| Continental Road Attack Tire Review |
It's Time!
Tires: Conti Road Attacks
Sizes: f/r: 120/70/17, 170/60/17.
Weight Index: f/r: 58w, 72w (f-520#, r-783#. Net capacity, 1303#.)
Intended use: Sport Touring
Tire Purchase Price: $220, delivered from SWMoto to my door.
Mounting: $60 from Cycle Gear in Fullerton.
Bike: 1995 BMW R1100RSL
Mileage on bike at date of mounting:
Wet Weight: 580# fully fueled (7 gallons), no luggage, no rider.
Dry Weight: 520# per manufacturer specs.
Luggage Capacity: 112 liters: (2x 33liter OEM hardbags, 1x Givi V46 topcase)
Tire Pressures: 38/40 two up, 34/36 solo.
Estimated Riding Style:
Two-Up, Touring Load: 30%
Two-Up: 40%
Solo: 30%
Highway: 65%
Twisties: 35%
# of Weights used to balance:
. Conti RA: TBD.
. M1: 2 up front, zero on rear
. PR: 2 lead weights front, 2 lead weights rear.
. Z6: one weight rear only.
. BT020: I can’t remember.
Starting Tread Depth (f/r):
. Conti RA: 6mm
. M1’s: (to be measured)
. PR: 6mm
. Z6: 6mm
. BT020: ??? (to be measured)
. AV 45/6*: ??? (tbm)
Weight Index:
. Conti RA: 58/72
. M1’s:58/72
. PR: 58/72
. Z6: 58/72
. BT020: 58/72
. AV45/6*: 58/72
(Note: they’re all the same! Max weight capacity is listed at a combined 1,303#. Including the M1’s.)
( * I have not tested Avon’s – these numbers are here for comparative purposes only)
Recent tires used, in order recency:
. Metzler M1 Sportecs (4000 miles)
. Michelin Pilot Roads (7500 miles)
. Metzler Z6 (6000 miles)
. Pilot Roads (8000 miles)
. Bridgestone BT020 (2000 miles – sold bike…)
Continental’s Marketing Blitz:
· Newly developed High-Impact 0° Steel Belt tyre giving the performance of a sports tyre and the mileage of a touring tyre
· Exceptional grip in both wet & dry conditions for sporty year-round touring riders
· Innovative tyre construction for a very high level of comfort and safety
· Precise handling under all conditions due to the MCD (Multi Curvature Design) of the tyre
(From Conti’s own website)
And from Rider Magazine:
Conti calls it’s RoadAttack a “sport mileage radial” because it combines the traction of a sport tire with the mileage of a sport-
touring skin. A multicurve profile yields handling benefits, while silica-enhanced tread rubber and a larger contact patch
generated by Conti’s Dynamic Footprint Technology boost traction on all surfaces. The underlying structure is a zero-degree
steel belt that ensures a stable and comfortable ride. All RoadAttacks are W-rated and sized to fit all popular sport-touring
machines.
(From Rider, May 2006)
And finally, from Canyonchasers.com
I must admit a level of trepidation over testing a set of Continental motorcycle tires. In the past, my only context with
Continental tires had to do with London motorcycle messengers choosing them because they wear like iron. However, I was given
reassurance such as "they are one of the top selling tires in Europe " and "They are rumored to grip like Pilot Powers and last
like Pilot Roads". Both statements worked to calm my anxieties. After all, its not like Continental is new to the tire business.
And the Road Attack was recently named as the offical tire for the new BMW's...
(www.canyonchasers.com)
************************************************** *****************************************
Special Rider Disclosure Note: I recently changed rear wheels on the bike to move away from a non-standard 160/60/18 tire size
to a 170/60/17 tire size (18” rim swapped out for a new 17” rear rim). It needs to be noted that the 18” rim made for a greater
rear ride height than the 17” rim by about 1/2”. So, the 18” rim steers a bit quicker.
************************************************** *****************************************
So begins the second formal tire review.
Some of you may be wondering why I didn’t go for the Avon 45/6’s, as I had alluded to in a previous poll. The reasons are simple.
First, the Conti RA’s are the new kid on the block and as far as I’ve seen there aren’t any detailed reports about their
performance aside from Canyon Chaser’s. Second, their claims to performance appear, at least to me, to be a bit stretched.
Performance, handling AND MILEAGE? I’m sorry, you can’t have all three at the same time. To get the best stick one must
sacrifice mileage. Third, Avon I’m sure make a great tire. However I’ve read in more than one location from different posters
that the Avon’s can be a bit sketchy in the wet. Yeah, this is a chance for me to find out for myself what their wet stick is
like…but it’s my money and I’d rather spend it elsewhere. That, and the Conti’s have that really cool Star-Trek tread pattern!
As always this will be as completely an objective review as possible.
Stay tuned folks!
First report at 500 miles next week some time!
Tires: Conti Road Attacks
Sizes: f/r: 120/70/17, 170/60/17.
Weight Index: f/r: 58w, 72w (f-520#, r-783#. Net capacity, 1303#.)
Intended use: Sport Touring
Tire Purchase Price: $220, delivered from SWMoto to my door.
Mounting: $60 from Cycle Gear in Fullerton.
Bike: 1995 BMW R1100RSL
Mileage on bike at date of mounting:
Wet Weight: 580# fully fueled (7 gallons), no luggage, no rider.
Dry Weight: 520# per manufacturer specs.
Luggage Capacity: 112 liters: (2x 33liter OEM hardbags, 1x Givi V46 topcase)
Tire Pressures: 38/40 two up, 34/36 solo.
Estimated Riding Style:
Two-Up, Touring Load: 30%
Two-Up: 40%
Solo: 30%
Highway: 65%
Twisties: 35%
# of Weights used to balance:
. Conti RA: TBD.
. M1: 2 up front, zero on rear
. PR: 2 lead weights front, 2 lead weights rear.
. Z6: one weight rear only.
. BT020: I can’t remember.
Starting Tread Depth (f/r):
. Conti RA: 6mm
. M1’s: (to be measured)
. PR: 6mm
. Z6: 6mm
. BT020: ??? (to be measured)
. AV 45/6*: ??? (tbm)
Weight Index:
. Conti RA: 58/72
. M1’s:58/72
. PR: 58/72
. Z6: 58/72
. BT020: 58/72
. AV45/6*: 58/72
(Note: they’re all the same! Max weight capacity is listed at a combined 1,303#. Including the M1’s.)
( * I have not tested Avon’s – these numbers are here for comparative purposes only)
Recent tires used, in order recency:
. Metzler M1 Sportecs (4000 miles)
. Michelin Pilot Roads (7500 miles)
. Metzler Z6 (6000 miles)
. Pilot Roads (8000 miles)
. Bridgestone BT020 (2000 miles – sold bike…)
Continental’s Marketing Blitz:
· Newly developed High-Impact 0° Steel Belt tyre giving the performance of a sports tyre and the mileage of a touring tyre
· Exceptional grip in both wet & dry conditions for sporty year-round touring riders
· Innovative tyre construction for a very high level of comfort and safety
· Precise handling under all conditions due to the MCD (Multi Curvature Design) of the tyre
(From Conti’s own website)
And from Rider Magazine:
Conti calls it’s RoadAttack a “sport mileage radial” because it combines the traction of a sport tire with the mileage of a sport-
touring skin. A multicurve profile yields handling benefits, while silica-enhanced tread rubber and a larger contact patch
generated by Conti’s Dynamic Footprint Technology boost traction on all surfaces. The underlying structure is a zero-degree
steel belt that ensures a stable and comfortable ride. All RoadAttacks are W-rated and sized to fit all popular sport-touring
machines.
(From Rider, May 2006)
And finally, from Canyonchasers.com
I must admit a level of trepidation over testing a set of Continental motorcycle tires. In the past, my only context with
Continental tires had to do with London motorcycle messengers choosing them because they wear like iron. However, I was given
reassurance such as "they are one of the top selling tires in Europe " and "They are rumored to grip like Pilot Powers and last
like Pilot Roads". Both statements worked to calm my anxieties. After all, its not like Continental is new to the tire business.
And the Road Attack was recently named as the offical tire for the new BMW's...
(www.canyonchasers.com)
************************************************** *****************************************
Special Rider Disclosure Note: I recently changed rear wheels on the bike to move away from a non-standard 160/60/18 tire size
to a 170/60/17 tire size (18” rim swapped out for a new 17” rear rim). It needs to be noted that the 18” rim made for a greater
rear ride height than the 17” rim by about 1/2”. So, the 18” rim steers a bit quicker.
************************************************** *****************************************
So begins the second formal tire review.
Some of you may be wondering why I didn’t go for the Avon 45/6’s, as I had alluded to in a previous poll. The reasons are simple.
First, the Conti RA’s are the new kid on the block and as far as I’ve seen there aren’t any detailed reports about their
performance aside from Canyon Chaser’s. Second, their claims to performance appear, at least to me, to be a bit stretched.
Performance, handling AND MILEAGE? I’m sorry, you can’t have all three at the same time. To get the best stick one must
sacrifice mileage. Third, Avon I’m sure make a great tire. However I’ve read in more than one location from different posters
that the Avon’s can be a bit sketchy in the wet. Yeah, this is a chance for me to find out for myself what their wet stick is
like…but it’s my money and I’d rather spend it elsewhere. That, and the Conti’s have that really cool Star-Trek tread pattern!
As always this will be as completely an objective review as possible.
Stay tuned folks!
First report at 500 miles next week some time!
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