So. The tires are bought. Keep in mind, my research is obviously skewed towards myself and how and when I ride.
I ride in all weather. If it's not raining when I'm leaving, then I'm riding. The fact that it will be raining when I come home is accepted. I ride mostly highway, to commute or get to my twisties. However, when I get to my twisties, I *might* get stupid, and need all the grip I can get.
Another however, I just put over 10k miles on my stock bridgestones. In six months. I bought the bike used, but over 8k of those miles are mine. I need sticky, I need all weather, and I need tread life.
After LOTS of research, taking into account all the suggestions in this thread, my choices came down in this order:
1. Michelin Road Pilot 3
2. Michelin Road Pilot 2
3. Bridgestone 023
4. Shinko 005 Advance.
I liked my Bridgestone 021s.Over ten thousand miles on them. At this point the rear was so squared off, the bike would nearly balance on it's own, and the front was so scalloped I could put it with some noodles and serve it for dinner. Still, More than 10K miles, and they served well in the twisties.
They've been replaced by the 023s which were a serious contender.
The technology and the reviews I read on the Michelin's are simply undeniable. I wanted me some. My bonus was less than expected, on a piss-poor paycheck, with bills due, to boot. I simply could not afford the Bridgestones or the Michelins.
I was shopping around for installation costs, and found a local shop that charged 1/2 what my local Yamy dealer charged for installation. This shop had some Shinko's in stock.
So I went with it. Ride the bike in, front and rear tires installed for $302. Shinko Advance 005. They screwed up. The front is supposed to be 120/70. I got 120/60.
After some argument, the mechanic basically said "Try it, you'll like it." OK. I have.
Damn. My sweet little girl is so nimble, I've got to work hard not to change lanes when doing a head-check.
I took a random road (with way too much speed) that had a decreasing radius turn, without a sign. I went so wide that I was in the opposite lane, at the edge of the road, and still had too much speed. Way leaned over, I trail-braked and the bike stuck the corner and I lived.
I rode for a while after that, scared out of my wits. Still.... It did so well... So after a break I went after a local road that I know. One 20mph, 90-degree turn to the right and down the road, another 10mph, 90-degree turn the left.
Stuck it. All leaned over and faster than I care to say. Then I turned around and did it again. Then I turned around and did it a third time.
I liked the stock tires. They could not have stuck those turns the way I did it with the Shinkos. No. Way. Period. It's a local road. I've run it enough times to know.
I'm making no real judgement until I get back up to the twisties in Rockingham. Hopefully on Sunday. Any opinion on the longevity of the tire will of course come with miles.
In the meantime, I've got to admit that I'm impressed.