Adrian R
Well-known member
Okay, like I have about 7500 miles on my 21' R18C. Absolutely love the bike, breaking in very nicely, and building more power with every ride... Thought I would never like it more then my 2 generation, 6 cylinder Honda Valkyrie 1800, but I am. The Honda is faster and smoother...more torque too, but it takes more work to get into it's power/torque band...and it lacks cruise control, as well as a 6th gear.
The R18 though with the upgrades (BT, DNA2) is getting closer to the same power, but still not 118hp, but it does get close to 100hp, and good torque at like 3-4k rpms..which really is never needed, but pulls with authority at lower rpms... I can now set the cruise at 65mph in 6th gear, and it never bogs down, or kick out of cruise on an INCLINE with a passenger and gear! Amazing, the damn thing is like tractor...I just love how it pulls me around...cool... The bike just blasts down the road effortlessly, or cruise at slow speeds in a very behaved manner. BMW really did their homework on this bike with respect to engine timing, gearing, and power..just brilliant.
However, I am learning that these Commander 3 tires just suck. Tires are everything, learned this years ago, and with every new Honda purchase, I would just buy new tires soon after because the stock tires were usually junk.
When I was looking at buying the R18, I noted how it came equipped with Michelin tires, and was very pleased to see this thinking I wouldn't need to replace them right away. I had previously put Michelin Pilot 4 and 5s on my Valkyrie, and loved the tires... I just assumed that the Commanders would be excellent as well. Certainly a good looking tire, but man... they don't steer well, ride rough, follow cracks/imperfections in the road, make noise, and the front tire is wearing oddly. In short, with 7k they kinda suck.
Fortunately my Classic came with equipped with wheels that are pretty common HD sizes, so there is quite a few tires to pick from. This is what I have seen thus far...
1. Metzler Cruisetech
2. Dunlop American Elites
3. Metzler ME 888
5. Bridgestone H50
and lastly, Pirelli Night Dragon GTs.
All tires cost about the same... I just don't know which one to get! I don't want to go through the expense again anytime soon having them mounted and balanced. What is your experience?
Thanks!
The R18 though with the upgrades (BT, DNA2) is getting closer to the same power, but still not 118hp, but it does get close to 100hp, and good torque at like 3-4k rpms..which really is never needed, but pulls with authority at lower rpms... I can now set the cruise at 65mph in 6th gear, and it never bogs down, or kick out of cruise on an INCLINE with a passenger and gear! Amazing, the damn thing is like tractor...I just love how it pulls me around...cool... The bike just blasts down the road effortlessly, or cruise at slow speeds in a very behaved manner. BMW really did their homework on this bike with respect to engine timing, gearing, and power..just brilliant.
However, I am learning that these Commander 3 tires just suck. Tires are everything, learned this years ago, and with every new Honda purchase, I would just buy new tires soon after because the stock tires were usually junk.
When I was looking at buying the R18, I noted how it came equipped with Michelin tires, and was very pleased to see this thinking I wouldn't need to replace them right away. I had previously put Michelin Pilot 4 and 5s on my Valkyrie, and loved the tires... I just assumed that the Commanders would be excellent as well. Certainly a good looking tire, but man... they don't steer well, ride rough, follow cracks/imperfections in the road, make noise, and the front tire is wearing oddly. In short, with 7k they kinda suck.
Fortunately my Classic came with equipped with wheels that are pretty common HD sizes, so there is quite a few tires to pick from. This is what I have seen thus far...
1. Metzler Cruisetech
2. Dunlop American Elites
3. Metzler ME 888
5. Bridgestone H50
and lastly, Pirelli Night Dragon GTs.
All tires cost about the same... I just don't know which one to get! I don't want to go through the expense again anytime soon having them mounted and balanced. What is your experience?
Thanks!
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