Max Kool
pro rider
Ok friends, I live in canyon heaven. The roads here are super winding, and rough. Ruts from trees under the tarmac, patches, crumbled tarmac, cracks. Also, no room for errors. Stuff like this.
When I got my Vitpilen 701 year and a half ago, I could never become friends with the stock tires on these roads, the Bridgestone S21. Although they never let go, they just didn't feel good. Like they were too hard. I experimented with tire pressures a bit but we never became friends. They always stayed "grey" and never got that shiny grip pattern. I soon replaced them with Conti Sport Attack 3. A lot better, although they still felt a bit hard, even at 32-34psi, which is already a few psi below recommendation.
Once these we worn down (after 3000 miles, eeek!) I decided I should try sport touring tires instead of the hypersport tires the Sport Attack 3's are. 3k on a front tire is a bit harsh. I don't care at all for dual or triple compound tires, the sides always wear out way before the centers. Conti has just introduced a new ContiRoad tire, which fit in their gamma right below the Road Attack 3. Fitted them a few weeks ago and set them at 32/34 cold pressures and took them out last week Saturday. Although the steering felt perfect (always does with a new front and rear of course), the ride felt a little harsh, not unlike the Bridgestone S21 I had before. Like the tires transferred every little bump into the bars.
Then did a little digging on tire pressures for light motorcycles, and looked at the factory advised pressures for a 701 Super Moto. A bike that has the same tire sizes and roughly the same weight as the Vit 701. The 701 SM has a stock weight of 145kg dry, I weighed my Vit 701 at 155kg/340lbs with a full tank a while ago. Very much comparable. Husqvarna says 29F, 29R for the SM... and that's still OEM advised.... Then why are the stock pressures for the Vitpilen 33F/36R??
So I lowered my pressures to 29psi front and rear and went out again on Sunday. Lo and behold, what a difference! The same roads felt smoother, much better controllable, and looking at the wear pattern the tires came up to temperature better. And looking back it all makes sense, these bikes are significantly lighter than your average 200kg middle of the road 700cc class motorcycle. Even a CBR600 has a kerb weight that's easily 80lbs higher. Which also explains why I never liked the stock Bridgestone S21, I just rode them pumped up too hard.
Anyway, worth a try if all you do is ride canyons. I check my pressures before every ride, and went out yesterday on 29F and 27R. Temps were in the high 60's (20 degrees C), overcast. A little magic happened. Super tacky sides.
So all I'm saying is, don't be afraid to do a little controlled experimentation.
When I got my Vitpilen 701 year and a half ago, I could never become friends with the stock tires on these roads, the Bridgestone S21. Although they never let go, they just didn't feel good. Like they were too hard. I experimented with tire pressures a bit but we never became friends. They always stayed "grey" and never got that shiny grip pattern. I soon replaced them with Conti Sport Attack 3. A lot better, although they still felt a bit hard, even at 32-34psi, which is already a few psi below recommendation.Once these we worn down (after 3000 miles, eeek!) I decided I should try sport touring tires instead of the hypersport tires the Sport Attack 3's are. 3k on a front tire is a bit harsh. I don't care at all for dual or triple compound tires, the sides always wear out way before the centers. Conti has just introduced a new ContiRoad tire, which fit in their gamma right below the Road Attack 3. Fitted them a few weeks ago and set them at 32/34 cold pressures and took them out last week Saturday. Although the steering felt perfect (always does with a new front and rear of course), the ride felt a little harsh, not unlike the Bridgestone S21 I had before. Like the tires transferred every little bump into the bars.
Then did a little digging on tire pressures for light motorcycles, and looked at the factory advised pressures for a 701 Super Moto. A bike that has the same tire sizes and roughly the same weight as the Vit 701. The 701 SM has a stock weight of 145kg dry, I weighed my Vit 701 at 155kg/340lbs with a full tank a while ago. Very much comparable. Husqvarna says 29F, 29R for the SM... and that's still OEM advised.... Then why are the stock pressures for the Vitpilen 33F/36R??
So I lowered my pressures to 29psi front and rear and went out again on Sunday. Lo and behold, what a difference! The same roads felt smoother, much better controllable, and looking at the wear pattern the tires came up to temperature better. And looking back it all makes sense, these bikes are significantly lighter than your average 200kg middle of the road 700cc class motorcycle. Even a CBR600 has a kerb weight that's easily 80lbs higher. Which also explains why I never liked the stock Bridgestone S21, I just rode them pumped up too hard.
Anyway, worth a try if all you do is ride canyons. I check my pressures before every ride, and went out yesterday on 29F and 27R. Temps were in the high 60's (20 degrees C), overcast. A little magic happened. Super tacky sides.
So all I'm saying is, don't be afraid to do a little controlled experimentation.
Last edited:
and I wish I could wear the sides of the tires out before the center! 
