Conti Sport Attack

I went a tyre huntin this morning after letting the pollies know who I thought should be the person to show the world who we Aussies are!

After attempting to track down someone in Melbourne with a set of Racetech's or even Rennsports, I gave up and started to look for a deal on an alternative. After getting to know Laurie Genova at 1300Kawasaki in Ringwood, I had a set of Continental Sport Attacks fitted to see what they were like. Some of the dodgy UK Mag tests had rated them and sum of those "telligent Mericans" reckoned they were OK also.

It ended up being a bit of a drama in the end. I had them fitted up, paid for them and hopped on my bike to ride home. All felt pretty good as new tyres tend to do, with nice tip in with an unworn profile. Pretty soon I hit the freeway and cranked it up. I hit 112klms an hour and the front end started shaking. It was so bad the mirrors were flapping up and down as was the fairing stay and the faster I went, the worse it got with it eventually making the front wheel lift off the ground with the oscillation.

I u-Turned and went back. Initially I got the usually BS about it balancing perfectly, It must be a wheel bearing...no maybe the head bearings!!! Once the excuses were countered with logic one by one, he eventually agreed to remove the front wheel and have a look. So he put it on the balancer and to my eye (it was a bearing balancer not an electronic one) it was too heavy on the weights. He disagreed and reckoned it was perfectly balanced and that it was the tyre that had outer surface runout!!! I also couldn't see the run out, but I wasn't going to argue any more and figured provided he balanced it properly this time it should be OK! He spent 30 mins making sure it balanaced up and I was off. I still can feel a little vibration, so I still maintain it is not the tyre. So Monday I am going to pull the wheels out and take them over to a mates place and balance them up on his properly!!!! I am sure they will be fine!

Now, what are they like? They are supposed to be the equivelent of a pilot Power/M3/015/Diablo etc., However I reckon they may be just a tad softer than M3's, and the like. I had them scrubbed in within a few turns and they warmed up pretty fast. I had the rear on it's edge by the third corner off the Yarra Blvd and the grip is good as is turn in and stability once on it's side. I ran up to the end of the blvd making sure it was A.clear of U NO Hoo! and B. the tyres were good and scrubbed and well warm! I U-Turned up the end and pinned it for a key in brain out red hot crack! Feck I love ridin Muddaboiks like a fruitloop!!! I really wanted to see how grippy these things were, so I started banging it on its side as hard as I could to try and break one of the ends loose and see what the reaction was like..........But fecked if I could get it walking around. I'll have another crack up a road I know well tomorrow and let you know what they are really like!

Somehow I think the mileage might be limited. One run up and back of the Blvd had the edges balling up already! These might make a good cold weather tyre I think. Today was only 22 here in Melbourne, so It wasn't hot at all. I'll report back tomorrow.

Give It The Berries Fred !!

:twisted: Give It The Berries Fred !!

After paying FAT 9Fuck Around Tax)in time, I was in a mood Gos! You know the ones! Where you coudn't really give a toss if you piffed it!!!

I hope I don't regret putting these on as much as I regretted that cheap Avon rear in Sydney which only just did the trip home, or that set of 002 Street compound which left the bike way before they were near used!

They felt OK in the limited time i had on them. But, I am not going to offer a proper opinion untill I have had a chance to hit the hills! Which, BTW, I intend doing tomorrow and taking advantage of the fine and sunny 26 degree temps predicted for where I will be riding, and 23-24 in Melbourne. Perfect.

we recently had a BMW R1200R test bike and it was fitted with the conti's, gotta say after a multiple knee and pegs down run with the boys - on a closed test circuit - I was pretty impressed. wasnt sure if it was the surefootedness on the telelever or the quality of the tyre, still they seemed to go pretty well.

saying that they will not be getting put on any of my bikes, i love the M3's

Today was just about the perfect day for riding in Melbourne and surrounds. 23-26 depending on where we were, sunshine all day and just a slight breeze to keep the temps down. Noice!!

I'll do a ride report later and fill you in on the fun. 600+klms were done today with some very capable riders alongside so it was a perfect hit out for the Conti Sport Attacks. Even though overseas feedback has been positive, I tend to like to reserve my opinions till I've had a real crack at something. Today was that opportunity with a good variety of roads with varying surfaces and again...some capable pilots alongside!

I left the tyres at recommended pressures to start with (36F 40R) and in the end left them there! They warmed up quickly, turned in nicely, handled roads bumps, ripples and debris without complaint, but best of all they gripped tenaciously!!!

Once again, I will have to reserve a final opinion when I have worn them out and know what mileage they give, but from the ride, handling and grip perspective they were faultless. A big thumbs up at this point!

Price ?

Price ?

The sticker price was $480 fitted.

A little over 2000klms on the Conti's now and they appear to be wearing OK at this point. Another flat out 600 klms was done on them yesterday with some adhesion challenged surfaces to test out how they handled....Cow poo, Snakes, Sand, Gravel, 12 inch deep potholes, Sticks, Tar snakes, Corrugations, Ruts, tram tracks, bumps, moss and water. They stood up pretty well and at this point will put another set on before a set of M3's!

....Cow poo, Snakes, Sand, Gravel, 12 inch deep potholes, Sticks, Tar snakes, Corrugations, Ruts, tram tracks, bumps, moss and water. They stood up pretty well and at this point will put another set on before a set of M3's! .......

and whats more folks, all this was just on the freeway heading out of Melbourne !!! fuck me dead the country roads must be a bitch !!

Looks like I'll have to keep them in mind for when I wear out the Rensports

Looks like I'll have to keep them in mind for when I wear out the Rensports

They are not Rennsport/Racetech turn in or grip qualities though Mick. I would love some tyres which turn and grip like rennies or racetechs but last like an M3 or a Pilot!!! But as a road tyre, they appear pretty damn good at this point. They also have remained pretty stable with grip levels, without any noticeable deterioration of the grip as it wears. One interesting thing I have noticed with the Conti's though, is that they tell you when they are at the right temp for a dip. What I mean is, as the tyre warms to it's optimum temp (or as near to it as I can get on the road) they start changing in feel. You start with cold tryes like normal and they grip fine from the get go. Then you get into the twisties and start playing a little and although the tyre grips fine, it just hasn't the feel of a stickier tyre. But then, after 20 or 30 turns, when the whole things is working hard, they "come in" and give this feel of immense grip. Almost like they could never let go! It's very confidence inspiring. Other tyres do the same thing, but not to the extent these things do.

Yeah I realise that the turn in and grip won't be the same, I was thinking more in terms of a reasonably priced tyre for when these ones where out...I'm always willing to try new things

I had Cath/Endo from supercheap tyres on the Gold Coast fit my Sport Attacks to the ZX14 a week ago. We went for a quick blat on cold tyres, by the time we got to the end of the road there was already heat in the Conti's

Dry riding I rate them much better than Pilot Powers, won`t want to puch them too hard in the wet (reckon the OEM Bridgestones were better there). So far have done 1500km's on them and loving them ...

..I'm always willing to try new things .....

I'll keep *that* in mind for the next Fart'N'Snore sandwich !!!

..I'm always willing to try new things .....

I'll keep *that* in mind for the next Fart'N'Snore sandwich !!!

I said new things