Michelin Pilot Roads are available - FREE SET?

[Motorace]

Hello everyone!

My name is Dave, and I'm a rep at www.motorace.com. I'm also in charge of eBaying older inventory and on-line sales with that company.

Motorace is a Michelin distributor in New England, based in Springfield, Mass. We were the US Dainese importer for over 25 years, and the Metzeler importer until 1995. We have been around for 36 years now. We also do road race support at NHIS. We carry the full Michelin US import, including all race tires.

I just found this site and was happy to see that people had found the listings I posted on eBay for the Michelin Pilot Roads that will fit your machine.

The rear 170/60ZR17 has been a very common fitment in the USA for almost 20 years now, but the front 120/70ZR18 has not. It currently only fits two bikes that I know of - the ST1300 and the post-1993 Concours. Being a previous Concours rider, the size caught my eye right away.

This 120/70ZR18 was imported in VERY limited numbers by Michelin. Nothing was done with them, and they were released to us at a reduced price. I then created a program on eBay for them and have sold over 20 sets in about five weeks. All my feedback has been very positive.

With the site owners blessings, I would offer a rider here a free set to try on his ST1300 for review. We have been told that more can be made available if the response if good enough to justify the import.

I would like the rider to be able to post his thoughts on every ST1300 list / gathering spot possible. We know its a wonderful tire - we just want everyone else to know, too!

The recipient must have very good writing and communication skills, be willing to submit his writings to various lists and group and just be pleasent to deal with! A rider who also puts miles on his machine in a variety of situations and weather would be a huge plus.

The Pilot Road is a fantastic piece of rubber and I know you will be very pleased with it.

Let me know!!

dave@motorace.com

[clmixon]

Dave,

I would be interested in trying either just the front or the set. I am going to be riding about 5000 miles in the first part of Sept with a good mix of interstate and secondary roads.

I ride about 1000 miles a month on average, most of this in Louisiana which is not noted for smooth roads. My riding partner is on a 2003 Concourse so we could also give you a good comparison and contrast.

You can contact me via this board if interested.

Chris

[Clark]

I actually purchased a pair from you a couple of months ago. I've since put around 2000 miles on them over just about every imaginable terrain -- with the exception of wet weather riding. I live in CA and we're pretty much done with rain for the year.

For me this is the best tire available for the ST1300. Grip is excellent, even at the edges of the ST's performance limits. The tire does not fall into turns, rather it provides predictable, stable progression. And, last but maybe most important, it does NOT follow rain grooves! In fact, it seems almost impervious to rain grooves, pavement joints and cracks.

This is an outstanding tire. I'm sorry it won't be available once these are gone. Aside from longevity, which I don't have a feel for yet, everything else I've tried is a step down.

[NormanPCN]

With the site owners blessings, I would offer a rider here a free set to try on his ST1300 for review. We have been told that more can be made available if the response if good enough to justify the import.


I love it... catch 22. Michelin never listed the front tire in the US even though some existed and will only import it if people like them. People can't know if they like them unless they can buy them. Unless I know the tire will be available in the future why would I want to try the tires. I would have tried the tires if I knew I could get them again if I decided I liked them.

And really how much wherehouse space does importing say 50-100 tires at a time take. What kind of operation is Michilen running.

[Killtimer]

I love it... catch 22. What kind of operation is Michilen running.

And don't you dare get me started about Canada :mad:

[Austin city limits]

The recipient must have very good writing and communication skills,

Frigg'n DANG!!! Well,,, I am out of the running... :rolleyes:

[Motorace]

Norman - this is all just part of the grand plan to see if they could annoy you!

:D

[gene]

I'm currenly in need of new rubber as I ride about 1500 miles a month and have concidered purchasing a set off ebay , but a set to evaluate would be great.

[sherob]

Has to have great writting skills... easy to communicate... pleasant to deal with... hmmmm... How about Bones! Dude can write, easy to deal with... takes ribbing well... :rolleyes: ...

Or... you can have an essay contest, "Why I should get a free set of Pilot Roads to Eval" :D Then you can judge writting skills ;)

[crazykz]

I would be interested in a set. I'm sure there are better writers and more experienced riders out there but here's my website to check out some of my writings (realize that most are slapped together ride reports and don't even think about spell checking them but those types of errors are easy to overcome):
Hard-Core-Ware.com (http://www.hard-core-ware.com)

I've been riding for about 24 years now and within the past couple years started doing some Ironbutt rides. The latest was a Great Lakes Gold a couple weeks ago. It's posted on the web site. I would also post my review at my web site if allowed to do so. My mileage for this bike is in my signature.

I will be going to Denver once, possibly twice in August. Those will be 2 or 3 day trips. I also plan to do some miles in Tennessee come the first week of October. I'm sure I can find some more excuses to ride if I say "But I have to run through these tires as quickly as possible, dear". ;) Oh yeah I commute 50 miles a day. Thanks Sherob. (Uh, huh-huh-huh, he said "free rubber")

I wish this offer would have been in the spring because I just went through the set I put on over winter about a month ago. Timing is everything. I can change out the BT-020's though since I wore a flat spot in the middle from the Great Lakes Gold ride. :04biker:

Hope you'll consider me.

Thanks,
Curt

[sherob]

You need some new "free" rubber Curt! You are a hardcore everyday rider! ;)

[Motorace]

Curt - PM me your address.

Or mail me at dave@motorace.com

Or even better call me - 800-628-4040

I recieved a few notes, but your commuting and current August trips plus IBR experience helps a lot.

Thanks for being able to help us out. Dave

[GRN]

Motorace, you should talk to Bonesinmass, pro writer and milage junkie.

[Kempo-STer]

Also, he lives in Wilbraham Ma...Porbably a 5 minutes trip to your location..

I do enjoy Curt's website and stories as well. :bow1:

I hate being politically correct :eek:

[sherob]

Who ever does this better do a great job... I'll be needing a new set of tires in the next couple of months and want these BAD! I had the Commander's on my Sabre and they were the Cats Meow!!!! ;)

[sherob]

I hate being politically correct :eek:

Ain't it a female dog! :rolleyes:

[STony G]

I would not mind being a test subject for these tires.

As the slowest rider in the group, I tend to get more miles out of a set of tires then the other the other riders on this site, These guys, ususally, have set up the BBQ and eaten by the time I get there :D . My average mileage per set is 17500 (don't bug me about this, I ride my ride). The 03 and I have 54000 miles together and we are on our forth set.

My comparison tire would be the Z-6, the OEM tires do not compared to these tires.

As far as being articulate, that is why God created ghost writers ;) .

[Motorace]

I have two reviewers. Thanks!

[Gonzo]

Hi Motorace,

Shucky darn, I only have 1800 miles on my new ST1300 and I'm already researching for the new set of tires, but it looks like this offer will have been expired by the time my OEM's are worn out.

It certainly is nice of you to make this offer, though.

My writing skills are mainly in the area of procedures and quality documents plus test reports. Maybe I could help out.

thanx,
Gonzo

[GodFather]

I just bought a pair on ebay! The price is $229.99 with free shipping. Can't wait to put em on! These tires are only up for auction every so often now....Are you guys running low on supply?

[BlaSTr]

I'm getting ready to replace my OEM tires and doing a BBG in March. I'd also be interested in evaluating them and reporting my observations.

In the next month I will be clocking 4400 miles (SCRC meet in Savannah, GA - 900 miles; IBA Dinner in Jacksonville FL - 650 miles, BBG1500 in Kississimee FL - 1900 miles, BBG prep/conditioning rides - 1000 miles).

[sherob]

This is an old, old, thread... Bones, CrazyKz, and somebody else :confused: have already written the evaluations for them ;)

[wjbertrand]

I'm on my second set. No complaints, though I think I like the quicker steering of the Avons better. It should be noted that the funny front 120/70 x 18 size will also fit '96 and later ST1100s equipped with ABS.

[Bones]

This is an old, old, thread... Bones, CrazyKz, and somebody else :confused: have already written the evaluations for them ;)

Curt's review (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6372)

Bones's review (http://www.onewheeldrive.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=361&Itemid=130)

One followup on my review. Since I wrote it I replaced my OEM shield with a Clearview. The improved air flow makes the rider air pocket quieter, which in turn makes the hum of the tires more pronounced. It's not an issue with ear plugs (I almost always use plugs when riding), but if there was one thing I would change about PRs it would be to teach them the words so they don't have to hum.

[rasputin]

I put Pilot's on my FJR after the factory Metz's wore out. Stickability and wear was good but they were noticeably slow in flicking the bike from side to side. A big drop in sport "feel". Can't say how they will affect the ST..still too new an owner of the ST to have changed tyres! :)

[crazykz]

I put Pilot's on my FJR after the factory Metz's wore out. Stickability and wear was good but they were noticeably slow in flicking the bike from side to side. A big drop in sport "feel". Can't say how they will affect the ST..still too new an owner of the ST to have changed tyres! :)

I think you are probably talking to the result of the rounder shape of the front tire which although it creates a more linear feel in turner it also by the same token lessens the ability to turn sharper and quicker. The BT020's have a better feel that you might like more.

I preferred the longevity and stableness that the PR's created for me.

Curt

[Bones]

I agree with the Waffle King. PRs turn in with a steady, linear feel. The BT020s tend to fall in more abruptly.

I'm curious about the new BT021s and the Conti Attacks for the ST1300.