Yamaha YBR - Metzler ME22s or Michelin Pilot Streets?

[tiger blue]

I picked up my YBR yesterday, all good so far. It's done slightly over 2000 miles (14-plate) and having done a bit of reading on here and elsewhere I've been looking at the tyres.

It's currently on Cheng Shins, which I'm sure are the originals. The front is on around 3.5mm and the rear around 2.5mm. I normally change my car tyres at about 2-2.5mm, and I've not heard a good word about wet performance for these tyres, other than from the guy showing me round the bike during handover.

It seems the main contenders for decent wet weather performance are Metzler ME22s and Michelin Pilot Streets. Does anyone have any experience with these models? The sizes for the YBR are 2.75x18 and 90/90 18.

[Evil Hans]

I've been using me22s on my AJS eco (a lot like a ybr) and been pretty impressed. Good grip in the wet, and good mileage out of them ( about 8000 miles before changing the rear, front is still going strong)

Never tried the Pilots so can't compare, sorry.

[Snod Blatter]

I had an ME22 on the front of the CBX250 and it would easily howl under braking, never felt very grippy, made the bike wander around at 80MPH and then slid away from me on a wet junction. I was not impressed.

I have also tried a Pilot Activ (not quite the same but close) on the front of my K100RS (okay, very different) and it seems very nice, soft compound and soft carcass yet keeps the bike in a straight line. Michelin can't go wrong these past few years, it seems.
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1994 CB250, 1984 CBX250RS-E, 1989 K100RS, 1995 TRX850, 2016 Z250SL

[Slacker24seve...]

Pilot Streets were great on my OH's YBR. Knee down in the wet etc*


*might not have actually happened we sold it a while ago and my memory is hazy
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[Boris the spider]

I have run Michelins on my YBR for the past 3 years through all the weathers that we get. Held up well even in the snow last winter..
Never had any issues at all with them. Even in monsoon conditions.

So i will be staying with them.
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Yes I'm a pig....And yes... The working public do pay my wages. Tho I contribute to your benefits you lazy c##t. You do not pay my wages. So go fcuk yourself.

[redeem ouzzer]

The ME22 is an old tyre. Pilot Sporty Ftw.

[Slacker24seve...]

[Pigeon]

[i.p.phrealy]

basically, what everyone is saying is get rid of the Cheng Shits sharpish!

either brand will be an improvement.
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it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Val]

Fancy Michelin Pilot Streets.

Make sure you do not potato yourself and ride carefuly the first 100 miles the new tyres whatever you chose.
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Adrian Monk: Unless I'm wrong, which, you know, I'm not...
Yamaha Fazer FZS 600, MT09, XSR 900

[Matt B]

[blackline]

They still need scrubbing in whatever the reason, urban myth or not. So it's still worth taking care for a number of miles.

I went from Chinese no brand to Michelin Pilot Street Radials on my old 125. £50 each for 110 front and 130 rear.

It completely transformed the bike, not just on grip but the feel from the steering, it was much more eager to lean, a smoother ride, and a huge improvement in every way as you would imagine.
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Suzuki 600 Bandit MK2

[P.addy]

They don't need scrubbing in. Just ride as you would. Stop being faggots.

[Val]