Continental road attack 2 review

[Kwikasfuki]

These will probably be my next choice of tyre once the Angel STs have worn out. I was planning on getting the original road attacks put on, but will now go for the newer model.

This is at risk because I know the original road attacks had a tyre suited specifically for the GTR, but unfortunately there isn't enough information on the new tyre.

[Lonewolf]

I've always been a big fan of the Michelin Road Pilot 2's. I've got plenty of life left in the tyres that are on the bike at the moment, (got to admit though I dont know which tyres I have on the bike though)  ::). I must look one day!!

Has anyone heard anything good or bad about the Michelins in respect of using them on the GTR?

[Kwikasfuki]

The PR2s are a good tyre but not for cold UK conditions. The ones on my GTR never inspired me with confidence in the cold. Wear is excellent though. Currently run the Angel ST which gives better grip.

Next tyre will be continental road attack 2

[Kwikasfuki]

As the Angel Pirelli ST decided to split down the middle, I thought it prudent to change the rear ASAP. Fortunately my local motorbike tyre shop was able to get a rear in, so I have a combination of a Angel ST on the front and Continental Road Attack 2 on the rear. I've ordered a RA2 for the front to be fitted next weekend.

Apparently there is minimum tyre scrub time required with the RA2s and I certainly put that to the test. The tyre didn't squirm at all. The profile of the tyre is more like a sports tyre and it tips the bike in nicely and holds that position. Obviously its early days yet, and once I get the front on, I'll do an updated review.

Edit: It appears the RA2s heat up much quicker and retain the heat for longer. I had the bike parked up for 30 mins in the shade, and temperature gun had the rear RA2 at 30c and the front Angel St at 24c.

[Rusty]

They look like tractor tyres to me ... massive !
Keep us updated, as I for one am always interested in views about tyres and what people think.

[Kwikasfuki]

The profile of the tyre is definitely more sports orientated. Today I rode over the pennines in gale force winds with torrential rain and the rear RA2 behaved perfectly.

[Kwikasfuki]

OK, got the front put on today. Once again, absolutely drenched outside and I was shocked at how sticky the tyre was from new. Considering autumn is around the corner so the roads are getting littered with leaves, the tyre stuck like glue. I took the bends as I normally would and the bike tipped in smoothly and you could just tell the front was rock solid. Not had this experience on the PR2 or Angel ST.

[Kwikasfuki]

OK, now that the rear has 2000 miles and the front 1500 miles here's the updated review.

As we're fast heading towards winter here in the UK, these tyres had to contend with wet slippy weather with high winds where as the previous Angel STs had sunshine to contend with. At low speed - up to 70mph - these tyres are brilliant. Grip like mad and easy to scrape the pegs if you are that way inclined.

Take them above 70mph and you best start praying. These tyres love to squirm. As much as I wanted to like them, they didn't give any confidence at 100mph. I lowered the PSI to 38 front and 40 rear which has helped. I believe the problem to be the weak side walls. You can just tell they are too soft by the way the bike sinks. On the original road attack there is a specific model for the GTR and I expect Continental to release one for the RA2.

Just as I was thinking these tyres aren't too safe, they have started to square off and the grip is much better so I will probably keep them for another 2k miles before swapping them out for the older RAs or another brand. When Continental do release a specific version for the GTR I will try these tyres again because at low speed the grip is brilliant.

Until then my advice would be NOT to try these tyres on the GTR  unless you love feeling your bike squirm.

[maximus]

For winter I'm considering the ContiSportAttack. There is a specific version for the ZZR 1400 which is the version I'll be puchasing. They will wear quick, but for winter I want the best grip.

Interestingy for the road attack 2s, the website lists a C fitment for the BMWs so a GTR fitment can't be too far.

http://www.conti-bike.co.uk/default.asp?spid=28

[Kwikasfuki]

The Continental Road Attack 2 are coming off soon. Looking to replace them with a better tyre for winter.

Anyone using Dunlop Roadsmarts? Looking at using this for my next tyre

[Kwikasfuki]

Right, these tyres are coming off sharpish. I could probably get a few more thousand miles out of these but I'm not prepared to risk my limbs.

High winds over the Penines today and wet. Felt like I was driving on ice with these. The PR2s and Angel STs always stuck like glue

[Martin#30]

Anyone using Dunlop Roadsmarts? Looking at using this for my next tyre

NB, this is a bit of a tenuous recommendation, but I have been using Dunlop Sportsmarts on my 10R recently, and they are a truly staggering tyre. 2 days of abuse at Portimao, and they were monumentally good, grippy, hard wearing, stable, the whole nine yards.

The magazines seem to rate the Roadsmarts very highly too.

What with these two from Dunlop, the BT023 and PR3s getting magnificent reports, I can only surmise that the tyre manufacturers are finally throwing significant R&D money at bike tyres.

Martin.

[Kwikasfuki]

The only reason I didn't go for RoadSmarts is that I read differing reviews about the quality which put me off. I think its the PR3s and if they aren't good enough, then the RoadSmarts or Z8s