I have a 1-year old Unicorn. 15k run...i have done a lot of tyre burns on it so it has finally run out of rubber. So now i have got to get it changed. Anyhow i am not gonna get the same thin tyre on it...So i need suggetions on which would be the best tyre in terms of road-grip, size and looks also count on it(broad ones) and what would be the cost down over here in hyderabad.....I have thought of a few options-
1- pulsar rear tyre(zapper)
2- Karizma rear.....
3- the tyre on the new sporty unicorn(it seems a bit broad)
So i need ur valuable suggetions plzzz.

[Josh]

All the 3 tyres mentioned above are Zappers. Though exact names maybe different.
The best tyre in terms of road grip, size and looks would be Pirelli sport daemon.
Next in line is probably Michelin M45. Its has good grip and lasts longer then Pirelli SD.
Else you can go for Zapper Q 120/80 or 110/80 depending upon the width you like. Zapper Y is also decent enough.
All Zappers have ok ok types grip, though for normal use that are fine. They also last pretty long.

[jkdas]

Zapper would be cheaper than Michs

120 would be the best for your bike. Check out the zapper Q series

[hrishig]

One question

Should we change the unicorn tyres after 15? My running is around same but my bikes tyres are not looking that bad.
How do I know if I have to change it or not?

[ninja1069]

no it doesnt depend completely on how much it is run....but as i mentioned i did a lot of tyre-burns and scrammbles....so it got old .and if you want to know when to change your tyre you need to check the treads on the tyre if they are still visible dark enough or they got light and you should also check its roadgrip.....then you would come to know.if you use it decently then 20k is easy stuff.

[Josh]

My CBZ rear tyre is still the same original GeoCruiser from Dunlop. Its going strong at 27K Kms. Though i will probably have to change it in next 1000 Kms.
Tyre wear also depends on the roads you drive on.

[rider60]

well i have a query about the same topic people,

i wanted to know if changing a rear tyre on a unicorn to a 100,110,120. will suffice for the road grip or is it recommended to change even the front zapper-fs 2.75-18 tyre (stock) to a broader one or a better brand/pattern to achieve ultimate bends at sharp turnings, for i have tryed to bend my bike at a 100degrees angled turning at around 70kmph with the stock 3.00-18 at rear and 2.75-18 at front and could not dare to do the turn at a higher speed than that!. this i did without a pillion on my version 2 unicorn!

please provide the info! for i am trying to fit in karizma alloys and i think i can easily fit in 90/90-18 at front and a 120/90-18 or 120/80-18 tyre at the rear end. ( i am actually planning for a pirelli set of tyres so please suggest me the best patterns in pirelli too, all thoughts,ideas,suggestions,advices are welcome!)

[jkdas]

Originally Posted by rider60

well i have a query about the same topic people,

i wanted to know if changing a rear tyre on a unicorn to a 100,110,120. will suffice for the road grip or is it recommended to change even the front zapper-fs 2.75-18 tyre (stock) to a broader one or a better brand/pattern to achieve ultimate bends at turnings, for i have tryed to bend my bike at a 100degrees angled turning at around 70kmph with the stock 3.00-18 at rear and 2.75-18 at front and could not dare to do the turn at a higher speed that this without a pillion on my version 2 unicorn!

please provide the info! for i am trying to fit in karizma alloys and i think i can easily fit in 90/90-18 at front and a 120/90-18 or 120/80-18 tyre at the rear end. ( i am actually planning for a pirelli set of tyres so please suggest me the best patterns in pirelli too, all thoughts,ideas,suggestions,advices are welcome!)

you meant when you take turn on bends?

[rider60]

yes exactly for i love to enjoy the balance the mono shock provides on this bike!

[jkdas]

120 would be a good buy. But why the Kzma alloys?

[ravi@64bhp]

120 tyre is overkill for unicorn. The best tyre in terms of durabilty and road grip is M45. 3.50 x 18 is the best size, though you feel little heavier at back and lighter at front. Bigger size tyres would affect the bikes handling and shows its effect on the suspension.

Best choice would be 3.50 X18 M45. There is also Dunlop Monster 100/18 (if you really want a bigger tyre) which is a little bit heavier than M45, but offers great VFM, at 1000 per tyre. I am currently using for my Zma and the grip is great. You can try Ceat Vertigo.

[doomsday]

Originally Posted by rider60

well i have a query about the same topic people,

i wanted to know if changing a rear tyre on a unicorn to a 100,110,120. will suffice for the road grip or is it recommended to change even the front zapper-fs 2.75-18 tyre (stock) to a broader one or a better brand/pattern to achieve ultimate bends at sharp turnings, for i have tryed to bend my bike at a 100degrees angled turning at around 70kmph with the stock 3.00-18 at rear and 2.75-18 at front and could not dare to do the turn at a higher speed than that!. this i did without a pillion on my version 2 unicorn!

Dude I'm sorry but you need to get your angles right. You cannot lean the bike at a 100 degrees since when you are completely upright on the road, you are perpendicular to it, i.e. a 90 degree angle. So your lean angle can only range from 1 to 89 degrees. A ~60 degree lean angle would look something like this:



In the real world, it is very difficult to get a lean angle greater than 60 degree (which is actually lesser; since as the numeric value of the lean angle reduces, you are close to getting parallel to the surface) MotoGP riders like John Hopkins above are able to manage ~55-60 Degrees, with those massive slicks and insane ground clearance.

Originally Posted by rider60

please provide the info! for i am trying to fit in karizma alloys and i think i can easily fit in 90/90-18 at front and a 120/90-18 or 120/80-18 tyre at the rear end. ( i am actually planning for a pirelli set of tyres so please suggest me the best patterns in pirelli too, all thoughts,ideas,suggestions,advices are welcome!)

Regardless of the fact if you to switch to Zma alloys or not, the best combination for the Unicorn is a 2.75X18 Zapper/Cear Secura Zoom in the front, with a 100/90-18 tyre at the back. Brandwise rear Dunlop Geo-Cruiser is the best for all round performance, rain and dry. The Pirelli is good on dry surfaces but hopeless in the wet and mud because there is no center groove. Don't go further than 100/90-18 as you will sacrifice your other performance/non performance parameters like top whack, accelaration, FE AND Handling. The power that a Unicorn develops does not warrant an upsize after 100/90 as the chassis is brilliant and can easily cope with all your cornering requirements.

Hope this helps and is not very confusing...

[PatienceWins]

Originally Posted by ravi@64bhp

Best choice would be 3.50 X18 M45. There is also Dunlop Monster 100/18 (if you really want a bigger tyre) which is a little bit heavier than M45, but offers great VFM, at 1000 per tyre. I am currently using for my Zma and the grip is great. You can try Ceat Vertigo.

I bought Dunlop Monster from Sai Iyengar Bangalore today for 1450 today. It seems I have paid more.

The grip is good.

[SunnyBoi]

Monster 100/90-18 was 1100 and mypol 100/90-18 tube was 200. yup you paid more for it.

alternative is the M45 3.25x18

[PatienceWins]

Originally Posted by SunnyBoi

Monster 100/90-18 was 1100 and mypol 100/90-18 tube was 200. yup you paid more for it.

alternative is the M45 3.25x18

The price I mentioned was inclusive of Ceat tube, Rs.200. Sorry to miss this.