Tires IRC OEM

Tires often discussed.  My present SilverWing, left over 2013, one owner-me, 30,000 plus miles, my second new SilverWing---so have some idea of what makes them tick.

Current tire combo, Michelin PowerPure SC front, Bridgestone hoop rear.....not the greatest combo, not unsafe....but not great feeling either. I plan on riding this bike to 50,000 miles-----So going to spend money to put matched set of IRC OEM spec on.  Original front lasted 23,000 plus miles----so putting on another IRC front at this point will let me ride it out to my mileage goal.   Two more rears, should do it,too.

SilverWing, although top heavy/rear weight bias can be pleasant to ride in spite of these handicaps----nice tires, help,too.  

I do own tire work/ check static balance/run out on balance stand, but use "Ride On" as balance medium, guess I will keep take off Michelin as spare in garage.  Rear Bridgestone will run another 2,000 miles or so.

"Feel" is important to me as bike/scooter goes down road---I don't  think Car Tire people know or care about feel. I have ridden over 1.5 million miles since 1955, so have some feel for "feel".

Note: IRC is Honda OEM recommendation for last SilverWings......and I think they were right.

My recently acquired (by me) 2010 SilverWing has IRC front (presumably, at 8K miles, the original), and an Avon rear (presumably later replacement), but I'm not familiar enough with Wings to be able to judge their individual or combined merits.

john grinsel wrote:

SilverWing, although top heavy/rear weight bias can be pleasant to ride in spite of these handicaps----nice tires, help,too.  

I don't understand the reference to the S'Wing being top heavy. It seems to me to have an amazingly low centre of gravity compared to my recent bikes (big tourer - ST1100; and adventure bikes - Transalp and Varadero 1000). Neither does the relative recommended tyre pressures seem to indicate notable rear weight bias.

I'm happy to be corrected if I'm wrong or have misunderstood what you meant.

My favorite tires were the Pirelli's I had on my SWing. The Hoops lasted the longest but the Pirelli's really rode nice and smooth. I also didn't think the SWing was top heavy since the engine is low and somewhat forward mounted. But John has a lot of experience and miles on his SWing's. If you rode the ST1100, which I never have, I'm sure the SWing feels light as a feather.

I had Bridgestones on several of my previous bikes and had no problems at all until I got a Honda Blackbird CBR1100XX with them on, the bike was downright scary in the wet and at lowish speeds I had the back end constantly trying to overtake the front. I changed to Avons which I love and still use on it. When I got my Silverwing the tyres were very low so I put Avons on and whilst they were ok I was never happy and they wore out very fast, this tyre change I decided to see if Mr Honda was right and I am very happy with the choice.

JeffR wrote:

 If you rode the ST1100, which I never have, I'm sure the SWing feels light as a feather.

Amazingly, the Silverwing is 80% of the dry weight of the ST1100 (ABS version), and 75% of the wet weight (the ST1100 has a BIG fuel tank), but the difference does feel much more.

I think that's partly down to what seems to me a much lower centre of gravity on the Silverwing, and partly being better able to get your feet to the ground to manouevre it and hold it up.

When my SWing needed tires, I was so happy with the OEM IRC rubber as to handling but mostly longevity, I put another set on... Price was right too.

OMG I better duck, this may turn in to another "oil" thread!

I think my S wing still has the stock IRC front,it seems to ride and grip all right, the rear is a City grip, also seems ok
IRC tires on the S40 I had were a disaster, just slick as owl snot, but different bikes like different tires, as do different riders