I got to try this tyre out today with a ride out west to the Brisbane Ranges. To save you reading through..in a nutshell, the Pilot Road 2 (2CT) has so much grip that it's difficult to tell if it's any more or less grippy than an M3!!!!! And that's high praise indeed.
OK, for those interested, initial feel from the tyre is good. It's quick to warm up..to a point...and has a confidence inspiring stable feel to it. The carcass is a little more spongey/springy than an M3 and loads more flexible than a Conti. (I find the Conti to have a hard feel to it as the carcass is quite stiff. It transmits more shock through the bars and frame than other tyres I have used.) So I may have to firm up the comp and rebound adjusters a turn and see how it feels.
Turn in is not as sharp as a power or an M3, but is adequate and was probably more a matter of getting used to it than anything else as it got better and easier to tip in and hold a line as the day wore on!
I mentioned warm up before and mentioned it wa good up to a point. That point is that with a power or an M3, I can have it on it's sdge by about the third turn without any drama. The PR2 needs a good half dozen turns before you really start cranking it or it will walk. But once a few turns are done, it's seriously as good on it's side as an M3. However, as I have mentioned before, I have found the M3 to get a bit skatey under power while cranked over. Basically the PR2 is pretty much on par in this area.
Along Highlands Rd on the way back this afternoon, I was having a derby with a good mate of mine who I have ridden and raced with for 15 years or more now. He is an Ex Australian Superbike School Instructor and can steer pretty damn good!! So when I say we were cracking on a bit, we were cracking on a lot!
One particular section has some turns posted at 60. I was glued to hi tail, but he had Racetechs on his new 08 CBR600 and he was opening the throttle bloody early. So I was naturally following suit and seeing if the PR2 would take it. It did surprisingly well as a matter of fact, however it did let go a few times. No more than an M3 does at that pace on that road, but let go all the same.
The first time was unexpected. The tyre had been good all day so far, but we were only warming up. By Highlands we were hot!
The first let go was in one of the 60 posted turns which was a right hander over a crest so it made the bike a little light as it went over the top, but neither of us opened the throttle till on the downhill section. As soon as I saw him open his, I cracked mine a touch and the back started to slide. Nothing nasty, nothing too snappy (thank you Mr. Michelin, finally a Michelin which slides predictably!!) pretty much as the M3's do when they let go. Now, I wasn't sure if it was the tyre or the road surface, so in the interests of attempting to create as equal an opportunity for the PR2's to work as the M3's, I kept into the throttle and even started pushing my mate a touch. If I had more than about 8000rpm showing when I dialled the gas on it would spin the rear easily. Providing I used a taller gear with less revs, it was happy to go edge to edge and not move an inch. When I got off the bike tonight and tucked it away in bed I had a little gander and there is feck all wear really although I can see it has worn a touch right near the edges where I was horsing around with the throttle after I realised how much fun it was to spin it!!!
Not sure about the blackie situation as I was behind my mate and Daylight was behind me!
Bump absorption was good both upright and at full lean.
In summary, while grip levels are not race tyre like, they are not that far removed from the grip of a Pilot or an M3 in my opinion. I will reserve passing a final verdict on the tyre until I have had the opportunity to do more miles and see how grip alters throughout the life of the tyre. But, if I can coax more than 8000 roadworthy Kilometres from this tyre, then it will be a PR2 replacing it for sure!
I've never been a fan of Michelins, however I am happy to eat humble pie where the PR2 is concerned! Now my only issue is what front will be a good match for it. The conti seems fine but it is a harsh tyre so I'll have to have a think about it.
cause you know what ill say about PR2's.. 