V4R pulling double duty, needs new shoes

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V4Al

V4Al

Joined
May 1, 2022
Messages
95
Location
Chicago, IL
I was hoping to keep the V4R track only but work's new RTO policy will require me to spend 5 days a week in Chicago traffic. Will be lane spitting to keep my sanity, so I'm looking for a tire to replace my oldish OEM SC's. I'm still a track day noob so I don't need SC levels of grip.

Was looking at Michelin Road 6's but the rears only go up to 190/55/17. Would that be OK? 200 width rears leave me with Pirelli options, and I'm leaning towards the Rosso IV's but I'd feel more comfortable on the Michelin's the few times I get caught out in the wet. Thoughts?

Also where are people getting their tires these days? Wanted to support the vendors that support my local track day org but they don't have a tire vendor.
 
What track days do you go to? I live in Chicago area also and tech for Motovid. Their tire vendor is Get Fast Performance formerly known as Farrell Performance. They provide Pirelli tires and mount for free at the track. Get set up early in the spring. DOT SC3's would work great at the track and street. That's what I use on my bikes and they are track only.

Be careful in that Chicago rush hour traffic. It sucks.
 
Might want to invest in something more nimble. That full tuck position is going to get old very quickly. How bout a Super Moto instead? An old one, with a 2-stroke. I just checked the Chicago Craigslist. 1970 Suzuki Ts 250 for 3750. A bit pricey for the year, but decent ride. Had the 125 when I was a kid. Saw about 8 bikes for under 4K that would fill the bill easily, and NOT be worth stealing in that crime-infested cesspool of a city.
 
Sheikh said:
Might want to invest in something more nimble. That full tuck position is going to get old very quickly. How bout a Super Moto instead? An old one, with a 2-stroke. I just checked the Chicago Craigslist. 1970 Suzuki Ts 250 for 3750. A bit pricey for the year, but decent ride. Had the 125 when I was a kid. Saw about 8 bikes for under 4K that would fill the bill easily, and NOT be worth stealing in that crime-infested cesspool of a city.
Click to expand...

That's a good idea. Keep the V4 for track days and sunday drives. Get something cheap and fun to commute in. Something you won't miss too much when it's pinched or your lane split goes sideways.
 
That's what I do. The 1199 isn't ridden exclusively. I also have a 2003 DL1000 V-Strom for other fun, and a BMW C650GT maxi-scooter for errands and getting groceries. No 4-wheeled vehicles in my stable. The knobbies on a Super Moto or old street-legal dirt bike would really come in handy when the roads are slushy or covered with snow.
 
Re SC3's for the street, this is a bad idea at the best of times but I could not think of a worse tire for commuting in mixed conditions. If you must use your 45k WSBK homologation bike as a commuter 5 days a week then just about any 200/55 or 200/60 street tire is preferable to supercorsas! Don't worry about the diameter, as long as it's round and black with wet weather performance. M9's, Road 6's, Rosso 4's etc are very similar, calibrate and go.
 
I could not think of a worse bike to commute on than a 54 year old 2 stroke 250 with knobbies. I think it must beer o'clock somewhere
 
Paul G said:
I could not think of a worse bike to commute on than a 54 year old 2 stroke 250 with knobbies. I think it must beer o'clock somewhere
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It's a 2-stroke, no valves and incredibly low maintenance. It's LIGHT, and nimble, will do 70 mph, and the knobbies cost literally nothing. Perfect commuter bike for less that 15 miles each way and cutting through traffic. And if a Cop ever comes after you, you can make a YouTube video about how you outsmarted them on a 50 y-o Bike. Win win win in my book. AND in BAD traffic jams you can go cross country across lawns, sidewalks, parks and fields. What could be better?

And fwiw, my brother, who lives in Colorado, still has the 125 we rode as kids, just refurbished it and it runs great. I took a couple of rides on it when I visited him in early September. Balls of fun. Will do almost 60 mph. Only has 5 gears, but who needs 6 on a bike like that? He 'commutes' to the store on it, and around town when the weather is nice. Balls of fun, utterly dependable, two kicks and it's running, and it has an oil tank so no premix necessary, just gas and go.
 
for my work bike (Bmw K1300S with 115kkm) I am now using (from different sets) Bridgestone multi-compound BT21

in the past i have used a few sets (3-4) bridgestone RS10 (really great but wears out quickly for work bikes) dunlop sportsmart and michelin power 2ct but bt21 for me are best choice for grip, treadwear and wet condition

for the panigale I think the BT S22s are better
 
I've ran the Road 4 and 5 on commute/sporty bikes- I give them a big thumbs up. Great grip in dry, and surprisingly good grip in wet. I've done some brake experimenting in the rain and was fully impressed- can stop almost as good in wet as in the dry as long as you're loading the tire a little before full squeeze on the lever.
 
panibadboy said:
Rosso 4 for traffic

But how exactly are you going to commute in the winter?
Click to expand...
Rosso IV's its gonna be it seems. Just going to suck up the 1:45hr commute on 4 wheels during this winter, no two ways about it.

theclaw said:
What track days do you go to? I live in Chicago area also and tech for Motovid. Their tire vendor is Get Fast Performance formerly known as Farrell Performance. They provide Pirelli tires and mount for free at the track. Get set up early in the spring. DOT SC3's would work great at the track and street. That's what I use on my bikes and they are track only.

Be careful in that Chicago rush hour traffic. It sucks.
Click to expand...
I did two track days with Motovid at Blackhawk right at the end of the season! Ran in novice both times and had a blast but the V4R is way overkill for me, whodathunkit. Ahh, I didn't check Farrell but I'll reach out. Thanks!

Sheikh said:
Might want to invest in something more nimble. That full tuck position is going to get old very quickly. How bout a Super Moto instead? An old one, with a 2-stroke. I just checked the Chicago Craigslist. 1970 Suzuki Ts 250 for 3750. A bit pricey for the year, but decent ride. Had the 125 when I was a kid. Saw about 8 bikes for under 4K that would fill the bill easily, and NOT be worth stealing in that crime-infested cesspool of a city.
Click to expand...
A month ago, I was absolutely shopping for a smaller bike that I could learn better on, not be so afraid of crashing on the track, and better for commuting. But I managed to trick my GF into marrying me, and now my stable is being whittled down. It was either sell the Pani or the GT350R, and any more toys are out of the question for now.
 
V4Al said:
I did two track days with Motovid at Blackhawk right at the end of the season! Ran in novice both times and had a blast but the V4R is way overkill for me, whodathunkit. Ahh, I didn't check Farrell but I'll reach out. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Then we likely came across each other. I tech for them, sometimes work the grid. See you next summer!
 

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