Now... after some 2000kms the tires still have those nipples... but I can tell they are a vast improvement over the Pirelli MT80's they replaced. A one day trip to Karpenissi, was a revelation at how stable and secure the tires felt... Especially on that narrow twisting road, I managed to scratch my footpegs a few times! Amazing! On the way back, the same (almost brand new, admittedly) asphalt, was hit by a light rain for the first few km's. The tires held up really well, considering the bike was also FULLY loaded!
Now for the chain and sprockets. I bought the bike used, in 1997. It is a '94 model. The original gearing is 16/43. The first owner had it reduced to 15/43 (from the F650ST), which did the bike a few good things: It made it more lively in standing starts, and quite easier in thick traffic, where, the bike spends MOST of its time. As for the top speed, I could very easily see an indicated 185km/h (115mph) right at the redline (7500rpm).
What was bothersome in the really few times the bike spent time in motorways, was that at an indicated 140km/h (85mph), the engine was buzzing already close to being uncomfortable, at around 6500rpm.
A really short 50km round trip on the motorway, now with the original gearing of 16/43, showed that it can do 140km/h at about 5000rpm, while the "bad" spot is around 5500. I will admit, however, that the bike has lost a LOT of its nerve in city traffic, and now, it needs quite a lot of clutch slipping to move around stopped traffic. Everything in the favor of travelling? We will see...
The new tires, were fitted at Motoroda shop
