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MICHELIN PILOT POWER 2
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Please
have a read of this recent letter concerning the new Michelin Pilot
Power
(Click here)
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Pilot
Road. (sorry
about image!)
It seems someone at Michelin may have come up with a tyre to fill a market
segment as yet untouched. They've created a tyre that is not a sports tourer
or a sport performance, but an inbetween. Specifically, the tyre is supposedly
capable of out performing the Macadam 100x's road abilities while retaining
the major mileage figures that it is well known for.
At first impressions, the pattern is simple which we like (i.e. no bizarre
front tyre wear), the tyre is visibly thick and the compound is almost entirely
silica (so good wear rate and wet weather grip).
Rider feedback has been all positive so far. We've fitted to the VFR800,
GSX1400, ZRX1100 and the Bandit 1200. Most of these riders were originally
on BT 020's almost all have preferred the new tyre. The GSX1400 rider was
the most impressed, reporting a significant performance difference compared
to the OE Bridgestones.
We've now completed numerous fittngs on most sports and sport tourer bikes.
It's only been positive comments so far. Many customers are quoting significant
gains in performance under all conditions (i.e. wet, dry etc...). Specific
bikes have included R6's originally fitted with D207's, CBR600's originally
fitted with Mac 100's and numerous Triumphs mainly on BT56's or BT010's.
Since the last comments we've tried replacing only the rear on bikes fitted
with Michelins (mainly Pilot Sports or Hi-sports). Again, everybody has
been thoroughly impressed with the the new tyre.
Macadam 90X (now the Macadam
100X).The 100X is the ultimate
comprimise between total sports radial performance and long term wear.
Both front and back fitments offer superior tread depth compared to other
brands (2 to 3mm more). Customers have reported well over the average
mileage with one Fireblade owner reporting 10,000 miles up and down the
M20 every day! Standard fitment on all Bandit 1200 has helped reinforce
the tyre's superiority. Despite the outstanding longevity the tyre still
holds its own on a track day or for scratching.
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The Pilot Sport.
The Pilot sport was
the first tyre designed by the manufacturers to really address what the
typical sports bike rider wants (i.e. top performance all round at a realistic
price). Michelin combined a full race carcass design with a road going
carcass to produce a tyre that could perform to the highest levels both
on the road and track day setting. This was all finished off with a state
of the art compound.
However, Michelin didn't manage to tell anybody or supply the necessary
stocks to the UK marketplace. So, since its release in 1999, both the
new Dunlop and more lately the BT-010 have dominated due to great 'press'
and plenty of supplies. The Pilot's have gained a small following via
the dealers that realized the potential of the product, but the damage
was done.
Despite these opinions we still believe the tyre to be of premier league
quality and early a match for the BT 010's and Dunlop's alike. More recently
the Pilot interest has increased massively with fitments on all major
superbikes, particulary GSXR's and Fireblades. The opposition to the BT010
has been realized!
The Pilot Sport Cup is coming soon to update the Pilot range. The Cup
will reportedly provide race track compounds on the proven rideability
of the standard Pilot Sport. Watch out for drastic supply problems as
I predict Michelin UK will not be able to meet the demands.
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POWER RACE Due to these tyres only being released this year we
have little customer feedback. But what we do have was been very
promising, so it looks as if Michelin may be on to a good fast road /
track tyre.
If there is anybody out there that has used these tyres on the track or
road. Send us your comments good or bad.
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'Anakee'
The tyre to replace the T66! The T66 has fallen out of favour with the big
tralies over the last year or so, with many riders choosing the elusive
Metzeler Tourance. Riders are claiming the Metzelers are better in the wet
and that the T66's give no confidence under the same conditions.
Michelin have theoretically took this viewpoint on board by creating a new
tyre to tackle these critisms. Initial reports back are mainly positive,
but sensitive to pressures has been mentioned by a GS1100 rider. They are
now widely available in all common trail sizes. |
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