Model: Michelin Road 5
Info: http://www.roadguide.co.nz/
products/187-michelin_road/11441-
michelin_road_5_tyre_sport_tou.aspx
Price: Front 120/70-17 $239
Rear 180/55-17 $349
The handling is light but not flighty.
Mid-corner the bike feels planted, solid
and dependable. Inspiring confidence and
willing me to lean further. The tyres give
good feedback as to what the road is doing
beneath me. Exiting the corner, I feel I have
the grip to be able to pile on the power, such
as my MT-07 produces.
In the wet, the R5s give the confidence to be
able to ride the bike properly. I don’t feel like
I need to ride bolt upright or risk losing the
bike beneath me. At one stage I was hardly
able to see two car lengths ahead of me due
to the rain – there was surface water and
flooding everywhere. But aqua-planing or
losing traction was the least of my problems.
32 KIWI RIDER
TECH
Michelin’s 2CT+ technology means the
centre section the tyres and the base of
the shoulders are made of more durable
rubber, with the soft compound performance
shoulders laid over top. This means that even
when leaning over in the corner, the tyre
retains its rigidity and give good feedback
to the rider, apparently. The shoulders have
fewer cuts in them for water management,
meaning there is a greater surface of the tyre
in contact with the road. The more durable
compound in the centre is wider, improving
highway mileage. And even on cold mornings,
the tyres have ample grip from cold, which is
reassuring.
Aesthetically, I find that some tread patterns
give bikes a more aggressive look, which is
certainly true in the case of the R5s.
So after around 2000kmsof commuting, I’m
pretty happy with Michelin Road 5s. In my
next update I will take the MT-07 for a decent
run on the open road, and see how they feel
on a decent bit of tar seal.