Sava Tyres (MC7) - thoughts? - now got Pilot Sportys instead

[neil.]

Hey folks,

Need to replace the YBR's tyres soon as they're fast running out of tread and the front is perishing etc. Anyway, I can't seem to source another set of Pirelli City Demons as suppliers are having problems with the factory sending them out in Brazil or something. So, I was offered the Sava MC7's as an alternative. I need a tyre that will see me through about 7'000 miles of winter commuting, and that can cope with all the nasty weather it brings. I can't seem to find too many accounts of these Savas, but the few I can find seem to say they're pretty good, even on a par with Michelin Pilot Sportys, which seem to be the bee's knees for small bikes.

So has anyone here had experience with them on 125cc bikes like the CG and YBR? Any good, or bad? Do you get a decent mileage out of them (I get about 8'000 miles or so out of my rear City Demons, double on the front, which perishes before it's fully worn down)? They seem very reasonable in terms of price, cheaper than both the City Demons and Pilot Sportys. In fact, although I don't have problems with City Demons, I have read a few accounts from people with more experience than me who don't rate them very highly...

Cheers!

[Mark65]

Hey Neil
I was qouted about the same for pilot sportys and city demons but they could not get the citys, im soon to replace the rear again on the sportys and that will make my 3rd rear to one front, it looks like the front will prolly last 4 rears overall. I get 4500 miles out of the sportys, would get more but thats when they go treadless in the middle but only by an inch, theres plenty left every where else.
I pay £55 fitted to loose wheel, as my sprockets are looking thin im trying to eek out a bit more on the tyres and replace them all together but im trying to find a reasonable set of sprockets and o ring chain, the chain is like new but the sprockets are worn.
I did read someone was using the me 22 tyres from metzler, they are a bit hard to find but he said they gripped like the sportys and he got over 8k out of a rear, but i think they are tubed. And the sportys have no sign of perishing on the front even after 9k so far.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[Nexus Icon]

The only experience I have of Sava tyres were the pair fitted to the front of our old Mondeo. They were fine; grippy and with no signs of appreciable wear after several thousand miles but hey, it's not quite the same as on a bike.

[P.]

Have the exact tyres front and rear on my KH125.

I found them perfect, especially in the wet! Didnt notice any wear at all, and alexio travelled quite far on them also.

Personally for the price I got them fitted (£75) I was very impressed

[neil.]

Yeah, found a brand new pair on eBay for about £70 delivered, but I have a mate who will fit them. Anyone know any decent online/mail order tyre dealers where I might find them cheaper? So far Google hasn't turned up much.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[neil.]

[evoboy]

Running a set of MC7's on the x7 at the mo (120kg bike).

Feel fine, not slipped on me even when they were fresh on. Cant comment of life of the tyre as ive only done some 500miles on them.
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[Mark65]

I found this if it helps
https://www.nationalbiketyres.co.uk/index.php?_g=co&_a=cart
for mine they come in at £48 plus £6 delivery

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[neil.]

Hm I notice the profile/speed letter doesn't match what the Yammy manual specifies for the YBR but I'll enquire with the dealers to see if they can tell me if there is an MC7 that will still be a good fit and if the profile stuff matters too much.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[P.]

as long as it handles up to 82/86mph it should be fine?

Awesome commuter tyres and for a bit of fun riding if you have such inclination on a dodgy 2stroke 125 like me
Also, i got mine from watling tyres

[evoboy]

The only queer thing i found when fitting the tyres was the 'Max PSI Cold' pressures in each tyre.

33psi max in the rear (3.50-18) and 42psi max in the front (3.00- 18). Think this is down to the front being a reinforced for tubeless and the rear being for just tubes.

They also dont seem to have much of a rounded profile to them, which was a bit un-nerving at first when i just fitted them and took it for a 20mile spin, to see id gone almost off the edge of the tyre without much lean!

Altho ive cranked it over more since and they havent let go!
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[neil.]

Hmm the fact that the profile isn't too round could be good as I commute on a lot of straight dual carriage-ways. Also the chap I emailed about them said although they're tubeless, they should be fine on a tubed rim. Anyone know if this is the case before I part with my hard-earned?

Thanks for all the insight so far.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Robby]

See how they compared to Michelin M45s on price. At least the Michelins are from a name you're heard of. I have them on my 250 and quite like them, good deep tread.

[evoboy]

Im running them with tubes currently.

To be honest i doubt youll see much of a difference in overall grip on a small commuter bike. The tyres will out-handle the suspension! Be it the Sava's, or the M45's (which i had on the x7 before).
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Suzuki GT250 x7------- Fazer 600------CB250RS------Aprilia Rally 70----- Bandit 600

APT Motorcycles

[neil.]

Well, after 'umming and aaring' about changing to a tyre with a different profile to what's supposed to go on the bike as well as hearing that they're not reinforced, and a bit of an 'unknown' in terms of lastability, and the supplier was out of stock on one of the ones I needed... I did something completely different and went for a pair of Michelin Pilot Sportys from National Bike Tyres, £85 for the pair, delivered, which I think is quite a decent price (that's what swayed me in the end). I've heard such excellent things about them, they seem to be the best thing for a 125 like the CG or YBR. Looking forward to seeing what they're like.
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[P.]

Let me know how those tyres are... the CBR needs a new set soon!

[locked]

great stuff

Im looking at buying some pilot sportys but I just can't seem to find the right sizes at the moment. Lets us know what they are like in the wet
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on the look out for my next bike....
CBT Passed - 13/09/09 Theroy Passed - 19/12/09 Mod 1 Passed 04/05/10 Mod 2 Passed 14/05/10 - Free to ride ANYTHING!
Motorcycles are perfectly safe as long as you remember they're dangerous.

[neil.]

There is a review here which goes into a fair bit of depth:

https://125ccbikeclub.awardspace.co.uk/michelin_pilot_sporty.htm

I expect them to be excellent, with the only unknown factor to me being how many miles I'll get out of them - I hope it's a lot!
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CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[P.]

[Mark65]

Neil
Ive been running the pilot sportys for 8k now , im about to get my 3rd rear when i change the chain an sprockets, i have manged to get 3 rears to 1 front, if you are used to commuting tyres they may feel strange at first so be carefull when scrubbing them in as they just roll into corners. Other than that they are shit hot in the wet and scary in the dry for grip , tyre pressures are for me 24psi front and i settled on 38psi rear, any higher and i think they may wear too quick in the centre but just experiment with them. You will not regret buying them. As for lasting 8k for a rear, lol only if he weighs 2 stone, i can squeeze 4500 miles out of a rear, but im about 14-15 stone. annoying as its only the centre that wears quickly, the sides have plenty left in them, i may need to find a route to work with more corners .

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[P.]

[Mark65]

I would love to get that milage but we are very limited on the YBR as to what tyres are avaliable.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[neil.]

Well I got the Sportys fitted today and did my 30 mile ride home, and Mark, you're 100% right about them just rolling into corners. The handling has completely changed, for the better, much much better. Manouvering is so much more effortless, in fact it made me realise just how much I had to push/lean with the Demons to swerve and so on. It's almost like I just have to think where I want the bike to point and it goes there! Especially fantastic at little minor corrections you'll make when filtering and I noticed myself turning corners a lot faster than before, with tighter circles as well. Not like I was trying to, it just seemed to come naturally. I am truly a changed man.

[Mark65]

Awsome neil. Great tyres, just find the pressure that suits you, the y can and will rise by 4-5lbs in the summer so be wary of that, the winter seems to see a 2-3lb rise when ive checked them warm.

Mark
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07 Yamaha YBR125, 07 Honda CG125 , 15 CBR300R (Chocolate Crank, Deaded), 16 CB500FA, 19 Honda Forza 300, 70 Suzuki SV650

[neil.]