Tires and pressures...

I don't know how long they will last, I'll tell you when I change them ...
But it does not matter as long as they do not lose benefits, when they are finished I will put new ones.
 
I was looking at 2 different ones which seem more well suited to the 701 than the 401, but I may try them anyways.
I like the looks of the edge profil.

1. ContiAttack SM Evo (recommended to me by some 690 guys)
2. Metzler Sportec M9 RR

Anyone treid them? (Or heard anything)
 
I've had the predecessor of the M9RR on my Superduke, loved that tire! But I've read multiple times that people found that M7RR better than the M9RR.
The M7RR needed no warm up at all and lasted well. Wet grip was good top 👌🏻
 
nampus said:
90% of the roads in the Ardennes are of terrible quality unfortunately. You're better of going a bit further and enjoy Luxemburg.
But that just a little to much for a single day trip.
I'm considering buying a more touring orientated bike to go alongside the Vit.
Keep the 701 for the local rides. And something a bit more comfortable for longer trips and multi-day trips.
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Aah come on ... I always go to the Ardennes. It's not all that bad, and there is the outside-track of Spa where you can go nuts all day aswell ;)
 
Matt said:
Aah come on ... I always go to the Ardennes. It's not all that bad, and there is the outside-track of Spa where you can go nuts all day aswell ;)
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There are some nice roads, but the contrast with Luxemburg is just enormous.
That outside track of Spa is awesome I agree!
 
Driving into Belgium at night coming from Luxembourg is like blindfolded diving into hell… (no street lights suddenly, bad roads and potholes..)
 
Max Kool said:
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.

View attachment 1575 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.

View attachment 1569

So all I'm saying is, don't be afraid to do a little controlled experimentation.
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Lurker here. Just joined to validate your research after finding the actual Bridgestone track pressure recommendations. which align with your results.
 

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A few months have passed since, and it looks like I need another new front soon after less than 2000 miles... 😢

Probably one or two rides left.

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My new tires feel good, but on some roads I got outta shape a bit...
I also noticed that after 3 hours riding the pressure was the same as when I started, 2.0 /2.2 bar...isnt it supposed to increase by 10%...?
 
So, as much as many are certain about importance of appropriately pressurized tires, I am curious with what tools you all use to measure it...

For me, following my recent "...where did the air go..." fail, I decided to upgrade to a better piece of equipment for pressure checking.
I found that, reguardless of which tool is more "accurate", the new one definately reads 3 psi less than what I had been using previously (the tire filler for my compressor) and that the graduations on the new tool are more suitable for use with a motorcycle tire.

And again, after one ride with pressure set using the new tool 🤯🤯🤯
 
Rosso 4
After a bit of testing,
31f / 35r feels pretty good.

Vs. the S21, it seems to take one click more Rebound (+) on the front with the Pirelli, may be its due to the tire shape or weight.
 
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