Kawasaki Z900 RS - Michelin Pilot Road 5 follow up review
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- How are they holding up? Watch and find out!
If you want to see how a Z900RS with a set of sport touring tires with 5,000 miles on them do at a track day?
Here you go:
• Z900RS Track Day at Ro...
Here in England if you don't ride in the wet, you don't ride!.. I'm absolutely amazed at the wet weather performance of the Mitch pilots! When warmed up they will wheelie in standing water! Great vids... keep them coming!
Yes the modern batch of sport touring tyres are amazing in the wet. Pilot 5, Avon ST Spirit, Bridgestone T32. (ignoring the Chinese made Pirellis and Metz even though they're good!)
@@LondonSteveLee (ignoring the Chinese made Pirellis and Metz even though they're good!) why ignoring them?
@@vn3801 I try to buy local products first, then European mainland, then US, then anywhere but China.
Thanks for the excellent review. I'll be getting them tyres for sure soon. I have a Duke 390, 21 model and am getting on in years and have never owned a Kawasaki but I want one more than ever after seeing your beautiful green machine. Hi from downunder Australia.
Now I know which tyre to put on SE model coming out. Great Video!!
I am just about finishing my Pilot Road 5 on the rear of my MT10, still gripping well, will have a second to replace it! Awesome tyre for fast road, I do a lot two up but she hangs on and loves how I ride. Strangely the OEs were generic Battleaxes and the feel was amazing but they didn't last five minutes! So these Michelins do a great job.
You talk a lot of sense I must say I am a older rider I am 71 and its nice to hear good common sense
Nice review. Totally agree about the chicken strips. I'm 65 and ride at a spirited pace on a KTM SDR. I've worn the tires edge to edge, but I know I've been lazy when that happens and I've bitten into that cushion that isn't necessary on the street. Again, thanks for the logic-based, experienced review. Cheers.
Sorry to ask, what are chicken strips?
@@JoisonFernandes It's the part of the tread, near the sidewalls, that hasn't touched asphalt. It looks smooth compared to the tread that has had contact with the road.
Hi Sir,
I owned that bike (in wonderful metallic black with silver and gold stripes). Totally agree with you about stock tires: they’re awful. I also used o ride it very aggressively through the mountain corners and I switched to Mitas sport force plus which are cheap and gives a fantastic feeling on dry roads, at least.
Obviously they are sport tires and can’t last as long as sport-touring ones. If I remember it correctly, when I sold the bike tires was about 50% with 5000 kilometers on their shoulders. This is not happening on my new Katana: same tires, 190/50 at the rear, 120/70 at the front, 3500 kilometers and they’re gone.
That was my direct experience. Thank you.
I have the Power 5's, and they're good tires. Discovered difference of putting a plug in a stock Dunlop 300 compared to a Power 5 is like driving a needle through a block wall vs popping a balloon with a needle. The carcass on the stockers was stiff to say the least. Once I picked up a nail in the rear with the Power 5, Cycle Gear at the time had to order me a new one but they mounted up a Road 5 rear for me since I had to wait for the Power 5 to show up. That may have been a good setup, Road 5 rear and Power 5 front. Decided to get the rear Power 5 mounted when they received the order in shop so I could be all Matchy-Matchy though 😁
Good review of the tires and good feedback on chicken strips!! Soooo true......
I've been a big Michelin fan for outstanding grip in all environments for years.....great wet weather grip. For a street tire that you can really push and have confidence in. I still have the stock tires on my RS, PR5's on my Versys 1000. Road 5's will be ready when the OEM wooden tires wear out.
I love these things. First time I tried them, and I am sold.
UA-cam is weird... I got an email that you replied to a video the other day, and when I clicked on the link, couldn't find it. Looked for it manually, still couldn't find it...
@@Daves_Man_Cave The NSA....?? :)
@@savedzrex1 Not sure... probably just a glitch in the Matrix...
Dave, thanks. I have the Z900 RS with Dunlop's. I may try the Michelin's or the Pirelli
I am running the Road 6's on both my ZX14R and my MT-10 and they are awesome.
I got 19000 k's on a set of Road 5's on my ZX14r mainly commuting back and forth on Country roads in New Zealand. I will be putting a set of these on my Z900rs once the OEM tyres are worn out.
my tires look absolutely the same (very thin chicken strip, just at the very end of the edge of the tire). If I would push the bike down while leaning my body less into the curve I would have no chicken strips but... this would me more lean angle without the actual need so more risk. Got the S22 on my old MT09 to the edge during a safety and curve training day, for regular street riding it is best to have an extra bit as a buffer if you need to get more lean angle. Had the road pilot 6 on my MT09 after the S22, fantastic tire. Will replace the stock Dunlops on my Z900RS asap (3.500 km on that tire atm and it is has to be replaced soon). Will get Road Pilot 6´s also for this bike.
Thx for sharing your experience
Your 900 is really sweet dude
Great info. How were the Road 5 vs Q3+? I live in the North West wondering if I always have to warm up Q3+ or how the cooler weather would affect it.
Thank you for the video
For where you live, go with the Road 5 or Road 6. If you were doing primarily track days or lived where it's hot most of the time, the q3+ has a bit more grip... but at colder temps, the Road 5 grips better, because it doesn't need to be at 185 degrees to stick properly... It does it at around 130 degrees...
I am running Road 6's on my new 150hp at the wheel Yamaha MT-10, and I have had them on track and they were fine...
@@Daves_Man_Cave that's good to know. I don't do track. Only back roads and try to knee down. Even the stock tire RC390 has enough grip just don't know how much more the Road 6 would have.
@@rogerychen The Road 6 is probably the best all around street tire you can buy right now...
I'M aggressive rider.. for my Z900RS the best combination tire's 1: "Pirelli Diablo Rosso 4" (+ handling, agility, Grip, - not immediately confidence ) ///// 2:"Metzeler M9rr" (+ confidence-Grip, - Handling). For me the best choice for my Z900rs it's the Pirelli, but if you are a beginner, the Metzeler will give you a lot of confidence.
I’ve just put them on a super duke . I used to have them on a street triple did 3 track days and 5k miles sold the bike with loads of tread left .
Ps I was reluctant to go back to PR Reyes as I had the PR 3 and hated them no feed back just horrible . But the PR 5 completely different.
Yeah, and the Pilot Road 6, is even better. I had the 6's on my new MT-10 and my ZX14R, and they were excellent, even on track and phenomenal in the rain.
Agree with you on the pilot range of tyres. They were hard wearing and confidence inspiring on my triumph speed triples. Just bought a z900rs and will be fitting these for sure. The Dunlop's are crap, lost traction a couple of times already especially in the wet.
I love Dunlop Q3+ but they don't last long at all.
Weight watchers diet, no carb, no gmo, all organic chicken strips.
Great review on the tires that I have been looking forward to trying.
Gonna take it semi-easy on the OEMs for another couple thousand miles because they are still round and I’m a cheap b@stard
but really looking forward to some fresh, sticky Michelin Road Road Pilot 5s.
Is it usually cheaper to buy tires through Revzilla or similar and have shop mount them or do both parts/tires and labor from MC shop?
I get them from Cycle Gear and have them mount them, I just bring them the wheels...
Just put those tires on my cafe, did 300 miles on them in the North Georgia mtn. Got 2200 miles on the stock Dunlops.
How do you like the Pilots? You local? Come ride with us!
@@Daves_Man_Cave ISo far so good on the road 5 hopefully they will last 4000 to 5000 miles. I live in Woodstock Ga. Ya I would like to go ride with you guys but I am not as fast as you are. Do you ever ride your Bobber up in the mtn, If you do I will bring my Fat Bob.
@@davidkehr291 Doesn't matter how you ride so long as you are safe. I don't ride the Bobber much, that is one of my wife's bikes... :-)
@@Daves_Man_Cave Most differently a safe rider. We have to meet up at TWO soon.
@@davidkehr291 I will probably be up there this weekend, if the weather stays dry.
Nice comments about the “chicken stripes” the only one’s I like are the Chicken tenders with honey&mustard sauce 😇
Good review and I’ve been using the Michellin’s from the road 3 series on, so far very happy with them.
I recently put the road 5 on my K Z900 RS and very happy with them 🙏🏻🙏🏾
By the way if you fellow riders are having thoughts about buying a second bike? I strongly recommend the K Z 900 RS, What a wonderful stress relieving apparatus it is 👍🏻👍🏾💪🏻💪🏾🥰😝
I ordered the brand new Road 6 for my KTM SA S model.
Meanwhile and don’t forget; ride safe and have fun 😇
With 5,000+ Miles on this set, they were still brilliant on track!
ua-cam.com/video/AtPAFMsrFvw/v-deo.html
Is that the stock exhaust. Keep well.
Stock headers and muffler, but I think I had the decat done by that point.
Great review! Put them on a Tracer 09 (stock dunlops we’re bloody awful) and they lasted ages with great grip, and they warm up quickly which is a bonus. BTW, how do you find the Kawa vs the street triple on roads? Love my 765, but do like the looks of the Kawa..
The Z900RS is good but the Street RS 765 is the better sportbike. It's kinda like the Triumph is a Daniel Defense AR15, or an H&K G36, and the Kawi is an AK47, if that makes sense. It does to Americans, not sure how it translates to other regions. haha
@@Daves_Man_Cave No guns for sale here in uk so clueless on those, but get the gist. The 765 just worked with no mods, suspension and fuelings great, pretty rare nowadays. Also, came with Pirelli Diablo as stock ! Other manufacturers need a lesson from them ! Have you ridden the upgraded SE yellow one ? Good riding !
@@douglasalexander4348 I have not ridden the new SE version with the upgrades, but if I was to buy another one, that would be the one that I would get. The Triumph makes a lot more peak HP, and is MUCH lighter and more agile. It's the better SPORT bike by a country mile. If you want a more everyday bike, don't mind some extra weight, something that offers a little more comfort for rider and pillion and easy to strap luggage to, and that is still good enough to go play with your sportbike friends, then the Z900RS SE is probably a better choice.
@@Daves_Man_Cave cheers, very helpful.
You should get 7K miles out of the rear easy. These modern sport touring tyres are amazing. Pilots 5s, Avon Spirit STs, Bridgestone T32s. The Avons actually feels bit sportier than the Pilot 5s (turn in quicker) I did 7 trackdays (MT10) on one set of STs!
Probably. Depends on how you ride... how heavy you are, what pressures you run... how abrasive the pavement is, etc... I got 1,400 miles out of the RS11 on my R1, and that was just street...
5,700 miles on the Road 5's was a personal record for me... by a long shot... Most I ever saw out of a tire before was maybe 3k miles...
@@Daves_Man_Cave My MEZ1 (OE on original R1) lasted me 800 miles. My OE rear Metz S20 on my MT10 lasted 1,500 miles. On the track (Avon Spirit) I ran 30F/31R on the MT10 and 33F/40R (Road) - I ride pretty hard (knee down on the track, scrape pegs on the road.) and weigh about 240lbs kitted up.
I just bought this bike and was thinking of putting the Q3 plus or the Q4 on it. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Q3+ is awesome. Q4 is amazing but it's a track day tire and doesn't do well in the rain, which you may well encounter on the street.
I think that the Road 5 or the newer Road 6 is ideal for that bike. I did a track day on that bike with the Road 5...
Thanks for the reply. I don’t ride in the rain I’m soft I know. If it was dry pavement Canyon carving normally would you recommend the Q3 or Q4?
I try not to ride in the rain, but it happens, right? That said, Q3+ is a good balance of stickiness and safety... But honestly, don't discount the Pilot Road 6. It's a phenomenal tire with loads of grip in nearly any condition, and you should get lots of miles out of it...
I run Q3+ on my R1, but I ran Road 5's on the Z900RS and now use them on the Tracer 9GT. I will move to the Road 6 when these 5's wear out.
You will run out of brakes and suspension on the Z900RS before you run out of tire with the Road 6...
I've heard that the road 5 is good for naked type bikes, and super sport would maybe benefit a bit more from the power 5. Both are almost the same tire from the sound of it.
Never tried the Powers... I tend to run Dunlop Q3+ on all my sportbikes...
just out of admiration and curiosity, what do you do for a living?
Little bit of this, little bit of that...
I'm planning on getting these tires for my CB500X next since I'm mostly hardtop. So glad to hear your positive review. Looking forward to them even more now. Did you use balance beads in yours or the stick on weights? Excellent review and tutorial 👌
Standard balancing weights. Never tried the beads...
@@Daves_Man_Cave👍
Just put them on my z900rs. Doing cross country trip with them in September!
Is it suitable for honda cb 400 .? How's the grips like on wet n dry surfaces.? Can u give me the rate sir
The tires are excellent, but I don't know if they have sizes that you need, or what they cost where you live. Like everything these days, tire prices have gone up quite a bit.
Do these Road 5s have a good compliant ride on rough roads? I hate stiff tire carcasses on bad pavement!
They are very good on rough roads.
have u tried the road 5 gt?
Nope. No need, the GT is a much thicker, heavier tire made for the large touring bikes. You wouldn't want that on a lighter bike, it will cost you some HP and the higher rotating mass will slow down your steering...
@@Daves_Man_Cave thank u very much💪
The y are a Road 5 not a Pilot Road 5, when will people finally catch up
Agreed on chicken strips
The screw on your front fender is coming out FYI
Is it? It sticks out like that, because it's both a screw for the fender, and then the DOT mandated reflectors screw into them. The top screw on each side if goofy and long for that reason... I need to see if I can find shorter screws like the bottom ones. haha
@@Daves_Man_Cave Ahhh, makes sense. Yeah take the screw to Home Depot, they have a thread testing thing in their hardware aisle and then you can either get a stainless bolt there or order the right size with the correct threading online
@@wrenchrat I probably have some in my parts bin... Between the wife and I owning 36 motorcycles over the years, I have amassed an impressive amount of spare nuts and bolts... lol
My neighbors constantly edging.
His yard
Are they quiet?
Eh? Dude, it;s not a truck with mud tires... I have never heard a motorcycle tire in all my years... Can't hear anything over the sound of the exhaust.
It’s January 2022, there is no pilot road 5 today…… it seems the (word) pilot has been dropped. It’s just road 5. l have search everywhere for pilot road 5 with no luck what so ever. I’ve talked to multiple bike specialist and they can’t find them either !
All that changed was the name. The tire is the same:
www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/michelin-pilot-road-5-tires
@@Daves_Man_Cave just ordered two road 5 tires. Road 6 tires are starting to show up now from l know their supposed to last longer
@@mikehrynyk434 I will check out the 6's... I found the 5's to be excellent.
@@Daves_Man_Cave everything l have read on the road 5 are the way to go…. Softer compound of rubber, Dunlop rubber in my opinion is to stiff
@@mikehrynyk434 I run Dunlop Q3+ on all my sportbikes and love them. I have used RoadSmart 3's as well, and they were great.
What do you think about the ContiTrailAttack 3 for this bike?
Never tried them on this or any other bikes, unfortunately.
I typically ride on Dunlop Q3+ on sportbikes, but have used Pirelli Rosso III's and Super Corsa SP's... The Bridgestone S22's are nice too...
@@Daves_Man_Cave alright but thanks for the answer 👍🏻
Chicken strips rules!!!
You gotta leave a LITTLE bit left on the tire, just in case... haha