Just fitted Michelin Power 5s and scintered/organic pads to my K7

[steve porter]

One of the problems with "Super Sticky Tyres" is that yes they may be stickier than others, But, and it`s a big BUT is that they aren`t necessarily any stickier until they are bloody hot and may in fact not be as sticky as a more road oriented tyre when not up to the temperatures you can only achieve on a track or riding like a lunatic.

[SA14]

One of the problems with "Super Sticky Tyres" is that yes they may be stickier than others, But, and it`s a big BUT is that they aren`t necessarily any stickier until they are bloody hot and may in fact not be as sticky as a more road oriented tyre when not up to the temperatures you can only achieve on a track or riding like a lunatic.

That's actually a good point. I think I'll keep the Michelins for now. I've always liked Michelin tyres on my cars and have a good feeling about the brand in general. I think of all the items needing attention they might be on the bottom of the list. One thing they mentioned was the very high pressures. When fitted they pumped them up to 42psi. They suggested a softer 36psi at most - especially as a solo rider even at my weight (about 120kg).

[Sweaty]

Steve is spot on with what he is saying SA14 & the Power 5 you have on are even more than you need from how you are describing your riding. I went from Pirelli to the Michelin road 5's which are not as sticky as the Power 5's, and they were a great tyre all round, till i sold my bike. This was with spirited riding, with wear from edge to edge & scraping the pegs.
The guy's you have taken it too are just treating everyone as a Track day Racer & pushing their own agenda by the sounds of it. For them to tell you to take them off, is really a bloody joke.
I know a lot of the boys on here are running Pirelli Angel Gt or Michelin Pilot Road 3-5 and are not just cruising. And you have on tyres that are even sticker again. No need to change them & they are a tyre you can have full confidence in.

Road 4 ==> Road 5 (commuting)

Power 2CT / Pilot Power 3 ==> Power 5 (85% road - 15% track)

[SA14]

Steve is spot on with what he is saying SA14 & the Power 5 you have on are even more than you need from how you are describing your riding. I went from Pirelli to the Michelin road 5's which are not as sticky as the Power 5's, and they were a great tyre all round, till i sold my bike. This was with spirited riding, with wear from edge to edge & scraping the pegs.
The guy's you have taken it too are just treating everyone as a Track day Racer & pushing their own agenda by the sounds of it. For them to tell you to take them off, is really a bloody joke.
I know a lot of the boys on here are running Pirelli Angel Gt or Michelin Pilot Road 3-5 and are not just cruising. And you have on tyres that are even sticker again. No need to change them & they are a tyre you can have full confidence in.

Road 4 ==> Road 5 (commuting)

Power 2CT / Pilot Power 3 ==> Power 5 (85% road - 15% track)

Thanks man, that makes me feel even better. Sounds like for my riding almost any tyre would be more than I'd ever need. It had an instant effect on my confidence riding home. I was off the front brake and mostly using the rears (mostly slow gentle under 60kmh riding) and felt the hesitation leaning into bends. I'll use these Michelins to get my legs again and see after that. Might put the money into better seating though as numb bum is a real issue as opposed to imaginary (or minuscule) tyre thing. I really do want to like the Michelins. They look great (not an issue but still) I'll never push them and like was mentioned "as if Michelin would build a dangerous tyre". I've done serious searching this morning and can't find anyone who says a bad thing about them. Money wasn't an object so I thought I was buying  the best. Seems I wasn't far off so I'll stick with them for now.

Thanks again.

[steve porter]

Steve is spot on with what he is saying SA14 & the Power 5 you have on are even more than you need from how you are describing your riding. I went from Pirelli to the Michelin road 5's which are not as sticky as the Power 5's, and they were a great tyre all round, till i sold my bike. This was with spirited riding, with wear from edge to edge & scraping the pegs.
The guy's you have taken it too are just treating everyone as a Track day Racer & pushing their own agenda by the sounds of it. For them to tell you to take them off, is really a bloody joke.
I know a lot of the boys on here are running Pirelli Angel Gt or Michelin Pilot Road 3-5 and are not just cruising. And you have on tyres that are even sticker again. No need to change them & they are a tyre you can have full confidence in.

Road 4 ==> Road 5 (commuting)

Power 2CT / Pilot Power 3 ==> Power 5 (85% road - 15% track)

Ordered a set of Road 5 for mine a week or so ago, and even though I've never tried them I am 100% confident that they will do the job, bloody COVID post is taking forever these days I expected them before the weekend, but I will have wait and fit them when the eventually come

[steve porter]

One of the problems with "Super Sticky Tyres" is that yes they may be stickier than others, But, and it`s a big BUT is that they aren`t necessarily any stickier until they are bloody hot and may in fact not be as sticky as a more road oriented tyre when not up to the temperatures you can only achieve on a track or riding like a lunatic.

That's actually a good point. I think I'll keep the Michelins for now. I've always liked Michelin tyres on my cars and have a good feeling about the brand in general. I think of all the items needing attention they might be on the bottom of the list. One thing they mentioned was the very high pressures. When fitted they pumped them up to 42psi. They suggested a softer 36psi at most - especially as a solo rider even at my weight (about 120kg).

I'm the same weight as you and tried 36 in the Dunlop rear  I am currently running and it started to feather the leading edge of the treads so I put it back up to 42 and it has smoothed out again, couldn't actually feel any difference though

[KiwiCol]

I'm close to the same weight as you 2 guys, 122 - 125Kg.  When my rear tire is on 36, it feels sort of mushy n moves about when leaned over.  Same tire 40 - 42 much better & holds a line easier.  Straight up highway riding, I doubt I'd notice any difference between 36 & 40.

[steve porter]

I think us fat bastards equal two Japanese test riders so I always go with two up settings

[Hooli]

Riding around on 36 in the rear feels like the tyre is flat.

[Kiwifruit]

Had 3 sets of Pilot Road 4's, now into my second pair of Road 5's.
With the 4's l ran 36f,38r on the road couple of pounds more 2up and loaded with luggage. Second track day and it was recommended l drop the pressures. I dropped them to 30lb front and rear. Bit spongy for a couple of laps then they came good. Got to 34 fr and 35r and they were hot and stunk of rubber when l came in after our 15m sessions. Put them back to 36/38 to ride home.
With the 5's l was told to run 38/42. Will have them on in December when l've booked another track day.
The softer compound on the shoulders of the tyre are good for confidence in the event of having to tip it over further than normally you have to.
Wearing out a set a year it would seem.

[Sweaty]

I'm only 80kgs, I should of only had 28 psi in mine then   

[Kiwifruit]

Sweaty you can make tyre pressure adjustments by how many pies you eat and beersies you drink 

[SA14]

Thanks for all the comments guys (I love forums!) I'll try 38-40 on the rears and see how that feels. They agreed that with my riding the Michies will be fine for finding my legs again and I will most likely never push them to their limits.

But the BIG news is I just got back from there and the bike feels TOTALLY different (in the brake department) and for a good reason as you'll see by the pics. Not only were they damaged on the install (grrrrr  ) by using a big old screwdriver to spread the stubbon pads apart but half the pistons were slow and a few were barely working! He estimated that I was using mostly only one or two pistons to stop. He cleaned them up, lubricated them, removed some brake fluid from the system (waaay too full he said) and also lubed my lever which he said was bone dry. Now all are fully operational and I can tell the difference immediately.

Take a look at the pics and remember these brake pads were barely used and only traveled 150km and are barely 1 week old! The wear pattern was totally off with one side per disc doing nearly all of the work and the other barely working. He said the side with all the wear were almost certainly pushing hard on the disc all the time and you know, I did notice is was much harder to push around and was very noisy on the front like they were on.

I'm not happy but now...the bike stops fantastically! I used the fronts almost exclusively on the 20km ride home and they were smooth, progressive and I even had an emergency stop (ish) and I was able to control the braking with a smooth squeeze until the front loaded up and I was able to really squeeze to a hard rapid stop. Totally controllable. It's like I've suddenly become a much better rider. 

Since getting the bike the front brakes were really sensitive and grabbing with only the slightest touch so to be honest I avoided using them and almost entirely relied on the rears. I just thought they were super good at stopping and I didn't know how to squeeze properly but it wasn't that at all. It was that the pistons came on suddenly instead of smoothly for the reasons mentioned above.

...and now, pics!

[KiwiCol]

I'm only 80kgs, I should of only had 28 psi in mine then   

80! Eat some food ya skinny bugger! 

[KiwiCol]

Yeah, well, as for the pad wear & calipers sticking, you'll get that if she's been left laid up.  Stripping & cleaning them isn't difficult & saves ending up with the pic's above.  There are good tutorials on here  regarding the caliper cleaning.

But, glad you've got it sorted & you're now wiser on the brake front.