Modern Vespa

Last week I replaced my stock Pirellis on the GT with the new Heidenaus. The Pirellis had 4,300 miles on them and the rear was just down to the wear marks. Lots of tread left on the front, but I decided to have them both replaced at Moto Amore - nice shop, good service.

The Heidenaus are great. They track true and solid on the straights and feel very precise on turns. Wobble is reduced but not entirely eliminated at 25 mph during deceleration. I feel more secure on these tires and am looking forward to a long happy relationship.

And to think that when I began reading this forum this past January that Zippy 1's were the favored tire!

I am loving my K-58 on the rear and looking forward to putting another on the front after the Pirelli craps out. Here in the great rural South I have many an opportunity to travel the occasional gravel road, parking lot, and LONG driveway to the homes of my friends. Also, the asphalt here in may places is far from smooth and there is often driveway washout in the street. If I were still in Nashville I would definitely rock the 61's, they for dang sure look better!

I do have a bit of wobble, but I have also today installed the Jettin heavy bar ends and have yet to test them out.

While I am in a typing mood, another thing I would like to mention concerning K-58 road noise, yeah it is there. However, I rarely ride w/o earplugs (blue Hear-os are awesome) so it does not bother me. I smile when the gargantuan pick-up trucks that I could drive my scoot under pass me with their mud tires roaring, I think to myself, I have that noise, but with earth sense! I am a "green" redneck, if you will. 8)

What size did you get? I have the 120 front 130 rear combo. Noticed a considerable difference on the streets and much better control on rain grooves over Savas. Jess informed me the 140s don't have the center groove and maybe better on the rain grooves.

I'm happy with my combo and will most likely stick it out. I tried to ride another bike with 120/140 combo this past Sunday, but didn't ride long enough to tell a difference (long story).

I got the stock 120/130 combo. Haven't tried the rain grooves yet. On my daily commute there are no rain grooves, thankfully. I drive dry asphalt 90% of the time, and these tires are great. They're rated very good in the wet, too. I am especially happy with the handling.

I have the 120/140 combo, just had them installed last week and have put 800 miles of dry-pavement California twisties etc. on them. They seem rock solid and even on the grooved freeway have felt solid. We'll have to see about treadwear.

I've looked at the Heidenau snow tires for winter use along with the more agressive Kendas but for regular riding on dry roads I have not been able to detect any meaningful difference between the Sava, Zippy, Michelin Pilot, or the Pirellis.

Maybe I don't ride aggressively enough to see a traction difference. Wobble was more or less the same on the GTS regardless of tire. On the LX150 all the tires I ran were fine.

What I did notice is that they all sucked on gravel and dirt roads. Dropping air pressure way down helps but then the gravel doesn't last forever. They were equally bad in wet grass and snow.

On grooved roads, grate bridges, and roads with the asphalt scratched off by big machines--- they were mediocre. the scooter would tend to wander but once I let go my death grip on the bars and let the scooter move it was fine.

Tire wear was more or less the same. Some mileage differences but then my riding conditions were all over the place so it was hard to judge.

Perhaps if my riding was at the edge of a tire's physical ability I could see a difference. But my riding is far too close to the middle of the riding bell curve to tell the difference. So a tire is a tire is a tire. They are all great.

Except off road or in snow.

I am open to the possibility that I am completely oblivious and blind here. So if some enlightenment is do, mentor away!

I don't drive aggressively or anywhere near the limits. I don't tear around curves, tires on the edge of adhesion. Just taking pretty normal corners at reasonable speeds seems much more controlled on these tires.

This is a subjective riding experience and probably influenced also by my feeling of increased confidence, just knowing I have new sticky rubber on the ground.

But I do think the tires feel less squiggly than they did before. Howz that for an objective statement

That makes sense. I just got a new rear tire and I'm convinced everything is better. I got a new office too and everything is better!