Initial Report:Conti Road Attacks

[cworley5150]

I have been curious to try the Road Attacks on the Rockster, but I am hesitant due to not liking them when I had them on my Kawi ZX1100. They handled very strange on that bike. Maybe they would be different on the Rockster. I don't remember them being any more slippery when cold than any other tire. What I do remember is the strange turn in and downright refusing to turn at low speeds. They made that bike feel 100lbs heavier than it's already hefty 600lb wet weight. Hopefully they would feel very diferent on the Rockster.

[rockstercliff]

I am not happy with them on my Rockster, you are correct, somewhat squirrelly at low speed, unpredictable when cold. Pretty good this time of year, after a few minutes of warm-up.

[frozennorth]

On my second set of Road Attacks. Not as nice and soft as the Dunlop's I was running previous, but still pretty sticky when warm. I disagree with some of the post about cold weather. Living in Canada, I've run these agressively (scraping the centre stand) in 60F degrees, and found them reliable and trustworthy. Quick response going corner to corner. Follows the fall line nicely. Doesn't understeer or oversteer. Great in rain . . . my wife and I (she also runs them on her bike) were riding through Montana when we got trapped in a huge downpour and hail. 55-60 per hour, no problem with 1/4 inch of water on the road. My only negative criticism is that they need a bit to warm up. I normally don't push them until I've been on the road for 5 or 10 mins and have done some easy turns to get the edges warm. One other advantage . . . compared to the Dunlops, they get an extra 1,000 miles + For those that want something stickier, get the Track Attacks . . . although, you'll be replacing them in 3,000 miles. Just my 2 centavos Now go ride some twisties

[frozennorth]

On my second set of Road Attacks. Not as nice and soft as the Dunlop's I was running previous, but still pretty sticky when warm. I disagree with some of the post about cold weather. Living in Canada, I've run these agressively (scraping the centre stand) in 60F degrees, and found them reliable and trustworthy. Quick response going corner to corner. Follows the fall line nicely. Doesn't understeer or oversteer. Great in rain . . . my wife and I (she also runs them on her bike) were riding through Montana when we got trapped in a huge downpour and hail. 55-60 per hour, no problem with 1/4 inch of water on the road. My only negative criticism is that they need a bit to warm up. I normally don't push them until I've been on the road for 5 or 10 mins and have done some easy turns to get the edges warm. One other advantage . . . compared to the Dunlops, they get an extra 1,000 miles + For those that want something stickier, get the Track Attacks . . . although, you'll be replacing them in 3,000 miles. Just my 2 centavos Now go ride some twisties

[oiasghar]

I have run my Contis RoadAttacks down to freezing and below (the few days it does freeze in Texas) and had no problems with grip on the R1150R and my old Sprint ST 955. 40F and rain, no problem either. In fact, that is what will go on the Multistrada once the Avon Azarros 45/46 come of in a couple of weeks. The R1150R is the second bike I have tried the Conti RA with and they have worked well for me; commuting daily and 2 up day trips on weekends. Just a slight squaring of the rear after 7K miles. This despite a 1500 mile trip to Florida an back. The return trip was all one day in 90F+ temperatures.

Other tires that I have tried on various bikes, Michelin Pilot Roads, Bridgestone BT 020, Metzler Z6. Still like the Contis best. May try the Pilot Road 2s. A friend has them on his RR and really likes them but they are about $70 more for a set compared to the Contis.

[RForestR]

Living in Canada, I've run these agressively (scraping the centre stand) in 60F degrees, and found them reliable and trustworthy. Quick response going corner to corner. Follows the fall line nicely. Doesn't understeer or oversteer. Great in rain . . .

I agree.
I've got just over 6000kms on the set that I installed last fall, and haven't had an issue with the Conti's in cold or wet weather. I'm also in Canada, and resist putting the bike away until the very last day, which was December 7 this year. Got the bike out again at the end of March. Makes for some real cold riding weather, first commute in April was a brisk 3 degrees C in the dark.
I think the catch with these tires is that they do need a bit to warm especially on the colder days. Frozennorth has it right in that you need to treat them with 'kid gloves' for 5 to 10 klics before getting too aggresive.

As far as mileage goes, mine still look great and I've not treated them as well as they've treated me.

Cheers,
Chris