Road Conditions

Dealing with less than ideal road conditions is probably one of the most stressful parts of riding everywhere and every when.  A few weeks ago, I changed tires, and suddenly road conditions have become an issue again.  For the last 4 years I have been riding on Michelin Gold Standards.  My old dealer did not survive after it's owner passed away last year, so in the process of switching dealers, the new dealer only carries the Pirelli Diablo.  

My first impressions of the Diablo were very very good.  Excellent grip with a very smooth ride quality.  Really, as an general use tire, I was very pleased right up until I got on one of the local highways that unloved surface of concrete with rain grooves.  This was when a first impression went very bad.  

Tracking down the road, the Diablo's seem to have a fascination with going where the grooves go, and not where the bike is pointed. Needless to say, this is an uncomfortable feeling.   Not a deal breaker, I do not spend much time on this road, and have plenty of alternatives, but it was certainly a rude awakening.

Since than, I have found that the Diablo is a good tire, with just that one quirk that can create some discomfort.  Other road conditions that gave the Michelins some issues, like wet pine needles or sand the Pirellis feel more planted, and one of the road fixtures I hate the most, tar snakes, do not seem to be as slippery on the on Pirellis.

There is no question that changing the tires has made me much more aware of the road conditions while I adjust to new behaviors.  It is hard to believe how much a different  brand of tire can impact the feel and behavior of a scooter or motorcycle with regards to road conditions.

Compound those changes with the near freezing morning temperatures of the last few weeks, and you get an almost completely different feel to the riding experience.  That is not a bad thing, but it certainly means raising my game to be safe in a different environment...

Content by dru_satori, edited on a Mac using SandVox (because I'm lazy)