Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 Went to "MY" most familiar "railing" (cough) place yesterday to test the new Pilot Powers. Hwy 64 up Monteagle Mtn up the twisty 3-lane + sweepers.....across the mountain....then down Hwy 41 very twisty 2-lane....then reverse order and home. Started up mountain(remember bike is lowered, so is already blessed with quick turn-in), immediately notice takes VERY little effort to turn the bike....transitions from right to left effortlessly...feels really good....about 1/2 way up we start using a little more throttle out of the corners....wait a little longer to roll out....turn in, pick up throttle a little earlier...feeling really good....cross mountain to other side...drop down steep twisties(lots) to bottom....bike felt very planted, but I was fairly conservative looking for deer before I start my favorite climb back up after making a u-turn....3rd gear roll out, turn in, roll in, roll out, turn in, roll in....get to very tight posted U-turn...downshift to second, engine brake, turn in, roll in.....same scenario until about last 6 curves....more throttle up to corner, roll out, touch frt. brake with 2-finger pull, turn in, roll in early rest of way. Cross Mtn....drop down 64 side more brisk, same scenario also, except a little drag brake on select curves. These tires will really have to wear out a lot earlier for me to go back to what I used to run. Bringing the tire from RS-across center-to LS- and back feels absolutely seamless(no transition felt).....cruising is smooth as silk...surface traction feels like velcro. I love quick steering and turn in with these tires is just sight, think it and you're there. I may bump the shock up one notch as the rear feels a little softer out of corners now(no wag or line variance, but a little more squat). Front end feels fantastic. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These are the finest feeling tires I have ever put on a motorcycle in, come April, 37 years of riding them. Someone that rides above my pace would probably find my bike scary-quick steering sometime with the drop and the available traction, but I still ride conservatively by most of your standards, and I can virtually think the bike into and through a turn with extremely light effort. Well, that's the "old, short, slow one" evaluation. If anyone has any questions, it may be in the morning before I post back......Today was the ride em' in the pouring rain, thunderstorm, test (not just a fair weather rider). Have had hot shower, and there are some ice cold Mexican Amber beers with my name on em'.......See Ya', skuuter..... :thumbsup: :beer: :beer: :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baileyrock Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 :goofy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer tbzep Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 It's been 17 years since I had my little VF-500F Interceptor on Monteagle Mountain. It was fun then and it would be fun again now on the VFR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlecreek Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Went to "MY" most familiar "railing" (cough) place yesterday to test the new Pilot Powers. Hwy 64 up Monteagle Mtn up the twisty 3-lane + sweepers.....across the mountain....then down Hwy 41 very twisty 2-lane....then reverse order and home. Started up mountain(remember bike is lowered, so is already blessed with quick turn-in), immediately notice takes VERY little effort to turn the bike....transitions from right to left effortlessly...feels really good....about 1/2 way up we start using a little more throttle out of the corners....wait a little longer to roll out....turn in, pick up throttle a little earlier...feeling really good....cross mountain to other side...drop down steep twisties(lots) to bottom....bike felt very planted, but I was fairly conservative looking for deer before I start my favorite climb back up after making a u-turn....3rd gear roll out, turn in, roll in, roll out, turn in, roll in....get to very tight posted U-turn...downshift to second, engine brake, turn in, roll in.....same scenario until about last 6 curves....more throttle up to corner, roll out, touch frt. brake with 2-finger pull, turn in, roll in early rest of way. Cross Mtn....drop down 64 side more brisk, same scenario also, except a little drag brake on select curves. These tires will really have to wear out a lot earlier for me to go back to what I used to run. Bringing the tire from RS-across center-to LS- and back feels absolutely seamless(no transition felt).....cruising is smooth as silk...surface traction feels like velcro. I love quick steering and turn in with these tires is just sight, think it and you're there. I may bump the shock up one notch as the rear feels a little softer out of corners now(no wag or line variance, but a little more squat). Front end feels fantastic. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These are the finest feeling tires I have ever put on a motorcycle in, come April, 37 years of riding them. Someone that rides above my pace would probably find my bike scary-quick steering sometime with the drop and the available traction, but I still ride conservatively by most of your standards, and I can virtually think the bike into and through a turn with extremely light effort. Well, that's the "old, short, slow one" evaluation. If anyone has any questions, it may be in the morning before I post back......Today was the ride em' in the pouring rain, thunderstorm, test (not just a fair weather rider). Have had hot shower, and there are some ice cold Mexican Amber beers with my name on em'.......See Ya', skuuter..... :thumbsup: :beer: :beer: :beer: so is it 1 :beer: per beer drank at this point? are you going to update us :goofy: i am trying not to be a sheeple and put the PP on my vfr (i have m3's at this point), but i can only say that i ran them (PP) on my track bike (only thing the dealer had in stock) and i have 4 days down and still 1 more left on them and they have held up wonderfully...nary a slip slide or bobble that was unexpected. m3's are next on the track and then i will have a good comparison. oh, and told you so about the slippery slope to the faaasssstttt side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 i havent had as much experience as skutter but i agree that the pilot powers are magic. I remember when i first rode the vfr home from the dealship , thinking wow this thing is awesome and then when i rode home with my first set of PPs on thinking omg its even better! very confidence inspiring tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jeremy556 Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 And now you won't be able to go back to the long wearing tires. It's only money, right? The enjoyment per mile with sport tires more than make up the $ per mile penalty IMHO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ULEWZ Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Powers rock. Just look at all the positive posts. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 :rolleyes: Yes you did..... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 It's been 17 years since I had my little VF-500F Interceptor on Monteagle Mountain. It was fun then and it would be fun again now on the VFR. Could easily be repeated...... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 Went to "MY" most familiar "railing" (cough) place yesterday to test the new Pilot Powers. Hwy 64 up Monteagle Mtn up the twisty 3-lane + sweepers.....across the mountain....then down Hwy 41 very twisty 2-lane....then reverse order and home. Started up mountain(remember bike is lowered, so is already blessed with quick turn-in), immediately notice takes VERY little effort to turn the bike....transitions from right to left effortlessly...feels really good....about 1/2 way up we start using a little more throttle out of the corners....wait a little longer to roll out....turn in, pick up throttle a little earlier...feeling really good....cross mountain to other side...drop down steep twisties(lots) to bottom....bike felt very planted, but I was fairly conservative looking for deer before I start my favorite climb back up after making a u-turn....3rd gear roll out, turn in, roll in, roll out, turn in, roll in....get to very tight posted U-turn...downshift to second, engine brake, turn in, roll in.....same scenario until about last 6 curves....more throttle up to corner, roll out, touch frt. brake with 2-finger pull, turn in, roll in early rest of way. Cross Mtn....drop down 64 side more brisk, same scenario also, except a little drag brake on select curves. These tires will really have to wear out a lot earlier for me to go back to what I used to run. Bringing the tire from RS-across center-to LS- and back feels absolutely seamless(no transition felt).....cruising is smooth as silk...surface traction feels like velcro. I love quick steering and turn in with these tires is just sight, think it and you're there. I may bump the shock up one notch as the rear feels a little softer out of corners now(no wag or line variance, but a little more squat). Front end feels fantastic. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These are the finest feeling tires I have ever put on a motorcycle in, come April, 37 years of riding them. Someone that rides above my pace would probably find my bike scary-quick steering sometime with the drop and the available traction, but I still ride conservatively by most of your standards, and I can virtually think the bike into and through a turn with extremely light effort. Well, that's the "old, short, slow one" evaluation. If anyone has any questions, it may be in the morning before I post back......Today was the ride em' in the pouring rain, thunderstorm, test (not just a fair weather rider). Have had hot shower, and there are some ice cold Mexican Amber beers with my name on em'.......See Ya', skuuter..... :thumbsup: :beer: :beer: :beer: so is it 1 :beer: per beer drank at this point? are you going to update us :goofy: i am trying not to be a sheeple and put the PP on my vfr (i have m3's at this point), but i can only say that i ran them (PP) on my track bike (only thing the dealer had in stock) and i have 4 days down and still 1 more left on them and they have held up wonderfully...nary a slip slide or bobble that was unexpected. m3's are next on the track and then i will have a good comparison. oh, and told you so about the slippery slope to the faaasssstttt side... Drank 2 of em' stretched out on bed watchin' Speed channel....Lois Lane came home, got her a little wine, Clark Kent started feeling like "Superman" again.......... :goofy: ...............put em' on the VFR, you know you're itchin' to........ :thumbsup: .....still say it, I ride the same day in and day out(will make a little solo "run" every now and then on MY very familiar spots) regardless of who, when, or where.....peer pressure never exists...my system(so far, could change for the bad any day due to the sports nature) has always returned me home to ride again....There are faster, better riders out there than me, but no one likes to ride more than me, I've ridden a lot for a long time, too old, too late to change the "working" pattern............... :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 bluedragon...I agree, YES it was.... :thumbsup: .......Jeremy556...YES and Yes they do...... :thumbsup: .......ULEWZ...read em' and "THEY" were right.... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 wow. i thought this was going to be another " i crashed my bike" thread NOPE, not yet......see what shameless commercialism can do...put a good title on something and you can "sell" it. If I ever get a Speed Triple to go with the VFR the thread will probably read something like "Skuuter involved in 3-some with wild Japanese and English Partners"....See Ya', Fixer................ :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
turtlecreek Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Went to "MY" most familiar "railing" (cough) place yesterday to test the new Pilot Powers. Hwy 64 up Monteagle Mtn up the twisty 3-lane + sweepers.....across the mountain....then down Hwy 41 very twisty 2-lane....then reverse order and home. Started up mountain(remember bike is lowered, so is already blessed with quick turn-in), immediately notice takes VERY little effort to turn the bike....transitions from right to left effortlessly...feels really good....about 1/2 way up we start using a little more throttle out of the corners....wait a little longer to roll out....turn in, pick up throttle a little earlier...feeling really good....cross mountain to other side...drop down steep twisties(lots) to bottom....bike felt very planted, but I was fairly conservative looking for deer before I start my favorite climb back up after making a u-turn....3rd gear roll out, turn in, roll in, roll out, turn in, roll in....get to very tight posted U-turn...downshift to second, engine brake, turn in, roll in.....same scenario until about last 6 curves....more throttle up to corner, roll out, touch frt. brake with 2-finger pull, turn in, roll in early rest of way. Cross Mtn....drop down 64 side more brisk, same scenario also, except a little drag brake on select curves. These tires will really have to wear out a lot earlier for me to go back to what I used to run. Bringing the tire from RS-across center-to LS- and back feels absolutely seamless(no transition felt).....cruising is smooth as silk...surface traction feels like velcro. I love quick steering and turn in with these tires is just sight, think it and you're there. I may bump the shock up one notch as the rear feels a little softer out of corners now(no wag or line variance, but a little more squat). Front end feels fantastic. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: These are the finest feeling tires I have ever put on a motorcycle in, come April, 37 years of riding them. Someone that rides above my pace would probably find my bike scary-quick steering sometime with the drop and the available traction, but I still ride conservatively by most of your standards, and I can virtually think the bike into and through a turn with extremely light effort. Well, that's the "old, short, slow one" evaluation. If anyone has any questions, it may be in the morning before I post back......Today was the ride em' in the pouring rain, thunderstorm, test (not just a fair weather rider). Have had hot shower, and there are some ice cold Mexican Amber beers with my name on em'.......See Ya', skuuter..... :thumbsup: :beer: :beer: :beer: so is it 1 :beer: per beer drank at this point? are you going to update us :goofy: i am trying not to be a sheeple and put the PP on my vfr (i have m3's at this point), but i can only say that i ran them (PP) on my track bike (only thing the dealer had in stock) and i have 4 days down and still 1 more left on them and they have held up wonderfully...nary a slip slide or bobble that was unexpected. m3's are next on the track and then i will have a good comparison. oh, and told you so about the slippery slope to the faaasssstttt side... Drank 2 of em' stretched out on bed watchin' Speed channel....Lois Lane came home, got her a little wine, Clark Kent started feeling like "Superman" again.......... :goofy: ...............put em' on the VFR, you know you're itchin' to........ :thumbsup: .....still say it, I ride the same day in and day out(will make a little solo "run" every now and then on MY very familiar spots) regardless of who, when, or where.....peer pressure never exists...my system(so far, could change for the bad any day due to the sports nature) has always returned me home to ride again....There are faster, better riders out there than me, but no one likes to ride more than me, I've ridden a lot for a long time, too old, too late to change the "working" pattern............... :beer: yeah, i will probably try them next depending on how the PP vs m3 on the track goes as best i can read, they are pretty even in capability but the PP is definitely more available. of course from your camp, denile is the first sign of addiction.... :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 Anyone in Mid-Tenn yesterday knows what kind of "weather" day we had. As I said earlier, I rode in torrential rain, and thunderstorms, with high winds just to compare the tires in the worst-of-worst conditions. The weather was acually in the park the VFR and seek shelter for a while, but I trudged on doing an I-24 run, mountain twisties, unmarked backroads, 2 & 4 lane highway. As good as Pilot Roads(always my favorite rain tire) in every way. Barring ridiculously low mileage, I am completely converted and sold on Pilot Powers. Even if you are a liesurely tourer like myself, you would (IMO) love the new feel you'll get out of the pure sport rubber. THESE are fantastic tires, even if you waste some of it with "chicken strips" as will be my case. I will be keeping up with mileage, cupping, squaring, etc. as the mileage increases......See Ya', skuuter............ :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 I've got a colleague that teaches at Sewanee. Last time I was over that way, I found myself wishing I had my bike with me. :salesman: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimC Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 And now you won't be able to go back to the long wearing tires. It's only money, right?The enjoyment per mile with sport tires more than make up the $ per mile penalty IMHO. Thanks for the test ride report, Skuuter. :thumbsup: Tho I have yet to ride sportier tires, I have to agree w/Jeremy. Powers aren't that much more expensive than Roads or other sport-touring tires. As long as they don't wear ridiculously fast, why not spend the extra dough and get more performance? So, Skuuter, is it killing you that it took you THIS long to switch to performance tires, now that you know what they're like? :goofy: Ah, just kidding. I'll probably go with ST tires (likely Diablo Stradas) this spring for this year's skins. I'll see how that goes, then maybe move to Powers or something during the next off-season. But if I actually put the 10k on the bike that I'm aiming for, I'll probably need new tires again by August. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 I've got a colleague that teaches at Sewanee. Last time I was over that way, I found myself wishing I had my bike with me. :salesman: Let me know next time you're down this way....lotta' great riding in the area.....there are nine different twisty roads going up the mountain in different directions, all but one was re-paved last year. Lotsa' scenery and great roads in the valleys also..... :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superfunkomatic Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 thanx for the post. i've got to change the rubber on my beast this summer. posts like this make it an easy decision - new pilot powers, and get rid of the OEM dunlop tires. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Bent Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 Anyone in Mid-Tenn yesterday knows what kind of "weather" day we had. As I said earlier, I rode in torrential rain, and thunderstorms, with high winds just to compare the tires in the worst-of-worst conditions. The weather was acually in the park the VFR and seek shelter for a while, but I trudged on doing an I-24 run, mountain twisties, unmarked backroads, 2 & 4 lane highway. As good as Pilot Roads(always my favorite rain tire) in every way. Barring ridiculously low mileage, I am completely converted and sold on Pilot Powers. Even if you are a liesurely tourer like myself, you would (IMO) love the new feel you'll get out of the pure sport rubber. THESE are fantastic tires, even if you waste some of it with "chicken strips" as will be my case. I will be keeping up with mileage, cupping, squaring, etc. as the mileage increases......See Ya', skuuter............ :thumbsup: Skuuter, I know you're a man of no fear but were you trying to see if those new tires would fly with all the wind and such? I know you're hard core at everything you do but man, that storm was one only for men of steel. Also, you're ruining my image of you. I bet you got the bike over 75mph which I guess is the new Skuuter. Anywho, glad to hear you really like the new sneakers. I have about two or three more runs on my tires and am thinking about a set of BT021's. Keep the rubber side down. :thumbsup: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN_VFR_Girl Posted March 2, 2007 Share Posted March 2, 2007 Welcome to the dark side Skuuter ..... bwah hah hah haaaaa .... :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 If it wasn't for people like me to compare yourselves to, the rest of you wouldn't know how fast, sane or insane, or intelligent you really are.......................... :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer jeremy556 Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 Anyone in Mid-Tenn yesterday knows what kind of "weather" day we had. As I said earlier, I rode in torrential rain, and thunderstorms, with high winds just to compare the tires in the worst-of-worst conditions. The weather was acually in the park the VFR and seek shelter for a while, but I trudged on doing an I-24 run, mountain twisties, unmarked backroads, 2 & 4 lane highway. As good as Pilot Roads(always my favorite rain tire) in every way. Barring ridiculously low mileage, I am completely converted and sold on Pilot Powers. Even if you are a liesurely tourer like myself, you would (IMO) love the new feel you'll get out of the pure sport rubber. THESE are fantastic tires, even if you waste some of it with "chicken strips" as will be my case. I will be keeping up with mileage, cupping, squaring, etc. as the mileage increases......See Ya', skuuter............ :thumbsup: I get less than half the mileage from a Power than I did with a Road, but I would end up throwing away the Roads before they were out of tread because the back would start sliding all over the place by 75% wear, and the front would be cupped so badly that every turn felt like a tankslapper the bars oscillated so badly. I bet you will get rid of the chicken strips, the Powers don't run into a certain lean angle and start to get scary like the ST tires do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer Bent Posted March 2, 2007 Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 If it wasn't for people like me to compare yourselves to, the rest of you wouldn't know how fast, sane or insane, or intelligent you really are.......................... :P Oh how true. You are my benchmark. I can't bring myself to say where I stand in comparison. :o Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 If it wasn't for people like me to compare yourselves to, the rest of you wouldn't know how fast, sane or insane, or intelligent you really are.......................... :P Oh how true. You are my benchmark. I can't bring myself to say where I stand in comparison. :o You musta' not got my message yesterday....I was gonna' let you ride on the rear in the storms for the 2-up road test. Oh well, WE'LL do it in the dry next week instead Buddy................. :rolleyes: ....not a problem is there......... :unsure: Goin' 50cc Ruckus scooter "railin" with the Docks folks in the Smokies over the weekend, gotta get you on one someday....I swear not to take pics...................... :goofy: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Contributer skuuter Posted March 2, 2007 Author Member Contributer Share Posted March 2, 2007 I bet you will get rid of the chicken strips, the Powers don't run into a certain lean angle and start to get scary like the ST tires do. You have "OBVIOUSLY" never rode with me Jeremy, they'll still be there, but yes, they feel absolutely transition-less on twisty roads. Running the same speeds I normally run around here, so far, the bike knifes through the corners so effortlessly, that the lean angle has been less. Of course if I go a little brisker than normal that changes, but I'm a scenic trip taker....why I chucked the CBR1000RR Repsol for the VFR........................ :thumbsup: :beer: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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