I put a pair of
2.75 - 18 Front, 90 / 90 - 18 Rear on a Honda CG125 (front disc brake model).Michelin Pilot Sporty Motorcycle Tyre Review
At last a tyre using modern materials and design with performance to match is
available for the most common 125cc motorbikes as well as many 50 to 250cc.
No matter if your a learner, commuter, advanced, sports, city or countryside
rider the Michelin Pilot Sporty tyre is my most highly recommended tyre for you.
The most important thing you learn with motorcycling over time is how the quality of the tyres can transform or ruin your riding experience and safety.
The tyre quality not only affects how well the bike handles, brakes, swerves,
feels and comfort.
But can also cause an accident or help prevent one.
With the new motorcycle test in the UK,
the tyre quality has suddenly become very important to not only help pass the
test but also to make it more or less likely you will fall off the bike on the
test.
The Michelin Pilot Sporty tyres are available in loads of
different sizes to fit many 125cc and other motorcycles
Michelin Pilot Sporty website.
They are tubeless tyres that are designed to be used
with a tube (inner tube) if fitted to a tube type wheel.
All wheels that have spokes are tube type wheels, even if a wheel does not have
spokes it may or may not be tubeless design.
I put a pair of
2.75 - 18 Front, 90 / 90 - 18 Rear on a Honda CG125 (front disc brake model).
I have covered around 50,000 miles with tyres around those sizes
on several different bikes between 100 and 250cc,
over many years (I passed my motorcycle test a long time ago).
So I have experience in how such narrow tyres should perform (narrow tyres are normally found on most 50 to 250cc bikes).
The Michelin Pilot Sporty tyres have been used in every weather condition and roads in
the UK all year round.
Except in snow or ice (I draw the line with riding any motorcycle in those
conditions).
They have been on
small roads, large roads, motorways,
steep roads, very strong gusty side winds, near freezing conditions,
over 30c
weather and rain.
As well as
very tight bends, long distances (250 miles in a day), city
traffic jams at rush hour,
pot holes and roads whose surface is disintegrating.
The tyres have performed incredibly well and I can not fault
them in any way (which is even more incredible).
They are so far ahead of other tyres I have used in the past (similar sized
tyres).
Read my Pirelli City Demon Tyre Review to
see what happens when you use a bad quality tyre.
Cornering (going round bends).
These tyres grip so well I can not get them to slip or wobble no matter how hard
I go in to a bend.
I would say the cornering abilities are sports level,
but my bike does not have the ground clearance and I do not have the training to
try and get my knee on the ground.
The tyres are so well behaved, predictable, forgiving, it does not matter if
your a learner or an advanced motorcyclist, they will go round the bend easily.
The tyres also easily let you change your line in the bend and even in the
middle (I can not say the same for other tyres I have used in the past).
Stability
The tyres are very stable including in a straight line (the tyres are not
twitchy or diving in to corners to quickly or severely unless you want them to).
Braking
The grip, stability and feel from the tyres really improve the braking power and
control including under very heavy and emergency braking.
Not only can you stop in less distance, but can do it without the tyres wobbling
/ squirming or complaining.
You can swerve at the same time with ease unlike many other tyres (very handy in
an emergency, on a UK motorcycle test or just rushing to the red traffic
lights).
Swerving
These tyres can swerve around things very quickly and easily.
So well it could easily prevent certain accidents.
Side winds
Due to the high level of grip and the profile of the tyre (you only need to lean
slightly to get tyres to lean in to the wind),
side winds have far less impact on the bike and rider than other tyres I have
used in the past.
Comfort and Feel
These tyres give lots of feel of the road surface and yet are also very comfortable.
It might seem impossible to have both at the same time, but these tyres are
advanced modern tyres and manage it brilliantly.
Wet weather
They still grip well (you always loose some grip in the wet with any tyre), despite having a semi
slick design, the Silica in the tyre probably helps.
Wear rate
The wear rate is good, that's almost unbelievable due to the high performance of
the tyre, the Silica in the tyre is probably responsible.
On a Honda CG125 Front Disc brake model, I managed to wear the rear tyre out after
around 8000 miles (mileage will vary depending on riding style and weight).
But the front is hardly worn at that mileage (so should last at least twice the
mileage).
Rolling Resistance
These tyres have very good low rolling resistance.
You first notice it when you try to push the bike around by hand.
But you also notice it when the engine is moving the bike and especially when
going up hills or when you have a lot of weight on the bike.
Conclusion
The reason I believe the Michelin Pilot Sporty tyre performs so
well is the design and materials Michelin have put in to it.
Tyre technology on the race track has improved substantially over the years and
has been filtering down to larger engine road motorcycles (wider tyres).
Michelin has modified the race tyre to make a road going version.
A review of the Michelin Pilot Sport Tyre (the Michelin Pilot Sporty has evolved
from)
http://www.motorcycle.com/products/michelin-pilot-sport-3530.html
The Michelin Pilot Sporty tyres "tread design derived from the
Pilot Sport tyre for superbikes"
Like the Sport tyre the Sporty has Silica in it which improves many aspects of
the tyre.
All of this and more makes for a very advanced and modern tyre that
performs in every way miles ahead of older materials, construction and design.
According to Michelin the Pilot Sporty tyres :
"Rubber compound - a versatile rubber compound is used, incorporating silica, which results in
excellent performance on dry roads,
whilst also ensuring good traction in the wet; without compromising on the
mileage achieved.
Construction - the tyres are of bias construction, with two plies, which help both resistance
and increase rider comfort.
The tyre also incorporates a reinforced bead base to improve handling and safety
and also ensures the tyres are easier to fit."
I very highly recommend the Michelin Pilot Sporty tyres for every type of rider.
If your a learner they will make it easier to learn and require
less skill to ride the bike and pass your test.
They will also be more forgiving when you make mistakes, make you safer and may
prevent some types of accidents.
If your an advanced rider you will be able to get far more out
of the tyres.
You will probably be amazed at how well a small bike can handle and grip
compared to a larger bike (since larger bikes often have high quality tyres
on).
In the past small bikes often had outdated and primitive tyres compared to
the large bikes and especially the large sports road bikes.
Unfortunately in the 90/90 - 18 rear that the Honda CG125 uses,
the only alternative branded tyre that I have found in the UK is the Pirelli City
Demon (when this review was written).
I have reviewed it as well, see
Pirelli City Demon Tyre Review
For other universal tyre information (with some Honda CG125 specific information in as well) see my Tyres page.
