GearDrivenCam wrote:
I have a 2011 CBR125R as well (with a 2011 CBR150R engine swap). I actually replaced my stock IRC Road Winner's with Metzeler Roadtec Z8 tires. Like Marvin - I went with radial rubber - and I went Metzeler. I swapped the stock front for a slightly larger 110/70-17 (yet similar weight) tire, and then actually went down one size in the rear to a 120/70-17 (more than 2lbs less weight than stock). Most seem to want a huge tire on the rear - but a large, heavy tire increases rotational mass - and on these bikes - it just robs you of acceleration. Heck the Moto 3 250cc racing bikes use a 120 rear - so that's good enough for me. The Metzelers are surprisingly light-weight. The Roadtecs are Metzeler's sport-touring tires - so they should wear better than the sportier Interacs that Marvin uses (clearly Marvin demands the highest performance from his tires. He isn't as concerned about longevity). I have about 6000 kms on my tires now. The front still look news. However, the rear is showing some wear along the center of the tire (it is a front tire being used as a rear tire after all) - but not too bad considering how much mileage I have on the tires. Not sure how these compare to the Interacs - but on my bike - I've push these tires hard at times (I've toured on them across Ontario with 100 lbs of gear on the bike) and they've never let me down - in any kind of weather. Next season - I'll probably swap the front to the rear - and just replace the front with another Roadtec Z8.
Mike
Btw, Metzeler has a new tire out, it's designed to replace the M5 and they call it the M7 (
). Apparently it's 100% silica on the front and mostly silica on the rear. Given I have to run two fronts that would mean 100%
I think they also took out two of the 5 steel belts as well so they should be easier to mount.
They're marketing them as a Guy Martin / Isle of Man tire - now I have to buy them
My rear is now well into illegal and I busted it loose during a power shift on a corner - it was pretty wild
Metzeler Interac M7's