Dunlop Elite 3s

[newc4]

I’m looking at replacing the 11 year old tires on my 79SF. I’ve always liked the Elite IIs but they’re getting scarce. I can find RWL sets but I though some had problems with the letters rubbing on the rear tire. I found some pretty good prices at www.motorcycle-superstore.com for the Dunlop Elite 3s MT90HB16 and the MM90HB19. Anybody have any comments about the tire or the online store?

Darrell

[DiverRay]

I'm running the 3 on the front, with a 2 on the rear. I have over 15K miles on them, and am happy with the handling.

[beegshot]

Just got an Elite II from Comp Acc.

Originally posted by DiverRay
I'm running the 3 on the front, with a 2 on the rear. I have over 15K miles on them, and am happy with the handling.

Competition Accessories, that is. They did a back-order then finally ordered it from another vendor. I had time to wait (winter) so I waited 3 mos before the tire arrived. you are right, they are getting scarce, but I am partial to raised white letters. Elite 3's are not available with RWL.

Robert

[Yamaniac]

Good to great tires. Supposed to be super long wearing. I've had mine in rain, and while it was snowing (not sticking), while in the mountains. I am extremely satisfied with them. Tires have probably 4500 miles so far.

[Pat Kelly]

Aren't the Elite III's a radial tire? I didn't think we could (sucessfully) run radials on our bikes.

[planedick]

Elite II's

I get Elite II's easy from Cycle Gear in just a couple of days after ordering.....

[newc4]

Originally posted by Pat Kelly
Aren't the Elite III's a radial tire? I didn't think we could (sucessfully) run radials on our bikes.

Looks like they come in bias and radial versions.

[Bob Falter]

I have worn out six Dunlop Elite II’s since 2002 (2 front and 4 rear). I get around 20,000 miles on the fronts and 10,000 on the rears. They seem to work well and are sticky enough to scrap metal on any of the four bikes I have had them on. I have looked at the Elite III’s but don’t like the look of the tread pattern (less tread) and they don’t come in RWL (raised white letters) which I like the looks of. I figured the Elite II’s would be phased out so I have been stocking up. I even found ones to fit the rear of the V-Max but haven’t tried them yet. Hopefully I’ll get more than the 2,500 miles I got out of the Dunlop Qualifier that I put on the rear of the Max last summer.

Bob

[yadada]

14.5k on a set of 3's now. Expect to get at least a few more thousand. I like'em.

XJ without luggage or anything, just me and a windshield most of the time. I am very pleased that they appear to be wearing evenly between front and rear. I just like the thought of having the same age tires on the bike.....and I never understood why they wouldn't soften the compound on the front tire since they never wear out as fast, and that is where most of your braking power goes too. Maybe they finally thought about it a little. Who knows.

Watch out for that motorcycle-superstore place, they add a "tire fee" at checkout. I think it was $5???

[Dragon Tamer]

14.5 !!!!!!

on a set, that is GOOD, best I have ever done is a little over 7.5. On a rear anyway, I get about 16 or so on a front. I have been running the Dunlop Qualifiers on the rear and LOVE them, longest lasting tire so far and the Dragon just eats road with them.
My current problem is that I will need a new rear in about three or four hundred miles and have not been able to locate a Qualifier. The ones I have been using are the one with a kind of a dog bone looking tread. The ones that the local tire shops are showing me look just like the same tread as the Elite series. I may have to try the III's once and see how I like them if they will do that kind of mileage.
Otherwise I have been thinking of trying the new Michelin Pilot Road II's if I can find a rear in the right size. Anyone out there tried them yet??

[Bob Falter]

At that kind of mileage I'll have to try them too. Won't be for a while, I figure I have almost two years worth of Elite II's based on my past mileage (14,000 per year). However, I'm retired now and hope to increase that figure.

Bob

[Pat Kelly]

The downside to stocking up on tires is they still age even when not installed.
I personally don't trust (or use) tires over 5 years old even if they still have the label and 'nubbies'.
YMMV

[Bob Falter]

I agree but they be gone in no more than two years and probably less. I have been changing two to three tires every year for some time now, and like I said, I hope to ride more. Of course something could happen that I can't ride any more (God forbid) in which case it won’t make any difference anyhow.

Bob

[bikerphil]

tires

I've been using the Bridgestone S11's for the past 5 years and have been happy with them. I get about 8-10K on the rears and 12-14K on the fronts. They grip just fine and the price is great. Front $53, Rear $63, $10 shipping per tire from Chapparal Motorsports in CA.

[Bob Falter]

bikerphil

I was going to buy some S11’s when I was having trouble getting the Elite II’s one time but somebody on the forum said that they didn’t have the best traction when stopping. What do you think of their stopping power? Did you ever lock up the front tire?

I like the dual compound idea. If the new tire tread depth is about the same as the Elite II (0.165” front, 0.345” rear) and they last about as long, I would think the compounds are about the same. Did you ever measure the tread depth of a new S11?

Thanks,
Bob