Tire and brake question

SJ96F3 · 01-28-2005, 2:54 PM

So I have a 1996 CBR600F3 and I am shopping for new tires this spring. I'm sure this question has been covered somewhere (probably several times) but I'm too lazy to look for the archive. Any suggestions on the best tire. I was planning on going with the Dunlop 208 but thought since there is such a breadth of experience on this site I would ask. I plan on doing at least one track day (Grattan) this year and it will be my first ever so I don't need a sticky track tire, just a good streetable tire that can hold up on the track.

Secondly, I just got some new brake pads (EBC in the front, Ferodo in the rear). Would there be a noticeable improvement if I switched over to stainless steel lines?

Thanks for any feedback.

ccwilli3 · 01-28-2005, 3:04 PM

I personally like the Pirelli Diablo or the Bridgeston BT012SS better. The standard 208 from dunlop just doesn't do it for me...

soon2b954 · 01-28-2005, 3:14 PM

I have to give a big

up on the M1's I put on last year. I will probably try the Diablo's next for a change.

HondaGalToo · 01-28-2005, 3:20 PM

Yup, M1s or Diablos would be my choice as well. I seem to recall that they don't make a Diablo Corsa for your rear wheel, but some of the guys in my track club put a Diablo Corsa on the front and a Diablo on the rear. You could put a Diablo on the front as well.

I find that stainless lines make a noticable difference. Easy enough to install and not hugely expensive.

See you at Grattan!

tigerblade · 01-28-2005, 3:30 PM

Definitely do the brake lines.

SJ96F3 · 01-28-2005, 3:47 PM

Stainless or kevlar?

02FBlade · 01-28-2005, 3:52 PM

I'll second the BT012ss. Good, cheap street tire and will work good at the track.

stainless or kev? Both much better than stock! Get good fluid, clean your brakes really well and rotors when you do the lines.

Bleed! bleed, bleed!!! Air is your emeny!

BDA116 · 01-28-2005, 4:09 PM

I know I've tried to help you on the F3 before, and according to the wizards I know nothing about them.
That said, I will tell you that the Diablo works great on the F3 in the 180 size. It raises your rear end a bit and helps with turn in.
Get the stainless lines as well, it is night and day different. I will also say that the EBC HH pads didn't work well for me - but you may have a different experience with them. To be honest, the Pro Honda pads are really some of the best all around for that bike. The pads I used for racing are not good for all around riding, but the Honda pads or the Vesrah are great all arounders.

SJ96F3 · 01-28-2005, 4:14 PM

There's no problem fitting a 180 on the F3?

HondaGalToo · 01-28-2005, 4:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

I know I've tried to help you on the F3 before, and according to the wizards I know nothing about them.
That said, I will tell you that the Diablo works great on the F3 in the 180 size. It raises your rear end a bit and helps with turn in.
Get the stainless lines as well, it is night and day different. I will also say that the EBC HH pads didn't work well for me - but you may have a different experience with them. To be honest, the Pro Honda pads are really some of the best all around for that bike. The pads I used for racing are not good for all around riding, but the Honda pads or the Vesrah are great all arounders.

Was it this guy you were helping? I do recall you giving a lot of excellent info to someone who has an F2/F3, etc. Hopefully they listened.

BDA116 · 01-28-2005, 4:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

There's no problem fitting a 180 on the F3?

Not the Pirelli. I ran various Pirelli compounds in the 180/50 and 180/55 sizes and it handled better with the 180 than their 160 and 170 counterparts.
The narrower rim pinches the tire just a bit, changing the profile of the tire slightly. That makes the bike turn in quicker, yet still has a good contact patch.

HondaGalToo · 01-28-2005, 4:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

There's no problem fitting a 180 on the F3?

Not if BDA says it's ok, he's got experience with that bike. What's the stock size? 170? Usually you can go up one size (but no more) and it's fine. I'd go with stainless. Although I've had kevlar on my Duc for years, some say they don't hold up as well to the elements. Both stainless and kevlar do the same thing, which is put more pressure right to the caliper, whereas the rubber lines will "give", taking away some pressure to the calipers.

SJ96F3 · 01-28-2005, 4:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HondaGalToo

Was it this guy you were helping? I do recall you giving a lot of excellent info to someone who has an F2/F3, etc. Hopefully they listened.

We had a little damper question earlier that got quite heavily debated by several of the members. It's still a hung jury on that one.

The stock tire was a 160/60 but I have heard of people fitting a 180/50 or 180/55 I just wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not.

HondaGalToo · 01-28-2005, 4:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

We had a little damper question earlier that got quite heavily debated by several of the members. It's still a hung jury on that one.

The stock tire was a 160/60 but I have heard of people fitting a 180/50 or 180/55 I just wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not.

Generally, only one size up is ok, but there's exceptions. BDA says this is one, so I'd say you'd be fine. They make the Diablo Corsa in that size. The guys I know with that generation bike either kept the 160 or went to 170, as they had to use the Diablo rear. So, if you go with the 180, get Diablo Corsas instead of Diablos. Just my

BDA, the Pirellis that gave no problem in that size...does that include the Diablo Corsa?

BDA116 · 01-28-2005, 5:29 PM

Yeah, the Corsa will work as well.

Seeker · 01-29-2005, 8:18 PM

[quote=SJ96F3]Any suggestions on the best tire. I plan on doing at least one track day (Grattan) this year and it will be my first ever so I don't need a sticky track tire, just a good streetable tire that can hold up on the track.
/QUOTE]

Depends, best tire for what?
Also, you don't mention your experience level, nor the type onf intensity you'll be riding at the track with. I've used BT-10, 012, 012SS, Pilot Sports at the track. They all work.

SJ96F3 · 01-31-2005, 10:49 AM

[quote=Seeker]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

Any suggestions on the best tire. I plan on doing at least one track day (Grattan) this year and it will be my first ever so I don't need a sticky track tire, just a good streetable tire that can hold up on the track.
/QUOTE]

Depends, best tire for what?
Also, you don't mention your experience level, nor the type onf intensity you'll be riding at the track with. I've used BT-10, 012, 012SS, Pilot Sports at the track. They all work.

Probably not much intensity at all. This will be my first track day so I want to focus on things other than tires. That's why I'd like to get a tire that will work well on the track but behaves decent on the street. I think the Diablo has been the overall concensus from this thread and I think the Corsa is probably excessive unless I find myself at the track more frequently. So getting back to an earlier item brought up by BDA, the Diablo comes in both sizes, the stock 160/60 and the 180/55. You would mount the 180 BDA? Is it significantly wider than the 160 because it doesn't seem like there is a heck of a lot of room to play around back there.

BDA116 · 01-31-2005, 11:29 AM

Yes, I would go with the 180. I did for years.

SJ96F3 · 01-31-2005, 4:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

Yes, I would go with the 180. I did for years.

Cool, I appreciate your advice.

CBR929RE · 01-31-2005, 5:00 PM

how about the Pilot Sport. I'm still sorta waiting on reviews from more experienced people than me to chime in on them. I like them but have only put a few hundred miles on them and don't have a lot of tire experience. I went from Pilot Sports before and feel the Powers are light years ahead of them. There was one review on here from someone I think in Florida, Vizsladog44 (I think it was him) and he said they were great on the track.
They come in a 160, 180 and 190 rears. no idea if you can squeeze one of those 180s on there though.

02FBlade · 01-31-2005, 5:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

how about the Pilot Sport. I'm still sorta waiting on reviews from more experienced people than me to chime in on them. I like them but have only put a few hundred miles on them and don't have a lot of tire experience. I went from Pilot Sports before and feel the Powers are light years ahead of them. There was one review on here from someone I think in Florida, Vizsladog44 (I think it was him) and he said they were great on the track.
They come in a 160, 180 and 190 rears. no idea if you can squeeze one of those 180s on there though.

I hear the new powers are pretty good. I had the pilots stock on the 954. That is the worse cold tire I've ever ridden. Worse cold grip than a race tire. I was always draggin the first few miles at the gap cause of the unwillingness of the pilots to warm up. I strongly advise you to skip any pilot you find. But let me restate I hear the Powers are really great. I don't care for dunlop street tires either..but love their race tires.

SJ96F3 · 02-01-2005, 8:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBR929RE

how about the Pilot Sport. I'm still sorta waiting on reviews from more experienced people than me to chime in on them. I like them but have only put a few hundred miles on them and don't have a lot of tire experience. I went from Pilot Sports before and feel the Powers are light years ahead of them. There was one review on here from someone I think in Florida, Vizsladog44 (I think it was him) and he said they were great on the track.
They come in a 160, 180 and 190 rears. no idea if you can squeeze one of those 180s on there though.

I think I just read the post you are refering to. I think the "tire" question is one that you get as many different answers to as people you ask. That's why I posted this thread was to see what kind of experience people have had with a mid-90s F3 because it's handling characteristics are much different than those of a new 600.

CBR929RE · 02-01-2005, 2:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

I think I just read the post you are refering to. I think the "tire" question is one that you get as many different answers to as people you ask. That's why I posted this thread was to see what kind of experience people have had with a mid-90s F3 because it's handling characteristics are much different than those of a new 600.

yup its one of those things where no one can try every possible combination and it really just comes down to presonal preference.

I definetly for one couldn't have been happier getting rid of the Sports even though I had no problem with them (other than the pinhole I got in the rear which caused me to switch them out). I don't know what your previous experience is with tires but for me I didn't really know what a good tire was like because I only had the Sports and on my old bike a Pirelli Sport Demon in back and not even sure what was in front. But when you're experiences aren't up at the top of good list then you'll probably love whatever good tire you put on there.

I just noticed in my earlier post I said "How about the Pilot Sport" I meant Pilot Power but I think everyone figured that out.