I have pretty much standardized on the 880 as a rear tire on my GTS. It obviously isn't a soft rubber sport bike tire for running Deals gap, but it does hold amazingly well. The best part is I just finished a 13,000 mile run from St. Augustine to Mexico to Alaska back to St. Augustine, riding the Rendezvous 02 Rally and I still have a little tread left on the tire. I'd say it was good test under all conditions for the tire....desert heat to snow/ice, mountain peak roads to wet monkey snot slick mud and gravel, high speed to walk around curves.
The 880 is a big tire and the GTS will set a little higher in the rear. It holds it's round shape, without flat spotting from highway travel, as good as any tire. I use a different tire on the front, hoping to improve handling. I have normally used the Avon Azaro II radial combined with the 880. It gives me equal life. Most of my riding is on Florida roads. Others that do a lot of switchback riding do not get the high mileage I get. I had to change front tires on my last ride because I allowed the pressure to drop below 40 psig and the tire cupped badly before I corrected the problem. The MC shop in White Horse, BC did not have an Avon so I put on a Michelin Pilot. I was pleasantly surprised how well the Pilot worked and handled. It made the GTS steering totally neutral. The Azaro requires a little steering pressure in high speed turns. It wants to straighten back up. It took me awhile to stop over steering and simply allow the bike to go where my eyes pointed it. When I did get used to it. I have to admit I like it better than the Azaro. I have about 3,000 miles on it, it has plenty of thread left, and it looks like it will last as long as the Azaro's do. If it does, it may me my front standard. I have never found any problem in combining a bias rear and a radial front....I have done it for tens of thousands of miles, despite it being illegal to do in England and said to be dangerous. Most racers will tell you they combine radials and bias all the time. The advantage of bias over radial is they are a little more predictable to when they will break loose. hawke On 6/24/02 12:15 AM, "Bob J." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > John or any of the other LD riders; > What has been anyones experience with the Metzler 880? I have a set of > Bridgestones 020 and have only gotten about 2500 to 3000 miles on them and > they need to be replaced. I am thinking about the 880 as a replacement for > more milage. Can anyone give me any feedback on milage and stick? > > Bob >
