Michelin Pilot Road 3s...I joined the club

[Pterodactyl_imp]

I have around 12,000kms on the RP3s and couldn't be happier with their performance. I would, however, take issue with ES in that, in my case at least, some concern may be warranted with clearance. On the '10 model the standard tyre clearance from the right side of the centre stand is approximately 12.5mm. With the RP3S this was reduced to 7mm.

OldF7: There are at least three of us who have them already and have logged significant miles on them. All reviews thus far have been positive. I have 6000 or so miles on them and find them better on wet, better on dry, and quieter than the original tires. Yes, the rear is wider and that causes unwarranted concern about clearance and performance, but I for one can tell you that they are superior in every way to the original tires. The only open question is if they will wear better than the orignals. I suspect they will, but I won't know for sure until about May, 2015. CIP has had the RP3s longer and Kevin lives in Cali so they may be able to give a wear report sooner. I too look forward to Ferret's review, though.

(My bold)

Now, being the cautious type when mucking about with stuff I know very little about, like frame flex and tyre sidewall flex, I decided that the minimum clearance I would accept would be 12.5mm. In a previous post my reasoning went something like this:

Quote:After fitting the pads and new tyres I was concerned with the clearance between the rear tyre (now 160/60) and the right side foot of the centerstand. With the 140/70 standard tyre the clearance is approximately 12.5mm (.5in). This was now reduced to about 7mm. Probably enough. But not enough to remove images in my overactive imagination of the rear tyre, at high speed, contacting the centerstand and bringing it down. Could be nasty. I thought about bending the right side of the stand out. There is not a lot of length between the foot and centerstand cross brace so a substantial bend would be required over a short distance. I then decided to remove the centerstand and cut the inside of the foot down to achieve at least a 12mm clearance.

Foot after surgery and a squirt of Kill-rust black paint.
[url=http://s847.photobucket.com/user/tonys_mail/media/tonys_mail/Fitting%20Michelins/IMG_0397_zpsbb097e98.jpg.html]

Centerstand back in place. The clearance is now about 17mm. Imagination now at rest.

[url=http://s847.photobucket.com/user/tonys_mail/media/tonys_mail/Fitting%20Michelins/IMG_0404_zps88a3019b.jpg.html]

In that previous [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3466]thread there was also some discussion regarding rim size and 160 tyre compatibility. And on [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1739&highlight=Michelin]this thread. I think that can be put to bed as there has been some serious mileage (and kilometerage) without an issue arising from wheel and tyre combination.

In short, performance and wear with the RP3s is good. I would recommend them. As far as centre stand clearance is concerned, well I guess maybe I was overcautious, but relaxed.

Cheers.