[Badgermat]

At just under 8,000 kms the OE MT60s on my Icon are definitely getting a bit shaggy. Not down to the cords or anything, but the rear is on the limit and definitely sub-optimal feel-wise (probably not more than another 1,500 kms in the front even if I'm careful).

So, I'm interested to hear from anyone who has swapped from MT60s to Angel GTs.

I know they'll likely last a lot longer, but how does the overall grip compare, is the ride noticeably harsher and how are they on less than perfect tarmac?

Almost all my riding is on tarmac, although some of the roads around here can be pretty ropey (think endless rough old chipseal plus lots of cracks, tarmac ripples and general decay). When I do ride off tarmac, it's only on reasonably solid gravel roads.

Thanks

bm

 

[greer]

I'll have to look and see the mileage on my GT's, around 6000-7000 miles I think, I have no complaints at all. Our gravel driveway can get a little rough sometimes but the tires have never spooked me.

Sarah

 

[Damnation]

My MT-60s lasted a mere 5700 km, then again I am a heavy rider and tend to use the throttle for what it's worth. The Angel GT front tyre however has so far lasted 12000 km. I'm on my second Angel GT rear tyre, the first one lasted about 8000 km including 2 track days. There was pattern left but cracks started to appear in the rubber from lateral force.. This is what the second tyre went through on its first day.

As I switched tyres, rear spring and forks at the same time and I wouldn't know how much of a difference they make, but I'm certain they brake better. The roads I tend to ride are mostly, as you describe, less than perfect and they haven't let me down yet. They do their job on wet roads aswell but I haven't tested their limits as thoroghly in the rain.

I recommend them as long if you "only" ride on tarmac.The only negative aspect is a visual one - unless you remove the exhaust and footpegs you will get chicken strips, they are rounder than the MT-60s.

 

[stavely]

I have about 2500 km on my set of GT's so far, so i can't comment on wear really, but I can on handling. Although they hardly looked touched at this stage so you can see already that they will last loads longer than 60's. My rear 60 was shot at 8200km for comparison. I run 36/36 pressures in both types of tyre.
They raise the rear ride height substantially enough to need to alter the mirrors, a lot!
Their grip is at least as good ( nothing wrong with the 60's though) and the GT's are a bit more "pointy" than the 60's. So they steer faster and feel much lighter to flick the bike from side to side. On the 60's i raised the ride height using the preload to quicken the steering but on GT's i have set it back one notch and they still feel quicker steering than the 60's. At toe scraping angles in tighter corners they feel a little nervous compared to the 60's but thats just an acceptable trade off for quicker steering generally. The 60's had a really nice planted feel at any speed.
The comfort at touring speeds is just fine. No different really now, although when I first fitted them they took a while to "break in" and felt a little harsher for a while. Maybe a stiffer carcass or maybe just a brand new verses old and battered feeling.
On the 2Kms of dirt/gravel track from my house to tarmac they behave fine, but i ride a lot of enduro so a moving tyre's not a big issue for me.
Overall I'm really happy with them, they do feel different but it's swings and roundabouts, but they do look like they'll last ages longer.
I paid 280 euro for the pair at a ride in ride out place. That was cheap for Spain.

 

[Badgermat]

Thanks for the input everyone. Very helpful.

New Angel GTs fitted today, but since I've ridden less than 10km on slightly damp roads there's not much to say. Well, apart from the fact that the front looks quite skinny compared to the MT60.

Looking forward to the weekend.

bm

 

[Ramarren]

... The only negative aspect is a visual one - unless you remove the exhaust and footpegs you will get chicken strips, they are rounder than the MT-60s.

Sorry to ask this question on an older thread: What do you mean by "chicken strips"? I've never heard that expression before.
Thanks!

 

[Damnation]

Sorry to ask this question on an older thread: What do you mean by "chicken strips"? I've never heard that expression before.
Thanks!

The part of the tyre that hasn't touched the tarmac:

I did manage to wear them down during the last trackday but I scraped 1 cm off the right peg in the process.

 

[stavely]

I am amazed Damnation that you can go this far over without clouting the exhaust.
My pegs touch and then the exhaust almost immediately. Have you fitted another exhaust?

 

[Ramarren]

The part of the tyre that hasn't touched the tarmac:
View attachment 21985

I did manage to wear them down during the last trackday but I scraped 1 cm off the right peg in the process.

Ah, thank you. I think my crowd used to call them "poser stripes" ... the bald portion down the center of the tire contrasted nicely against the brand new, untouched shoulders. The smarter posers would go get track day take offs to replace their tires with.

I've just gotten too old to care anymore, and nobody looks at my tires anymore anyway.

 

[Damnation]

I am amazed Damnation that you can go this far over without clouting the exhaust.
My pegs touch and then the exhaust almost immediately. Have you fitted another exhaust?

Yes, the Zard high mount is the only exhaust i have found without a pipe under the engine.

I really got rid of my fear of scraping pegs last weekend:

Next mission, scraping the knee. One more trackday this year.

 

[Ramarren]

LOL ... And here I am looking at the SC-Project low pipe because it routes the exhaust from the rear cylinder down and back, rather than around and forward, to minimize the broiling of my right thigh in traffic...

(Far as I can tell from the photos, it tucks in nice and tight to provide good cornering clearance as well. I don't worry about bashing it off-road because I'm not really intent on off-road riding...)

 

[stavely]

Damnation, good work that man!
Trackdays are the best place to learn kneedown, you can hang your arse off a little more each lap until your knee touches, you keep repeating the same corners regularly so you get there pretty quick.

 

[ScrambleEgg-Pepe]

My SCR has them and they're going very well. I used to have a MTS1200 GranTurismo and it's feet are Angel GT, they were great everywhere.

 

[Dutch]

Wow, just got these tires installed and what a different feeling. Great contact.