID so I figured I'd give it a shot since it was my only chance at running the slicks, and it worked just fine... but it did stretch out quite a bit, I won't be able to tighten it up again if it stretches any more.

Second off... Evan Steel Performance (E.S.P.) is the shiznit. If you ever see them at the track, 100% definitely, don't even think about it, have them setup your suspension on your bike and you will definitely be amazed at the difference. Money well spent.

About the tires...
Pros:
They were the med+ compounds and they had amazing grip. My front and rear tire never let go once.
I haven't really looked at them closely, but from a couple glances it looks like they didn't wear out too bad.
It was a lot easier to keep my lines in the corners, but I found it a little difficult to get the bike back up right like when exiting T2 and difficult to change my lines like in 6 and 7. I kinda expected that with the 125/80 front though... a trade off for extra braking traction.
Cons:
Non N-Tec rear tire was already at least a 1/4 in. taller than previous tire and at speed I hear that they can grow about 1/2 an inch, so my rear end was raised way too high when I was going from T7 to T1.
I was getting head-shake all the way from between 6 and 7 to the middle of the front straight.

After working with Evan for a while, and trying a couple different fork tube heights, I finally settled with raising my fork tubes 2.5mm to the top of the tubes. I got rid of almost all the head-shake on the front straight, but the bike turned like a school bus in the corners. I think that next time I go out I'll drop it down 1mm - 1.5mm and see if I can't find a height that feels a little better in the corners without making my straight-line stability ridiculously retarded.

I would recommend getting the non N-Tec slicks only if you have an after-market shock. And I DEFINITELY would not recommend getting them unless you have a couple millimeters of fork tube height above your top triple to raise the front end up in the case that your rear end is way too high and you have poor straight-line stability and can't compensate with an after-market shock.

Anyone else have thoughts or input on these tires on their bike?

[Arnold_R1]

Good ish Ian!

I'm still sold on the Pirelli Superbike Slicks because they still maintain the oem tire fitment- 120/70-190/55. I ran them last on my R6 120/70-180/55 and managed to get 5 track days with my SLOW A*S! :thumbsup:

[Lost]

I never got to try the new tires. My michies (1667, and 12something), lasted both days and could have gone a 3rd day. That would have made 4 days!!

I guess i'll try out the new ones next month..

[ireimers]

Good ish Ian!

I'm still sold on the Pirelli Superbike Slicks because they still maintain the oem tire fitment- 120/70-190/55. I ran them last on my R6 120/70-180/55 and managed to get 5 track days with my SLOW A*S! :thumbsup:

I considered picking up some Pirelli Superbike Slick takeoffs, but I had already spent so much money I couldn't justify it... plus I considered this a huge learning experience as far as geometry and suspension setup and tire size and shape.

[pulse]

even though the tires were a bit of a nightmare for you....you definatley got to learn a ton from ESP because of them. Glad they got you pretty well figured out for the adjustments you could make on stock suspension.

[ireimers]

even though the tires were a bit of a nightmare for you....you definatley got to learn a ton from ESP because of them. Glad they got you pretty well figured out for the adjustments you could make on stock suspension.

ESP FTW

[ireimers]

I'm really glad I stayed for Sunday to ride out the adjustments I made on Saturday and get used to the changes. Huge difference, had a lot more fun with the bike on Sunday.
Thanks for everyones help on my bike too... there were so many people that let me use tools or actually took a tool to it. Thank you.

[ireimers]

P.S. I never updated this, but after looking into it, my 125 front wore a 1" whole in my front fender (in the back by the radiator). It wasn't touching in the pits but was rubbing at speed. Not a big deal, but thought I would share the knowledge for anyone that might wonder someday