stock new tires! i like allot!

[themadchef]

hello all, i have a 2018 c14 and i must say i really like my stock tires on my bike! i only got 400 miles on them but they seem to be super smooth and have great grip! i rode a little in the rain and they seem good as well! they are battle axe 011? i think? i also have a aprilia futura and i have pilot road 5 and they are great as well! what are your thaughts on the battle axe tires? do they get good life miles wise? and how are they in the heavy rain?

thanks the chef

[MAN OF BLUES]

everyone is going to tell you they are horrible... but truth be told, I found when mine (021's) were "new" and on my "brand new bike" back in '07, they were fine... no complaints... as good as anything "new" at that time...
They will wear out tho, and performance will degrade, and at some time around 3k miles, you will see this...
 but use them up, and when you decide to make 'new' again, there are a plethora of tire posts here... so just use caution.

just scroll all the posts below... read them until you begin to feel nauseous, and then continue... by the time you read 3 pages, you should have more than a lifetimes worth of "tire opinions"...
oh, being new, don't ask which oil people recommend....just warning ya...

Enjoy your new ride...

[Old Man on a Connie]

Here they are called Stone's and if I knew then what I knew now I would have had them swapped out on the dealer floor. But what MOB sez is true. Ride them till they are done and swap. My only suggestion, tires, oil, seats and screens being very personal to each is to get the 55 profile rear tire vs the 50. I think most do prefer that tire size. Enjoy that scoot and get out to some gatherings. As the old saying goes opinions are like........... And for what it's worth Baldwin Saddles, Cal Sci screen and Motul full synth 

[themadchef]

thanks for the ideas, i have had battle axe tires in the past and i was happy with them, so i will ride the heck out of them and then switch to the pilot road 5 gt, i am familiar with the pilots! as with gatherings, i will try to go to some of them! i am booked up on rides till the end of july, so august on, will work out for me, def look forward to putting miles on the bike!

thanks the chef!

[Grant]

The stock Battle Axes lasted for only 7,000 miles at which point I replaced them with Pilot Road 4 GTs. Wow what a difference the Road 4s made and they still have some life on them at 11,000 miles. BTW the Road 5s don't as of yet come in GT form and may not ever. Michelin doesn't recommend using the non GT on the Concours however there are a few here that are and like them. I will most likely be putting another set of 4 GTs on before this set is done to avoid being on a longer ride needing them out on the road.

[SuperDuc]

For anyone contemplating sticking with the OEM Battlax, have a look at mine from 3 days ago and reassess.  The front is almost as bad with both tires at the 8K mark.  Yes, the bike is in the back of a U-Haul because no replacements were available in Missoula for 3 days.  All the shops were closed and I had to get back to Seattle.  Will likely be switching to Michelins.  Not how I wanted to end a 10 day, 4000 mile leisurely ride.
The low speed front end wobble was the 1st indicator of problems but the tread looked OK on both at 7K.  2 days later, not so much.

[Grant]

For anyone contemplating sticking with the OEM Battlax, have a look at mine from 3 days ago and reassess.  The front is almost as bad with both tires at the 8K mark.  Yes, the bike is in the back of a U-Haul because no replacements were available in Missoula for 3 days.  All the shops were closed and I had to get back to Seattle.  Will likely be switching to Michelins.  Not how I wanted to end a 10 day, 4000 mile leisurely ride.
The low speed front end wobble was the 1st indicator of problems but the tread looked OK on both at 7K.  2 days later, not so much.

Put a set of PR4 GTs on and you'll think it's  a whole different bike. I now have 13,000 miles on the Michelins and still look like they did at 11,000. I do have a new set ready to go on but what is on the bike is still going.

[gsun]

For anyone contemplating sticking with the OEM Battlax, have a look at mine from 3 days ago and reassess.  The front is almost as bad with both tires at the 8K mark.  Yes, the bike is in the back of a U-Haul because no replacements were available in Missoula for 3 days.  All the shops were closed and I had to get back to Seattle.  Will likely be switching to Michelins.  Not how I wanted to end a 10 day, 4000 mile leisurely ride.
The low speed front end wobble was the 1st indicator of problems but the tread looked OK on both at 7K.  2 days later, not so much.

This can happen to any tire because you aren't paying attention to the tread wear. Sorry but it couldn't have looked ok 1000K before. There would have been almost no tread in the middle of the tire.

[SuperDuc]

Not to get into a pissing match but you weren't inspecting the tire or riding the bike.  Thanks for the helpful insight though.

[Road Runner]

"For anyone contemplating sticking with the OEM Battlax." Don't think so!

They were the first item to go on my bike after purchase...

[Just Cliff]

For anyone contemplating sticking with the OEM Battlax, have a look at mine from 3 days ago and reassess.  The front is almost as bad with both tires at the 8K mark.  Yes, the bike is in the back of a U-Haul because no replacements were available in Missoula for 3 days.  All the shops were closed and I had to get back to Seattle.  Will likely be switching to Michelins.  Not how I wanted to end a 10 day, 4000 mile leisurely ride.
The low speed front end wobble was the 1st indicator of problems but the tread looked OK on both at 7K.  2 days later, not so much.

This can happen to any tire because you aren't paying attention to the tread wear. Sorry but it couldn't have looked ok 1000K before. There would have been almost no tread in the middle of the tire.

I gotta disagree with you, it can happen. Happened to me & yes I inspected the tires good before leaving. Looked to have a easy 1,500 miles left, probably 1/3 tread left. Made a overnight 2 day ride of only 800 miles. Limped home with cord showing all the way around the front tire, rear still looked good. You could see tread disappear at every gas stop.

It happens!

[CaffeineMan]

I’ll second the “goes away instantly” comments on the stock tires.  Ran for about 4K on mine, then wear increased noticeably and got a front end wobble.