Got a pair of Z6's fitted yesterday and as it is so sunny here in the UK today, went out to play. My old favourite motorway roundabout was full of racing leather suited fireblade jocks practising knee sliding so I joined in. Surprised to find I could corner just as fast as I used to on a CBR, GSXR etc and got over to the edge of the right side. If I'd been wearing sliders I could have stuck my knee on the deck with everyone else but I only had a pair of Gialli jeans on so best not to! I caught and passed a guy circulating on an R1 Yam and went underneath a Blade which felt so good! Immature I know but it still felt good! These tyres are great, talk about confidence inspiring after those squared off Dunlops! I just need some nice long lefts now so I can grind the elephants off the other side.
Question is, what should I expect to ground first? Was expecting pegs or stand but nothing touched.
Chris,
Very cool, wait till you try them in the rain, very confidence inspiring. They are probably the best tires out there, like BMWs built with alot of engineering.
and that new tire smell stays around a few weeks too.
I must be a wuss - the elephant heads on my Z6s are still relatively unscuffed after nearly 2,000mi! I'm headed to the mountains next weekend which may allow for a little more aggressive driving.
I've dragged my toes/boot, and the centerstand. The centerstand kind of freaked me out (but I didn't panic) and it was in a certain situation: pretty far over in a turn and hit a slight dip in the pavement. I try to avoid those now but it didn't cause any bad response from the bike. As for dragging my toes - I typically ride with my feet turned out a little (to avoid riding the rear brake and messing with the shifter), and occasionally get a little drag.
The Z6 is a good tire, but watch the center wear, sometimes it's hard to tell when they are worn out since there isn't too much tread in the middle. I currently have Avons, and while they're ok, I prefer the Z6's. I have a set of the Pirelli's ready for mounting, so it may be a while before I'm back to riding the Z6.
Nice job on the elephant! My last set of Z6's were worn well into the poor beast.
John
Member 293 (I think)
'17 Triumph Tiger 1200 XRX
I can't speak for the R1150R but my RT had Z6s on them and I was as impressed as you. I must admit that I couldn't tell the difference in performance between the Z4s and the Z6s so I'm equally impressed with both. I now have Macadams that are terribly noisy on turns and I can't wait to wear them out and go back to the M4 or M6.
R4R&R wrote:
The Z6 is a good tire, but watch the center wear, sometimes it's hard to tell when they are worn out since there isn't too much tread in the middle.
I had an interesting experience with a tire that had a smooth centre from new. When on a camping in a tent type ride, as I sat on the grass outside my tent admiring the hardware and spinning the rear wheel, I noticed a fine white stripe. On closer inspection this turned out to be strands of wire pertruding from the rubber. The tire looked fine when I left home 500km earlier, but there was no real way to determine exactly what the wear was. I now run Michelin Pilots with tread across the center and have completed 10,000km , she's looking and feeling good. The tyre guy commented on there being more tread on the inside than the out, I hung my head in shame and shuffled off.
Last edited by stig on Sun Jun 04, 2006 12:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
hey Chris:
the pegs will touch first. I also have the Z6. cant help you with how long they last but they do STICK like butter! you can lean to the edge of the tire and about that time the pegs will touch. You need to get your butt out of the seat if you plan to ride that agreesive to give you a safety margin. the more up and down the bike the faster you can go, you dont want to touch anything hard while in the middle of a turn at high speeds. for example a a left turn as you brake you line your head with the left mirrow and your butt at least half into the left side and see the different! A guy at the track took the time to teach me this,,is awesome. you dont want to be at the edge into a turn and hit a bump and ooops. using this system it will harder to get rid of the chicken strips but you will be going faster! I am faster on my gixxer 750 but on my R I feel more conforatable and in control! On my Sprint ST is feel slow but I am actually faster then my R. I dont feel as confotable on the ST because I dont get as much feed back form the bridgestone 020.
At the BMWMOA rally in Lima last year i had a Z6 put on the rear and left the Z4 on the front since they ran out. Plus, I had some mileage left in it.
I always felt that the bike never wanted to 'lean' in as quick as it used to. The new rear did, however, stop better.
I just had the front replaced with a new Z6. WOW! the bike is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo flickable!!!!!!
Love it.
Scott
Black '50R
Long Island, NY
double-secret probationary lifetime member #311
Had my first flat. And on my new Z6's. I had just re-tired at my 12,000 mile check-up from my old Z4's to the 6's just 978 miles ago. Found my rear tire was feeling too soft before riding today. Tried to plug it to get me down to the dealer but the plug didn't take, hole was just a little too large from the spike that had punctured it.
At least I discovered it in my garage and not on the road. It's always good to follow that bike safety stuff and inspect tires before each and every ride. I can imagine the fix I 'd have been in if it had gone down while riding.
I've pulled the tire off and will be at my dealer's doorstep first thing in the morning....
KMACR
2004 Titan Silver R1150R Non-ABS
"Rubber side down is always a great idea..."
solitario11 wrote:hey Chris:
the pegs will touch first. I also have the Z6. cant help you with how long they last but they do STICK like butter! you can lean to the edge of the tire and about that time the pegs will touch. You need to get your butt out of the seat if you plan to ride that agreesive to give you a safety margin. the more up and down the bike the faster you can go, you dont want to touch anything hard while in the middle of a turn at high speeds.
I'll watch out for the peg feelers grounding then. Just a concern over how close the heads are to to deck. I always ride out of the seat if I'm cornering hard, well out sometimes, used to ride little FZR400s round Cadwell park, but am just amazed at how quick the R is in comparison, despite the weight, planted, solid, and as scottybooj says, flickable with these Z6's on. In comparison to the steering on the worn dunlops it's a different bike!
gel9001 wrote:Scott,
My understanding that because of the "bald spot" on the Z6 rear, it is meant to be mounted with a Z6 up front.
G
That's what they say, the front clears the way for the rear. Dunno how much marketingspeak it is but I always put 2 tyres on the same brand. As a bonus they are giving away a free set of carbon lorraine brake pads with each set of Z6's this month.
yes, the Z6 does 'clear' the water for the rear's lack of tread. But, that wouldn't affect the flickability. The more I think about it, I may have had improper tire pressure in the front. Either way, me likee.
Scott
Black '50R
Long Island, NY
double-secret probationary lifetime member #311
gel9001 wrote:Chris,
Very cool, wait till you try them in the rain, very confidence inspiring. They are probably the best tires out there, like BMWs built with alot of engineering.
and that new tire smell stays around a few weeks too.
safe riding,
Gene
Got my chance to try them wet tonight...I think the term is cloudburst.. After a week and a half of unbroken sun we finally got the payback here in the UK today. It was dry for the first mile then I saw the edge of the rain, like riding into a nine mile deep waterfall.The tyres were great tho, riding back up the river A628 home was no problem. The water pressure had popped out most of the drain covers in the road and it was inches deep everywhere. I'm really glad I wasn't on those worn out Dunlops!
Last edited by chris on Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
Why is always me that asks the stupid questions. There was a mention of no tread across the centre in this thread. My elderly Z4s - second hand bike - still seem to have quite a bit of tread on them but there is no tread on the centre. I can't recall there ever being any. Is this just optimism or should I get to the tyre dealers pronto?
elmandarino wrote: Why is always me that asks the stupid questions. There was a mention of no tread across the centre in this thread. My elderly Z4s - second hand bike - still seem to have quite a bit of tread on them but there is no tread on the centre. I can't recall there ever being any. Is this just optimism or should I get to the tyre dealers pronto?
Trip to the tyre shop seems to be in order. There should be tread across the centre of your tyre. If there's none it's way past worn out, illegal and very dangerous! Post a pic of the rear.
Many thanks. I have done what I should have done in the first place and checked the Metzeler web site. It still has pics of the Z4 and there is tread right across the tyre.. whoops. Will get them replaced this week. Will get Z6s. Are you still pleased with yours?
Yep! They're great, very stable and easy steering and as you can see from the pic, confidence inspiring. Was grinding the elephants the day after they were fitted! I was really hacked off last Friday when I found the screw in the tread but it repaired OK. From the sound of your tyres you're going to be amazed at the difference in handling when you get the new ones on! I got a pair of tyres, you need the front to clear the water for the rear so they recommend you always run them as pairs. Might well be a good marketing ploy but I never like mismatched tyres. Another bonus was a set of front carbon loraine brake pads free with the pair so I have them ready to go when mine wear out!
These tyres are great, talk about confidence inspiring after those squared off Dunlops! I just need some nice long lefts now so I can grind the elephants off the other side.
experience with a tire that had a smooth centre from new. When on a camping in a tent type ride, as I sat on the grass outside my tent admiring the hardware and spinning the rear wheel, I noticed a fine white stripe. On closer inspection this turned out to be strands of wire pertruding from the rubber. The tire looked fine when I left home 500km earlier, but there was no real way to determine exactly what the wear was. I now run Michelin Pilots with tread across the center and have completed 10,000km , she's looking and feeling good. The tyre guy commented on there being more tread on the inside than the out, I hung my head in shame and shuffled off.
After a week and a half of unbroken sun we finally got the payback here in the UK today. It was dry for the first mile then I saw the edge of the rain, like riding into a nine mile deep waterfall.The tyres were great tho, riding back up the river A628 home was no problem. The water pressure had popped out most of the drain covers in the road and it was inches deep everywhere. I'm really glad I wasn't on those worn out Dunlops!
Why is always me that asks the stupid questions. There was a mention of no tread across the centre in this thread. My elderly Z4s - second hand bike - still seem to have quite a bit of tread on them but there is no tread on the centre. I can't recall there ever being any. Is this just optimism or should I get to the tyre dealers pronto?
