Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Friend of mine got a pair of Ultrasoft 003 Shinkos fitted to his R1 at Micks the other day (they even have u-soft written on the sidewalls). Complained rather vocally to me the next day about the 2 and a half hour wait (he'd obviously never got tyres off Mick before) then the next day tells me that they are practically impossible to scrub all the way to the edges no matter how far he seems to lean. The day after that he is complaining to me that he doesn't like them and that they slide around too much. I assumed they are sliding round too much while he is trying to scrub them all the way to the edges. Got all pouty and said he is going back to Dunlops next time. Funny thing is, I told him to go to Micks, but I had recommended 012 Bridgestones. They stick like s*&t to a blanket on my ZZR11 so I assume they will stick a lot better on something as light as an R1. Mick was the one who talked him into Shinkos. Anyone here tried the new Ultrasoft 003s? If so, what do you think of them?

I'll give him $150 for the pair mate. That will buy him a front dunloppery 2 o freight. I'll even take HIS bike to Mick to get them changed for him.

The Shinko Stealth 003 Ultrasoft is THE best $ per corner available atm imho. Had 5 different fronts on Tiggr 2 on the fzzr & 2 on Janelles zxr4 in the last 2 years. They included pilot road, pilot power, pilot race bridgie 014, 012 & 012SS, Heck even a pair of Pirelli Diablo's. Pilot Race is Awesome but bloody expensive per corner.
Besides the shinko is the first non track tyre i've ever rolled to the edge on "Tiggr" so if an old fart like me can your mate on the Rwun must be holding his mouth wrong.

I bet he wasn't complaining about the price when he pulled up at the Magic Tyre Cave.
Cheers Brett

He seemed to think the price was good but he forgot to take a book to read while his tyres were fitted. I always just take the wheels there and not the whole bike. He's more inclined to squeeze a bit and fit you in a gap if he only has to fit the tyre and not remove/ replace wheel. I told him to just take wheels and all I got was a blank look. No centre stand on R1 and mate doesn't own a race stand. Dunno how I'd go with a bike with no centrestand. They're bloody handy and I haven't dragged a centrestand since my old GPz750 about 20 years ago. Not sure if centrestands on new bikes are tucked up better or if I'm just getting older and slower. I think I'll keep telling myself it's tucked up better.

Last set of tyres Mick fitted for me took 6.5hours to fit. There's always another customer or two around to bullshit about bikes to pass the time....That's what you get if you go to the cheapest around- he's gonna be busy. Gonna try some Shinkos on my GT next- $180 a pair from Mick. My rear for the ZZR is dearer than that! I'll pull the wheels off for him (if I can get the back wheel out- haven't done a shaft drive before) and go on a weekday- might be a little quicker. Had a chat to the new owner of Two Wheel Tyres the other day-his prices are no-where near Mick's- he reckons Mick sells his tyres under what TWT buys them for...

I've had no trouble getting out to the edges on mine (see below) and I've only ever had them slide a little when cold, and I really had to work at it.

The profile takes a bit of getting used to though, as they don't tip in as quick as other tyres.

nasty chicken strip down the centre of ya tire there mick

chameleon wrote:nasty chicken strip down the centre of ya tire there mick

sounds about right, its not like the centre of Team Crim's tyre ever sees much action !! unlike the edges very busy out that part of town......

Goanna, for what its worth, after seeing the Shinkies in action on the WSB trip, they are *definitely* worth trying out......

Hmm, the slow tip in thing is a bit of a bummer.

wot sort of $$ are these shinko's??

120/70/17
190/50/17

rough idea guys??

somewhere around $300 a pair I think mate ?? Pretty good value-for-money.....

Gosling1 wrote:somewhere around $300 a pair I think mate ?? Pretty good value-for-money.....

considering ur bridgeys/micheys are abt $440 a set, its a bit of a saving...

Last time I got 012ss Bridgestones from Mick they were $380 a pair. I have a funny idea that the ultra soft 003 Shinkos won't last as long as the Bridgies. So far 11500 k's out of front 012 and over 7000 out of rear on fat mid 90's sports tourer (ZZR1100) Currently have 007 Shinko on the back with 6500 k's on it and am going back to 012 when (if) I wear it out.

goanna_38 wrote:Last time I got 012ss Bridgestones from Mick they were $380 a pair. I have a funny idea that the ultra soft 003 Shinkos won't last as long as the Bridgies. So far 11500 k's out of front 012 and over 7000 out of rear on fat mid 90's sports tourer (ZZR1100) Currently have 007 Shinko on the back with 6500 k's on it and am going back to 012 when (if) I wear it out.

$380 a set..thats cheap..real cheap...

I reckon those Shinkos are crap.........It's just Ponti is a riding GOD. All the rest of us are gunna fall over on our arses with em!!!!!

Strika wrote:.........It's just Ponti is a riding GOD. ..

well if that ain't the P calling the K B, I don't know what is !!!