2 New Michelin Pilot Road 2's fitted to my Uly yesterday after the old ones having cover 6k(would have kept them on a bit longer but a self tapping screw on my garage floor had other ideas!!)

Anyway bike feels stacks better on a new pair of new boots so bring on the next 6k I say.

so after about 4 thou on the boke the rear is up for a change and that's on a pirrelli -rosso

I've used Avon Azaro's, and now on Avon Storms...good grip (wet'n'dry), neutral feel, and if they last as long as the Azaro's did (& their s'posed to...), I'll be pleased... But then, I want a tyre for year 'round use, and I'm not a wild rider

On my second set of BT014s,on the xb12s and very happy with the feedback and grip from them,not to good on mileage 1800mls ,had a set of bt020s on the x1 not as good as the 014s in my opinion...

If I'm not mistaken, bigphil uses Avon Storms also, and could possibly tell you a lot about wet grip now
I'm still totaly content with my Z6. These are perfect for my needs. For what I'm riding, grip is not the limiting factor

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"It is often said that before you die your life passes before your eyes. It is in fact true. It's called living."
Terry Pratchett

I have just read this thread from start to finish and am still none the wiser really. I have been using Sportmax 208's since I got the XB12s new. I get 3000 out of the rear and maybe 4500 out of the front, the sides wear first.

I spoke to a tyre dealer yesterday about Diablo Rosso's he convinced me that the rear would only last 1000 miles. Not sure what to believe.

The new XB's are now fitted with Diablos Strada's I think. So perhaps they a worth a try.

I ride every day no matter what the weather so I need confidence in the wet and good mileage.

Perhaps I'll flip a coin heads Daiblo Strada tails Dunlop Sportsmax

That's because opinions are like arseholes...... everybody has one.

There's not many bad tyres out there, but you have to decide what you want from your tyres. There's always gonna be a trade off between grip and mileage, so you have to be honest with yourself about how you want to use your bike.
If I spent my life on motorways, my choice would be different to what I currently use.
I read a lot in these type of threads about people who's tyres do not inspire confidence in the rain etc. but a lot of the time, it's because they only ever get caught out in the rain occasionally and don't have any wet riding experience. If you get home in one piece, the tyres are brilliant. If you fall off, they are crap.

Anyway, Diablos are the best, in my opinion of course.

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I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

mojomick - like your thread dude and totally agree - i'd go with the rosso's or oe diab's myself - as thats the only rubber ive run on me xb, rossos more of eveything apart from milage - oe diabs less though more milage.

Thanks to Mojomick for helping to make sense of this endless debate. I will probably stick with the original fitments, Dunlop 208's. I'm probably inviting criticism but what the heck they work for me and apart from wrecking the rear one on the JOGLE run they last pretty well, not to mention that they are cheaper.

5.5k & I need a new rear Diablo been quoted from £100 to £176 fitted to a lose wheel .
Anyone know of a good place in the south that can be trusted to remove & refit the wheel to save me doing it?

Long time ago, I used a place called Kingston Tyres in, well, Kingston, to stick a set of BT020s on the first X1.

They seemed to be good with it, I popped in during a lunch-break when I was working over that way and they did the job well, even asking if I knew the torque settings. I didn't, of course, and had to phone a friend but I was impressed that they asked.
Kingston Tyre Services Ltd
37-39 Cambridge Rd
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey KT1 3NQ
Tel: 0208 546 9510

I got a better "vibe" from Tekmotive, although they are a few miles round the M25 for you they are 2 miles north of South Mimms services. They have only done work on the Fazer, though they are based in a lock up so you kinda get to involved in the same way that you do at The Emporium.

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Good in straight lines
2001 X1 "The Tart's Handbag"
2001 FZS1000 "The Fridge"