PRODUCT REVIEW
up to Auckland , the Rally was getting used more as a weekend adventure toy rather than as a commuter . So , I opted to switch them out for the Shinkos as I needed a 50 / 50 tyre to balance out the long stretches of tar between the fun gravel roads and trails of NZ . Being tight on funds , the Shinkos looked to offer the best bang for my buck on the market .
13 MONTHS ON In the 13 months since I first had them fitted , the E804 and 805 have seen me through the 42 Traverse , big road touring kilometres ( including a nearly 700km day riding from Cambridge to Upper Hutt ), all the way through the Molesworth and Rainbow Stations in the South Island and heaps of gravel up here in the North . With a price tag of $ 130 for the rear ( 120 / 90- 18 ) and $ 92 for the front ( 90 / 90-21 ), I ’ ve been able to see an incredible amount of the country for what is a very small investment in tyres .
ON THE TAR When it comes to riding on the big stretches of road before things get adventurous , the Shinkos have done well . They ’ re quiet and roll along comfortably without causing any stress on the rider ’ s senses , yet they ’ ve got plenty of grip to really have some fun when the road gets twisty . When the highway turns damp , I ’ ve not experienced any slips , slides or unwanted skids from the Shinkos ; though I will say that rain riding on the bike has been limited . I don ’ t go out looking to ride in the rain , but when I ’ ve been caught out , they ’ ve been as composed in the wet as they have been in the dry . Keep in mind I try to ride to the conditions and don ’ t go pushing them hard in the wet on public
102 KIWI RIDER